Well

I shook the skunk. It's a beautiful day ?

 

5.8 plus a handful of others. Water was COLD and the bass were barely felt on strikes. First ever c-rig brush Hog fishes, first ever baitcaster fishes. I had some revelations about that presentation and rod/reel setup and now I fight the gear monkey that replaced the skunk on my back. I wish those animals would leave me alone.

 

It was a beautiful day out. Lake Fork is pretty but holy submerged timber batman. I pity the fool who hits the throttle and gets off the lanes. Gotta ride the buoys TIGHT.

 

Dont mind my shorefishing belt. I dont feel at ease without something draggin me down ?

10 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Well

I shook the skunk. It's a beautiful day ?

 

5.8 plus a handful of others. Water was COLD and the bass were barely felt on strikes. First ever c-rig brush Hog fishes, first ever baitcaster fishes. I had some revelations about that presentation and rod/reel setup and now I fight the gear monkey that replaced the skunk on my back. I wish those animals would leave me alone.

 

It was a beautiful day out. Lake Fork is pretty but holy submerged timber batman. I pity the fool who hits the throttle and gets off the lanes. Gotta ride the buoys TIGHT.

 

Dont mind my shorefishing belt. I dont feel at ease without something draggin me down ?

Nice fish! I’ve jumped a few stumps there 

5 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Nice fish! I’ve jumped a few stumps there 

You any lyin - fork is a place to take it easy

Any day I get to use my scale on the little Northern Strain Largemouths I fish for is a good one, lol.

Fished for several hours without a bite. I guess nothing was biting, because by then even the trout fishermen had all left. But the clouds were rolling in, so I decided to try one deep water spot one last time, and caught this in ~20 FOW. Fish went 5 lbs 6 ozs.

Fished for a while more; nope, nothing.

 

Dobyns 867/ Calcutta 401TE/ 25# PLine PF/ 9" Nates trout with 12/0 weighted Owner beast

 

Today was a STRUGGLE. I made a major miscalculation when I left the house that started me on the wrong foot. Last time I was at this spot was a few days ago and I saw males on beds with tons of fry around, I assumed the females were spawned out and the males were just guarding fry. Went there today with a post-spawn attitude and tackle to match.

 

Walk up and the first thing I see is a cluster of beds with nice females on them. Nothing big at first, but some nice 3-4 pounders up in ~1 foot of water. Double check the tackle I had with me and of course, nothing to effectively bed fish with. I saw a much nicer fish on bed, upper 5, maybe 6 pounder. Rerigged with the only things I had, a bullet weight to a T-rigged green pumpkin Zako. Figured I could at least make an attempt at mimicking a bluegill nose down on her bed. Spent 30 minutes on that fish, no dice. Wasting daylight at this point so I moved on.

 

Saw a couple of other nice fish as I made my way down the banks, still no bites almost two hours in. Finally hooked into one on the chatterbait, but lost her close to the bank. Sub-2lb, but starting to sweat at this point that I might get my first skunk of the year. Getting some short strikes from tiny bass and overly aggressive panfish, but lost the only one I connected with.

 

Finally after 2.5 hours I landed two dinks on the chatterbait. Nothing to write home about but the skunk was retreating into the woods at least. Third fish was one worth sharing, though. There are some submerged branches that overhang a (small) ledge at one spot, usually good for a fish. Ran the chatterbait over it and WHAM. Thought I snagged the branch for the briefest moment until that bass let me know how unhappy she was with me. Not a long fight but she bulldogged me pretty good. Was the best fish of the evening at 6lb 13oz, and made me feel a little better about having to pass over so many quality bed fish. Ended the night with two more smaller bass, 5 bass limit probably sub-11lbs but the one bite made up for it.

Post front today with hard NE wind so I wasn’t expecting much but a day off cannot be wasted by not giving it a go. First two hours hitting my usual spots came up empty, so decided to paddle around to see if there are beds being made yet. Saw several nice fish but they saw me first so no takers. Started seeing them paired up and hanging out up shallow. Good sign that things are about to kick off. 
  Love the mornings on some of the fish in this lakeAnother one up in 5’ of waterAnd got this nice 3 pounder on my last castEnded up with 6 today but the scouting will pay off when the conditions improve. Hoping my wife doesn’t leave me before the spawn is over! Haha

Welp. I did it. I caught a fish on a jerkbait. Little guy whammed it while I was practicing my baitcaster skills. All three hooks in him. As Dale Gribble says, WINGOOOO!! Finally. H20Xpress chartreuse shad color ultimate jerk. Second cast with that lure.

20 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Welp. I did it. I caught a fish on a jerkbait. Little guy whammed it while I was practicing my baitcaster skills. All three hooks in him. As Dale Gribble says, WINGOOOO!! Finally. H20Xpress chartreuse shad color ultimate jerk. Second cast with that lure.

 

You love to see it!

3 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

 

You love to see it!

Thanks! I have a lot of work to do, I had four strikes on it tonight but I only could land one. But it was a good day. No day-ending backlash as I learn the art of baitcasting.

Got another good bite today  

 

21 minutes ago, Logan S said:

Got another good bite today  

 

Good fish @Logan Sand some pretty markings on the big girl!

31 minutes ago, Logan S said:

Got another good bite today  

 

Nice Bass ~

And you've got that picture taking thing down !

#nailedit

A-Jay

I think jerkbaits are good

23 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

I think jerkbaits are good

They most certainly are..congrats on gaining some confidence in them while honing the bait casting skills.

18 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

They most certainly are..congrats on gaining some confidence in them while honing the bait casting skills.

Thank you, i appreciate it. Lots of birds nests but nests in braid can always be untangled. It's just layers and loops.

2 hours ago, Logan S said:

Got another good bite today  

 

She’s a beauty

I tried to get a decent picture of this spinnerbait bass, but I couldn't get it to straighten out. 

Just got home, 2022 continues to be the Year of the Jerkbait for me. No crazy numbers, but best five bass from today went 18.375lbs anchored by this 8lb 10oz fatty. Once again on that H2O Xpress jerk shad. She smashed it up shallow and took me back and forth about 15 yards down the bank a few times before I could get her in. All three trebles in the bottom lip, she jumped four times but stayed pinned. No bent trebles once I got her unhooked. ?

 

 

Of course I was a little prematurely excited about the trebles, because two casts after I released her, I hooked into a 3lb 3oz that absolutely destroyed the rear treble once again. Another one right into the trash.

 

This fish makes my top 5 bass of 2022 come in at 43lb 9oz. We're only in the first week of March and this is already hands down the best year of fishing I've ever had. If I don't catch another bass for the rest of the year I'll still be over the moon about this spawn period.

56 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

Just got home, 2022 continues to be the Year of the Jerkbait for me. No crazy numbers, but best five bass from today went 18.375lbs anchored by this 8lb 10oz fatty. Once again on that H2O Xpress jerk shad. She smashed it up shallow and took me back and forth about 15 yards down the bank a few times before I could get her in. All three trebles in the bottom lip, she jumped four times but stayed pinned. No bent trebles once I got her unhooked. ?

 

 

Of course I was a little prematurely excited about the trebles, because two casts after I released her, I hooked into a 3lb 3oz that absolutely destroyed the rear treble once again. Another one right into the trash.

 

This fish makes my top 5 bass of 2022 come in at 43lb 9oz. We're only in the first week of March and this is already hands down the best year of fishing I've ever had. If I don't catch another bass for the rest of the year I'll still be over the moon about this spawn period.

I would retire! Congrats! 

25” x 9 lbs 14 oz. Virginia brute! She ate the glide bait in Goochland Va. prespawn is here!

 

 

                                                         

10 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

Just got home, 2022 continues to be the Year of the Jerkbait for me. No crazy numbers, but best five bass from today went 18.375lbs anchored by this 8lb 10oz fatty. Once again on that H2O Xpress jerk shad. She smashed it up shallow and took me back and forth about 15 yards down the bank a few times before I could get her in. All three trebles in the bottom lip, she jumped four times but stayed pinned. No bent trebles once I got her unhooked. ?

 

 

Of course I was a little prematurely excited about the trebles, because two casts after I released her, I hooked into a 3lb 3oz that absolutely destroyed the rear treble once again. Another one right into the trash.

 

This fish makes my top 5 bass of 2022 come in at 43lb 9oz. We're only in the first week of March and this is already hands down the best year of fishing I've ever had. If I don't catch another bass for the rest of the year I'll still be over the moon about this spawn period.

My aspirations right here. That crackle color does real good. I'm in awe, really

1 hour ago, thediscochef said:

My aspirations right here. That crackle color does real good. I'm in awe, really

 

Thanks! I like that crackle color a lot. I bought the ghost shad color as well for more clear water but I haven't even bothered to throw it yet, crackle has been getting it done regardless of water clarity.

17 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Thanks! I like that crackle color a lot. I bought the ghost shad color as well for more clear water but I haven't even bothered to throw it yet, crackle has been getting it done regardless of water clarity.

I got one on it yesterday but this morning I'm feeling high atop Mt. Stupid lol