Yesterday was tough on the pond. Sunny and hot (90s) and very still. Nobody was catching much of anything. My first bass was 1.5 lbs, 15” on a weightless green pumpkin Senko Texas rig. The second was maybe 9” long. Switched over to a weightless green pumpkin wacky rig later in the afternoon. I went to the other side of the pond (accessed by a footpath in the woods so it’s tight and not much room to cast) and found a small hole where I could flip the Senko underneath branches overhanging the water by maybe 10”-12”. First cast, nothing. Second cast the wacky rig got whacked as soon as it hit the water. 
 

Almost 2 lbs (weighed 1.8 and 16”), but it was a fighter. Last catch of the day. 
 

That was my first catch on a wacky rig using an O ring. I don’t know if over the long run I may lose fish on strikes having the hook parallel to the stickbait vs perpendicular when hooking through the body, but the Senko and O ring were inches up the line and in perfect shape rather than ripped to shreds. I like that O ring rig! 
 

Sure is nice getting out on the water every week again. Nice solid bite for dinks on up to 3 pounders plus a couple trout and bluegill. Threw big swimbaits for a bit as well but no takers. Small Keitechs (2.8-3.3) were the ticket.

 

Topwater with a Plopper

 

Apparently even bluegill hammer Keitechs. Funny thing, I never really paid much attention to the bluegill here and hadn't noticed the orange highlights on their fins. 

 

Fished one of the arms and went all of the way up to the small log jam, navigated through it, and threw a few low expectation casts after noticing the 12* temp change. Didn't see any bass but caught a couple trout on a 2.8.

 

 

 

 

 

  

Best river Smallmouth Bass of the weekend so far. 
 

 

 

Fishing has been great. My numbers are way up from this time last year. With the work from home order, I have been able to get some fishing time before I have to clock in.

2 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

Apparently even bluegill hammer Keitechs. Funny thing, I never really paid much attention to the bluegill here and hadn't noticed the orange highlights on their fins. 

 

 

 

I think you may have a Green Sunfish there, rather than a bluegill.

 

Yes indeed but beautiful coloration. 

 

4 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

Sure is nice getting out on the water every week again. Nice solid bite for dinks on up to 3 pounders plus a couple trout and bluegill. Threw big swimbaits for a bit as well but no takers. Small Keitechs (2.8-3.3) were the ticket.

 

Topwater with a Plopper

 

Apparently even bluegill hammer Keitechs. Funny thing, I never really paid much attention to the bluegill here and hadn't noticed the orange highlights on their fins. 

 

Fished one of the arms and went all of the way up to the small log jam, navigated through it, and threw a few low expectation casts after noticing the 12* temp change. Didn't see any bass but caught a couple trout on a 2.8.

 

 

 

 

 

  

those spots are beautiful ?

I caught a few quality fish today. The biggest ( 22 inch ) was caught on my little finesse combo with 8 pound test. Got a nice fight from that one. I caught it on a baby brush hog off a lay down.

Also caught a couple good fish on the zoom magnum fluke . It was a beautiful afternoon on the water. One of those days where nothing goes wrong.

New PW! (Personal Worst)

 

Looks like one of the many Dogfish in the lake got to him before I did. He had serious cuts! Or maybe a bird took a swipe at him. Had a big cut on his top in between the two bottom ones.

 

Got out for a little bit the last few days. Didn't get out on the boat but managed some shore fishing from a local river (some small smallies) and rock quarry (few decent largemouths). Frog bite was very good today, which is always a blast. Even got a few cannibals. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

I think you may have a Green Sunfish there, rather than a bluegill.

 

 

9 hours ago, Bird said:

Yes indeed but beautiful coloration. 

 

Thanks for the education... never considered there were other "bluegill profile" fish in there. I need to start paying a little closer attention.  ?

@NorthernBasser

 

That's the only bad thing about those dark sleepers, the eyes fall off constantly.

 

 

Caught two today. 

No doubt. Some people take clear fingernail polish and put it over the eyes. I may try that with Mend-It. Otherwise I'll take a black sharpie and give them demon eyes when they fall out. 

Started having a little better luck down here on the southern swing, found some Shad. Can anyone guess which of the 3 is a largemouth? @NorcalBassin , @lo n slo and @Bluebasser86 not allowed to guess......

But it's not a guess if I know ?‍♂️?

6 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

But it's not a guess if I know ?‍♂️?

Hahaha. Good point......

At least 2 lbs

 

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Started having a little better luck down here on the southern swing, found some Shad. Can anyone guess which of the 3 is a largemouth? @NorcalBassin , @lo n slo and @Bluebasser86 not allowed to guess......

i hear ya brother ?

Great job everyone thank you for sharing

I love catching fish, but I love catching big fish even more. The only thing better than catching big fish, catching them on top water. These 2 came off a Booyah Pad Crasher in Bullfrog. They went 6-8 and 4-6

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Nice Bass ~

And you're looking a little "Psycho" right there.

I mean more than usual.

A-Jay

 

 

I also got in a frog bite this eve , not as big as @jbsoonerfan fish but fun on @scaleface new favorite the ribbit frog. I had my buddy’s 8 year old with me (big camping group) and he had 3 blow up his frog and one broke him off. He says “can you believe he broke 8 lb line?” Hahahah. I showed him my 65 lb braid and he said that’s rope. It sure is fun fishing veg that we don’t have back home 

 

Another great day of Smallmouth action before I had to sign in for work from home.

 

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Got my first Whopper Plopper Smallie of the year today.

 

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Had a few minutes to stop and make a few casts on the way home from the office yesterday evening. Resulting in the weirdest hookset I've ever had.

 

I hadn't planned on doing any punching, and I was too lazy to swap out the swim jig I had tied on, but it did the job anyway. Poor little guy was at the tail end of 15 lb abraz-x tied to 50lb braid, and he came shooting up out of his brushpile like an ICBM when I set the hook.

 

Did some very careful surgery to get the hook out and saved the eye. Patient swam off none the worse for wear.

 

 

Brow piercing...

On 5/26/2020 at 9:34 PM, TnRiver46 said:

I also got in a frog bite this eve , not as big as @jbsoonerfan fish but fun on @scaleface new favorite the ribbit frog.

Love the Ribbit!  I scored a nice one last night on a similar tactic - Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worm buzzed over emergent grass.