I fished my pond for 1.5 hours this evening. It was post-cold front, so I didn't expect a big total. I thought ten would be a real success. I launched on the north shore and fishing was hotter than I expected. I caught seven in about 45 minutes. This one was the best:

However, once I reached the western shore, the fishing went pfffft. So, I paddled across the pond to the eastern shore and caught one on a shallow, rocky flat. When I paddled back, I caught another two on the north shore. Yeah I should have stayed on the north shore. Still, I caught ten. Success!

And I've caught 418 bass in 2026.

Some from a trip when the forums were down

Best of 13 this morning at 16"....which otherwise was Dink City:

To be fair, I find the day after Memorial Day holiday is often rough going.

@Susky River Rat never seen a fish with a black eye before, that’s a first!! 😂

A friend took this of me at Santee last weekend. We caught 10 or so. This was my biggest. 2lb 14oz on a wacky rig.

Oh yeah. Seth Feider came by us and fished same docks we fished. We backed out of his way. I told him we would get out of the way, he was fishing for money, we weren’t.

2026 hasn’t been kind to me so far. I haven’t got to fish as much as I had in previous years and when I have it’s typically been sink city. Today was my time fishing in several weeks and I caught eleven but they were all smaller fish. To make things worse I spotted (spooked) three very large fish that I had no idea inhabited this particular reservoir. Anyways here’s my best three fish for what it’s worth.

On 5/22/2026 at 7:17 AM, Susky River Rat said:

few highlights from last trip

You’re getting it done!

This spring, things are not wanting to line up. Dealing with high water again.

3 hours ago, FLYING HIGH said:

@Susky River Rat never seen a fish with a black eye before, that’s a first!! 😂

Me either 😂

@Dooger I’ve been very lucky to get on some great bites. Memorial day weekend was super tough.

@A-Jay is on the far left.

A few randoms. I’m not going to be getting out as much. Have a tournament in saving my boat for. Than getting K5 put on it.

Caught 3 fish in 20 mins before work this morning. Got 9 blowups and only hooked 3 on the berkley swamp lord frog. Not sure if it was due to smaller fish, the frog itself, or my hookset. Anyways, it was good to catch a few on the frog.

1 minute ago, Brycecover said:

Got 9 blowups and only hooked 3 on the berkley swamp lord frog. Not sure if it was due to smaller fish, the frog itself, or my hookset.

Fish are hard to hook on a frog. Even the great @Pat Brown misses some.

1 minute ago, Swamp Girl said:

Fish are hard to hook on a frog. Even the great @Pat Brown misses some.

Yea, this pond is absolutely loaded with bass including a lot of small ones. It’s a golf course pond that can only be fished on very rainy days or before/after daylight. So the fish are very unpressured and eat basically anything I throw at them. I guess the first two I missed were probably due to me not being prepared.

Bass taste lures all the time and we don’t know about it. With top water it’s just messy and loud. When they want it - they get it! If they’re smacking a frog - first thing I do is slow it down and let em get it before I set the hook - if that doesn’t work I downsize to a smaller frog. If that doesn’t work usually switching from dark to light or light to dark belly does the final bit of the trick.

Swamplord is a very large profile. Try a smaller frog like a jr pad crasher or a Spro popping frog with the tails trimmed way back. They might hold on to it and “get it” all the way for you.

I went out Memorial day to a local lake trying to avoid the crowds and it actually wasn't too bad. Fishing was much slower than I'd hoped but I got some decent ones to make up for it.

I took my boys out fishing for bluegills from the bank for a little bit Sunday evening, and Finn got one that decidedly, not a bluegill.

Tuesday, Lake and I went and fished the Tuesday night tournament. He isn't technically allowed to enter them until he's 16, but if he catches a limit he gets a $25 BPS gift card. Not only did he catch his 3 fish limit, but he put up 42.75" on a night when first place was 44.50" and second place (me), was 40.25". It was a proud father and son moment to say the least to have all the adults standing around watching him show his pictures and them realize they'd been beat by a 12 year old.

Go, Lake, Clayton, and Finn!

6 hours ago, Brycecover said:

that can only be fished on very rainy days or before/after daylight.

Sounds to me like you are sneakin' in to fish! 🙂 You've got a lot of BR readers pullin' for ya! Wish I was still young enough to rip & run!

1 hour ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Sounds to me like you are sneakin' in to fish! 🙂 You've got a lot of BR readers pullin' for ya! Wish I was still young enough to rip & run!

Yes, sort of. I am 19 now but I found out about this pond around 2 years ago. Throughout this time I haven’t fished it too often to not get in trouble and it is kind of out the way. The golf course workers basically allow me to fish by not saying anything when they definitely see my rod until the course starts to open. They have people lined up before it opens to hit so they make me leave a little early. I’m not sure what they put in there, I think some sort of baitfish, but those bass are eating good. There seems to be an overpopulation of bass and they are all still fat.

Carried 3 bags of Ol' Monsters in the boat. Had to go back to the truck for more!

Surface temp 75. 6 fow on brush (about 1/2 of 'em had bluegill tails in their throats.

Wow, Al, wow!

@Swamp Girl "And I've caught 418 bass in 2026."

Katie, you are an amazing angler!

First glide bait fish. I guess technically it doesn’t even count. And, it’s not even anywhere near my shad PB!!

Got a 4 pound 11 oz fish, and about an hour later caught a 6 pound 12 oz fish…both in one of my church ponds..😉

Mike! Two Whoppers!

Highlights from today