Just caught this silver lmb 

This morning I returned to a 50-acre lake I had been to only once before. The previous trip was at the end of May last year -- I caught a lot of bass, but all were around 11"-13"; not one keeper-sized fish.  I was torn between writing the lake off as a dink factory, or coming back another time in the year in case the first trip was just bad timing around the spawn.

 

I came back to find it is still a dink factory, but as it turns out, not just a dink factory... 

 

In the first couple hours, I found some 12"-14" takers on the weed-lined drop from about 2' to 20'+ that rings the lake (a representative fish below):

 

It was clear after trying a few different baits that these bass had a serious favorite: a texas-rigged Rage Tail Space Monkey in the "Hard Candy" color. So after the first hour, I just fished the Space Monkey exclusively, casting shallow, and working it down the drop, as I went around the lake....

 

....and then this happened:

 

 

At 21" length, and weighing in at 5.50lb, this bass ties my PB exactly (but I never got any pics of the previous one). That big fish ended up being the best of 16 in about 4 hours.

 

So maybe this lake is worth coming back to!

 

In other news, I'm out of Space Monkeys. Time to re-stock.

4 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

This morning I returned to a 50-acre lake I had been to only once before. The previous trip was at the end of May last year -- I caught a lot of bass, but all were around 11"-13"; not one keeper-sized fish.  I was torn between writing the lake off as a dink factory, or coming back another time in the year in case the first trip was just bad timing around the spawn.

 

I came back to find it is still a dink factory, but as it turns out, not just a dink factory... 

 

In the first couple hours, I found some 12"-14" takers on the weed-lined drop from about 2' to 20'+ that rings the lake (a representative fish below):

 

It was clear after trying a few different baits that these bass had a serious favorite: a texas-rigged Rage Tail Space Monkey in the "Hard Candy" color. So after the first hour, I just fished the Space Monkey exclusively, casting shallow, and working it down the drop, as I went around the lake....

 

....and then this happened:

 

 

At 21" length, and weighing in at 5.50lb, this bass ties my PB exactly....but I never got any pics of the previous one.  The big fish was the best of 16 I caught in 4 hours.

 

So maybe this lake is worth coming back to!

 

In other news, I'm out of Space Monkeys. Time to re-stock.

Dude! Congrats. I’d bet that big one eats a lot of 8-10 inch bass 

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Dude! Congrats. I’d bet that big one eats a lot of 8-10 inch bass 

 

Oh, no doubt!

Got out today from 730- 1230. Got 2 early on on topwater ,popper and a choppo then spent the rest of the day punching. Got 4 more on the double wide beaver with the best weighing 5-1.

While at Walmart over the weekend I passed through the fishing section. My local store is usually bare in the line and reel sections. For the first time in awhile they had a baitcaster in stock. I wasn’t surprised that it was an Abu Garcia Black Max, what I was surprised at was the price. $39.99! I thought they were in the $50-$60 range. 
 

I bought one as I have one that is at least 15 years old. I wanted to compare the two.

 

The one on the right with the red handle is the new 2021 Black Max.

The braking systems

I paired the new Black Max with a Lew’s Laser HS medium action casting rod to throw some light T-rigged worms. 

The new reel is lighter and casts better than my old Black Max. No Backlashes and I was able to get great casting distance. 
 

I decided to take it out again this morning. I knew I was going to fish in some tight places so I paired the reel with a 6’6” medium Abu Garcia casting rod I had laying around.

 

I also caught a Pickerel and a Bullhead

The Bullhead already had a hook in him. I was able to get it out and he swam off fine.

 

Overall I like the new Black Max. It is a surprise to me that the reel went down in price and up in quality and performance.

37 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

The one on the right with the red handle is the new 2021 Black Max.

 Both of my Black Max’s were bought last year and both have black handles, so that was either A-a change for 2021; or B-mine were on the shelf a while lol. 

 

I have no problems with either of them. 

On 8/8/2021 at 5:16 PM, HaydenS said:

Really tough day yesterday for this lake.  Don't know if we even caught 10 fish, we threw the dinner table at them.  This was big fish for this lake, that usually gives a 4 pounder.  He came on a 1 ounce Hybrid Hunter on my new Shimao SLX combo.  

I'd take 10 fish right about now, bite has been tough last couple of weeks here in N.C. I know what you mean when you say you threw the dinner table at em, same here lately. Nothing but dinky dinks on the last few outings. Anyway, nice fish!

On 8/10/2021 at 8:03 PM, keagbassr said:

Got out today from 730- 1230. Got 2 early on on topwater ,popper and a choppo then spent the rest of the day punching. Got 4 more on the double wide beaver with the best weighing 5-1.

You've laid into a couple chunky fish lately! Nice!

15 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

While at Walmart over the weekend I passed through the fishing section. My local store is usually bare in the line and reel sections. For the first time in awhile they had a baitcaster in stock. I wasn’t surprised that it was an Abu Garcia Black Max, what I was surprised at was the price. $39.99! I thought they were in the $50-$60 range. 
 

I bought one as I have one that is at least 15 years old. I wanted to compare the two.

 

The one on the right with the red handle is the new 2021 Black Max.

The braking systems

I paired the new Black Max with a Lew’s Laser HS medium action casting rod to throw some light T-rigged worms. 

The new reel is lighter and casts better than my old Black Max. No Backlashes and I was able to get great casting distance. 
 

I decided to take it out again this morning. I knew I was going to fish in some tight places so I paired the reel with a 6’6” medium Abu Garcia casting rod I had laying around.

 

I also caught a Pickerel and a Bullhead

The Bullhead already had a hook in him. I was able to get it out and he swam off fine.

 

Overall I like the new Black Max. It is a surprise to me that the reel went down in price and up in quality and performance.

Was in my local Wal mart yesterday they had at least a dozen combos of this reel. Pretty good deal actually a reel plus a 6’-6” med power rod with 2 Berkeley top water lures for $59.99. Good thing they were all right handed combos.

23 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

 Both of my Black Max’s were bought last year and both have black handles, so that was either A-a change for 2021; or B-mine were on the shelf a while lol. 

 

I have no problems with either of them. 

My theory is the one I bought with the red handle and red knobs is a Walmart exclusive Black Max. I have only seen it available there. 

30 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

My theory is the one I bought with the red handle and red knobs is a Walmart exclusive Black Max. I have only seen it available there. 

lol. That’s where I purchased mine. 

Stopped off after a long day for a quick one. A few nice bites on the Fish Arrow J-Shad, then a good one committed. The heat was still unreal at 9:45, and I was drenched with sweat after just 40 minutes, so I called it a win then danced on outta there.

 

4 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Stopped off after a long day for a quick one. A few nice bites on the Fish Arrow J-Shad, then a good one committed. The heat was still unreal at 9:45, and I was drenched with sweat after just 40 minutes, so I called it a win then danced on outta there.

 

Nice! I’d say you won on this quick excursion.

5 minutes ago, David 7 said:

Nice! I’d say you won on this quick excursion.

Thanks, but it was sort of a mixed bag. On the way out I walked through some spider webs, which happens a lot. By the time I got out of there I began to feel an odd sensation as my nose started burning a bit. By the time I got in my truck and took a look in the mirror, my schnozzola was swollen and bulbous. Booked home and schmeared it up with Benadryl cream, and it's beginning to calm down now. Something else to carry with me for now on, I reckon.

8 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Thanks, but it was sort of a mixed bag. On the way out I walked through some spider webs, which happens a lot. By the time I got out of there I began to feel an odd sensation as my nose started burning a bit. By the time I got in my truck and took a look in the mirror, my schnozzola was swollen and bulbous. Booked home and schmeared it up with Benadryl cream, and it's beginning to calm down now. Something else to carry with me for now on, I reckon.

Benadryl goes with me every time I hunt.  For some reason I've never thought to bring it fishing.  Probably should just keep some in the car.

A quick rain shower cooled things off last night so I headed to a nearby pond with about an hour to fish. Only a couple of dinks to show for it, but that's better than not fishing. 

23 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

lol. That’s where I purchased mine. 

Walmart sells both versions of the Black Max on their website. They are the only place I have seen that sells the red handle, red knob one.

The Summer of Ugh continues. Fished before sunrise until after 1:00 pm. Three bites = 3 dinks. That was it. Three. Bites. 
 

First dink at least was semi-exciting as he hit a Whopper Plopper just at sunrise. 
 

Only took a pic because it looked so “huge” compared to the WP lol. The other two were caught almost back-to-back on a #297 Senko WR.

 

I used a frog, a Pop Max, spinnerbait, jerkbait, weightless and weighted Texas rigs, dropshot and man, was it dead. 

Me and a buddy got out early this morning. They weren’t jumping in the boat but we managed 9 decent ones, all on some variety/technique of worm. I always fish to the very end end and this day was no exception. As we neared the launch, I made a cast and decided to remote start the truck to cool it down. About the time the engine turned over, I felt a little tap. I set the hook on this nice 2 lb bass. 
 

 

He was preceded by this little feller who was just a tad smaller. 
 

Weather reports said no more storms until after dark, so I headed out to my favorite ponds. Only made it 30 mins before the lightning started and I had to pack it in, but I lucked into my first double so it was a memorable trip at least. Coupla little guys on a 1/2 oz Rattlin' Rapala in bluegill.

It was an overcast morning with spotty drizzle. Our heat wave is coming to an end. I hit the river by the dam where the water is flowing strong. Same strategy of casting a T-Rigged Z-Man TicklerZ on a 1/0 worm hook and a 1/8 tungsten bullet weight has paid dividends. After catching a few dink Smallmouth and Sunfish big enough to take a 1/0 worm hook I felt a solid hit. A nearly 16” Smallmouth gave me a great fight in the current.

 

Not much for me, I will just say it I got skunked ?. We got to the park 45 minutes before closing tonight, so not a whole lot of time to fish. I didn’t even bother throwing the waders on and walking down my normal bank. That probably takes me 20 minutes one way if I don’t cast a whole lot. I took everything out of my pockets and just waded in the empty swimming area. Had one miss my whopper plopper 110. That was all the action I saw. They were going nuts further down in the area I normally fish would have been a great top water night if we had more time ?. My wife got one though on a Smokey shad 4 inch rage menace weightless on a 3/0 owner twist lock light wire hook, my preferred hook brand. Probably a little bit over 17 inches long. I am so proud of her ?, her biggest fish of the year so far I think. Now if only I could get her to quit using her zebco reel, yep that’s going to take a minute.