I just got the green light from my eye surgeon to fish again! I'm going for two hours this evening and four-plus hours tomorrow morning. About this time last year, I started to catch more bass than I'd been catching through July and August, so fingers crossed the bass are reacting to our consistently cool nights and chomping again. 

4 hours ago, The Baron said:

Our weather is cooling off here, it may be time to put in some more effort with the couple glides I have.

 

ABSOLUTELY!

 

It's going to be in the 70's and even 60's over here the rest of the week.

 

I'm taking 3 weeks off this fall to fish.

 

Can't wait.

4 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

ABSOLUTELY!

 

It's going to be in the 70's and even 60's over here the rest of the week.

 

I'm taking 3 weeks off this fall to fish.

 

Can't wait.

 

Three weeks? I'm so jazzed for you!

5 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

It's going to be in the 70's and even 60's over here the rest of the week.

 

They are talking 40's here on Sunday and Monday morning. 😳

14 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Three weeks? I'm so jazzed for you!

 

That's the plan as I have a ton to burn.

 

1 week in September, 1 in October, and 1 in November.

 

Love the fall.

 

If I play my cards right, hopefully I can fish Lake St Clair. #1 on my bucket list.

7 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

That's the plan as I have a ton to burn.

 

1 week in September, 1 in October, and 1 in November.

 

Love the fall.

 

If I play my cards right, hopefully I can fish Lake St Clair. #1 on my bucket list.

 

Please remind me what boat you have. I'm guessing it's not a kayak.

25 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Please remind me what boat you have. I'm guessing it's not a kayak.

 

Nope, it's a kayak. 

 

Looking to buy a boat soon though. I need to start looking.

1 hour ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Nope, it's a kayak. 

 

Looking to buy a boat soon though. I need to start looking.

 

Lake St. Clair in a kayak? 

7 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Lake St. Clair in a kayak? 

 

Oh heck nah.

 

I'd get a guide.   

@TOXIC?

Duckweed n frogs,  baseball n hot dogs, Sam n Dave, Dolly n Porter...I luv 'em all!

I woke up with eye trouble today - couldn’t see myself working.  So I woke Wes early (8:30am 😂) and said let’s go get ‘em.

 

Today was the mental health day I really needed, beautiful weather (partly cloudy, about 70-75F with a cool breeze) and the fishing was quite good.  We were on ‘em consistently with a drop shot and black minnow or black worm, then Wes jacked a few flipping a 10” Power Worm including a 3.80#.  I decided to try something different and caught a couple including a 3.23# with a big black Coffee Tube on a bubba shot.  Most fish came off of wood, some fully submerged some partially but wood was the constant with very little action on the summer spot weed beds.  That’s a definite indicator to me the fall transition is starting.  I think we caught about 15-ish fish between 1.5-3.5#.  All largemouth save for a 2.3# smallie for Wes.  A great day! 😎

Al, I LOVE that pond! Great fishing, Al. 

 

You too, Baron!

 

I returned to the water, but could only catch nine, including a five-poundish pickerel. The weather was shifty. The wind started at 8 mph from the south, but then swung from the north. I was fishing a 12" worm and a big creature bait, but didn't get a whiff on either. A white spinner bait with a black crawfish trailer also didn't trigger a single hit. All the action came on my underspin with Keitechs or Mayors in red, green, and shad. A popper also failed to produce. Here are some 17-inchers:

 

 

Here's an 18-incher:

 

 

Here's a smallie:

 

 

966 for the year.

 

Th-th-th-that's all, folks!

 

10 minutes ago, The Baron said:

That’s a definite indicator to me the fall transition is starting.

 

It looked and felt like fall here too. The reeds are no longer green and my hands were cold at the evening's end.

Hung "several" of these on my thumb this morning. 

All came on a walking bait early & a shallow crankbait after that topwater bite fizzled out. 

Although it was fun and somewhat silly, it's still not the target species. 

If the big smallmouth bass I am looking for,

were as easy to find & catch as these Largemouth bass were on this trip,

I would need to be institutionalized. 

😜

A-Jay

 

5 hours ago, Lottabass said:

Duckweed n frogs,  baseball n hot dogs, Sam n Dave, Dolly n Porter...I luv 'em all!

 

Those Copper Red Baits frogs are super super sweeeet!  Got me a hawg on the tsunami couple nights ago I haven’t had time to share - details on that one soon - nice fish as always.  And love how much we love the frog!  Frog brothers!

6 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Oh heck nah.

 

I'd get a guide.   

Think I’ve seen Kristine Fisher do it, seems like she even caught a Muskie 

Fishing again tomorrow morning. Going to be cool and windy.

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Fishing again tomorrow morning. Going to be cool and windy.

Great to hear. I hope you set a new personal best.

7 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

 

Those Copper Red Baits frogs are super super sweeeet!  Got me a hawg on the tsunami couple nights ago I haven’t had time to share - details on that one soon - nice fish as always.  And love how much we love the frog!  Frog brothers!

Hey frog brother!  I haven't used the Tsunami yet.  High sky and light east wind yesterday so I chose the smaller one.  Caught so many the frog got boogered up and my arms turned into noodles.

Looking forward to your posts!

13 hours ago, Lottabass said:

Caught so many the frog got boogered up and my arms turned into noodles.

 

You made me laugh, Al!

 

I, on the other hand, could only catch 11, bringing my 2025 total to 980. We had a cold front hit yesterday evening and I launched for the first time in a while with fleece atop my wicking shirt. I did wear shorts, but only because my legs stay warm. 

 

I fished my pond and really worked for the bass I did catch. All were caught on an underspin with a shad-colored Keitech or a dark red, T-rigged crawfish. I triggered hits here and there: shoreline, laydown, weeds, open water. No pattern and nothing real big, but they sure were thick, from 15 to 17 inches. See below.

 

Fat 15s:

 

 

Fat 16s:

 

 

 

My fat 17 was especially thick, so I photographed it twice:

 

 

It fought like a six-pounder, spinning and pulling my canoe. 

 

I saw a big snapper, osprey, and some little, quick shorebird that looked like it belonged on the ocean, which isn't far away. 

 

Fun morning!

 

 

15 hours ago, The Baron said:

I woke up with eye trouble today

Seems eye trouble go hand in hand with boats loads of big bass!

 

@BaronandSwampyshocancatchem!Eveniftheycan'tseeum!

@Lottabass I’ve never seen or even heard of a crappie hitting a frog.  That’s crazy.🤪 

Go figure, couldn't get a bite on my baitcast set ups, so I went to my ultralight and good ole fashion dirt and nightcrawlers. And this one picks up on the third cast with a nightcrawler. No weight but measured 18". Was fighting two battles at the same time as my stomach was cramping and I was crowning............ talk about a rock and a hard place.

20 hours ago, Lottabass said:

Duckweed n frogs,  baseball n hot dogs, Sam n Dave, Dolly n Porter...I luv 'em all!

Crappie on a frog is some wild work. He choked it too.

@The Baron @BluegillsTightlines Crappie on a frog....seems I catch 2 or 3 a year.  It's quite a bonus when it happens!  The crappie fishermen catch 3# crappies on this lake occasionally.  Pretty big for Iowa!

20 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

You made me laugh, Al!

 

I, on the other hand, could only catch 11, bringing my 2025 total to 980. We had a cold front hit yesterday evening and I launched for the first time in a while with fleece atop my wicking shirt. I did wear shorts, but only because my legs stay warm. 

 

I fished my pond and really worked for the bass I did catch. All were caught on an underspin with a shad-colored Keitech or a dark red, T-rigged crawfish. I triggered hits here and there: shoreline, laydown, weeds, open water. No pattern and nothing real big, but they sure were thick, from 15 to 17 inches. See below.

 

Fat 15s:

 

 

Fat 16s:

 

 

 

My fat 17 was especially thick, so I photographed it twice:

 

 

It fought like a six-pounder, spinning and pulling my canoe. 

 

I saw a big snapper, osprey, and some little, quick shorebird that looked like it belonged on the ocean, which isn't far away. 

 

Fun morning!

 

 

Katie, I'm always amazed at how fat and beautiful your bass are!  Luv your pics!