it almost felt like fall this morning here in the foothills of NC. this 18” largemouth hit an old BPS worm in a brush pile.

 

They were biting the weightless bubble gum trick worms! Hydrilla and milfoil very shallow. Very warm water. Made for a hard day of fishing.

 

 

We threw together a quick float trip after work, I kind of grabbed some things and forgot any bass hooks except 2 shakey heads. I had a buzzbait tied on one rod and got a backlash right off the bat. The lure jammed in a log while I was picking it out. We paddle over to attempt finding it and can’t, but my buddy finds a d-bomb and a big EWG hook and puts it on his rod. Later down the river he gets a nice keeper walleye with it! I finally caught a largemouth with a menace on a shakey head right as we float under a bumper crop of poison ivy. My buddy always says he doesn’t get poison ivy and just grabs the whole vine!!! I will report back if he needs a prednisone dose pack later this week haha. We also saw a bunch of turkeys and poults walk across a bridge out to an island 

 

8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

My buddy always says he doesn’t get poison ivy and just grabs the whole vine!!! I will report back if he needs a prednisone dose pack later this week haha.

I have never had poison ivy/oak/sumac. As a hunter, I know I’ve been exposed, but I’ve never had a single reaction. Knock on wood. 
 

Stinging nettle? OMG! That’s another story! 

Yeah that’s quite the burning sensation. 

To say I had a good weekend of fishing is an understatement.. I had an EXCELLENT weekend of fishing. 11 bass total over the span of 2 days all from the bank and 7 fish being 2lbs+ including a giant 3-1/2lber I landed at 10:17PM after pitching a black n blue flipping jig into darkness near a parked speedboat. 

 

 Say what you want about the number of fish being "low" but please remember i'm a bank angler who fishes pressured waters. I don't have the luxury of catching 50 fish per outing using fancy electronics lol. 

 

For me this weekend was the best fishing trip of the year and a huge confidence boost for me. 

 

His first ever frog fish:

 

Our first catches at a new to us spot the weekend after the tropical storm: Swinging Bridges Resivoir NY (Don't use the public boat ramp... when you come back ya gonna be trying to back up the trailer thru a block party....)

 

A Snot Rocket (was actually peeling line off my baitcaster) and a Bronze Back:

 

 

 

On a side note, we got to see 2 juvi and 1 adult Bald Eagle... so that was cool .

Two of my grandchildren had a great time on Smith Mountain Lake yesterday fishing with Captain Travis Patsell. 

First couple of fish with the new boat.  I’m on 3rd shift for the moment so went after work this morning.  Fished the Saginaw river between Lee street and the confluence area.  All caught on a 1/2 oz Arkie jig that I poured and painted.  Trailer was a chigger craw.  River is really dirty.  But, i suppose it will stay that way untill vegetation starts to grow on the former lake beds of lake Sanford and wixom that were Located on the Tittabawassee Up stream 

 

 

Caught an almost 4 about a week ago and an almost 5 yesterday. Today I caught a nice flathead on a ned rig— My forearms and triceps were burning after that fight. 
 

One of the prettiest smallies I ever caught, measured 18.5", caught on a DT6.

 

The family was supposed to be at Table Rock with my parents this past weekend at a resort, but nothing was open at the resort except for the rooms so we switched our plans and went to Tuttle Creek Lake where my family use to camp nearly every weekend when I was a kid. The lakes were a bit flooded and extremely muddy, not quite what we'd hoped there, but we had a bunch of fun with my family members that stopped by each day and also playing the water and fishing. Not many bass to fish for there, but I did catch quite a few crappie and some saugeye, which my dad filleted and fried for everyone that wanted some the last afternoon, which was a huge hit. The first morning I kept up my streak of catching flatheads while I was fishing for saugeye with a 4" grub, a ML rod, 10lb braid with an 8lb leader.

I thought for sure my aunt and uncle that were camping would want it but my uncle had to take off to deal with his cows and I wasn't cleaning it so it got turned loose after getting it's picture taken.

 

When we got back I had a few extra days off just because. I took Lake out to a local park that doesn't have a great reputation but we did really well. Caught around 30 with a 4.20lb fish being the largest. Flipping a Big Bite Baits Yomoma into the grass and a T-rigged 8" black jelly worm caught a lot of my fish. Also got a few on a ned and the big fish at a homemade bladed jig.

Thursday the whole family went out to our favorite lake. Caught all 3 species of bass, my wife's 3.54lb smallmouth being the largest. Also had several drum, a few white bass, 2 walleye, several crappie, and a channel cat. The boys caught a bunch of bluegill out from under the docks by the ramp with some nightcrawlers I had left from our trip too. They got a kick out of watching them zoom up to their bait and grab it.

Blue, sounds like a fun weekend, ect. always fun to see you and the family catching some nice fish, especially the young'uns.. 

I caught my PB Smallmouth last night on a local reservoir with a 5" Senko Neko rigged on a barbless hook. It weighed 3.32 lbs. and measured 18.25". My previous PB was from a river and weighed 3.1 lbs but was 19". Still room for for improvement though, which is a good thing. I would rather keep breaking my PB and have something obtainable to shoot for, than catch a huge one right away and never be able to top it.

 

Went back out and hammered them right where I left them last weekend. Got a bunch of nice ones and got 20lbs in 5 consecutive casts. All on a drop shot Maxscent Flatworm and Flatnose minnow. 

First fish of the day was a fat 3lber, and it had a 40” pike chasing it like a shark. I tried like heck to catch the pike after I released the bass, but to my surprise it wouldn’t hit. 

5 minutes ago, Way north bass guy said:

Went back out and hammered them right where I left them last weekend. Got a bunch of nice ones and got 20lbs in 5 consecutive casts. All on a drop shot Maxscent Flatworm and Flatnose minnow. 

First fish of the day was a fat 3lber, and it had a 40” pike chasing it like a shark. I tried like heck to catch the pike after I released the bass, but to my surprise it wouldn’t hit. 

Well that’s pretty awesome! I guess the pike wanted the real thing. How’s the durability on those flat worms??

18 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Well that’s pretty awesome! I guess the pike wanted the real thing. How’s the durability on those flat worms??

They’re not the most durable, but they catch the heck out of them. I can usually get several fish from one bait, and if after a couple fish I clip off a 1/4” of the head, it’ll keep going. With the drop shot, I find the smaller bass are the worst for throwing it when they jump right at the boat. I have my net right by me so I can usually scoop up the bait before it sinks too far, unless I’m into a big fish, then I’m more concerned about the bass than the bait. 

Been prett slackadaisical about posting pics ( or anything else) the last month or so. To hot to type I guess?. Anyway stopped to take a few casts after work tonite and got this 3-10 on a choppo.

Got on some fish these past 2 days! Including my first ever lipless crank fish! Big achievement for me since I couldn't get any on em for years!