I love the way you write, Phish. It's distinctive, creative, and playful. My suggestion is to recatch that third fish in five years. The way it's eating now, it'll be huge down the road. 

 

Regarding Blue and his giddy kitty-sized fish, here's my plan:

 

1. Buy a canoe trailer.
2. Load my canoe on the trailer.
3. Tow the canoe to Blue's house.
4. Hitch my canoe to Blue's boat trailer. This will require installing another tongue and ball.
5. Wait in my canoe for Blue to go fishing.

44 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Regarding Blue and his giddy kitty-sized fish, here's my plan:

 

1. Buy a canoe trailer.
2. Load my canoe on the trailer.
3. Tow the canoe to Blue's house.
4. Hitch my canoe to Blue's boat trailer. This will require installing another tongue and ball.
5. Wait in my canoe for Blue to go fishing.

6. Find out if he's open to adoption.

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

I love the way you write, Phish. It's distinctive, creative, and playful. My suggestion is to recatch that third fish in five years. The way it's eating now, it'll be huge down the road. 

 

Regarding Blue and his giddy kitty-sized fish, here's my plan:

 

1. Buy a canoe trailer.
2. Load my canoe on the trailer.
3. Tow the canoe to Blue's house.
4. Hitch my canoe to Blue's boat trailer. This will require installing another tongue and ball.
5. Wait in my canoe for Blue to go fishing.

 

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

6. Find out if he's open to adoption.

Ya'll need to look at my comment on the "Brag about your state's bass fishing", before you do anything crazy ?

 

@ol'crickety I've laid my kayak on top of my boat and hauled it that way, no extra trailer needed. I don't think you'd enjoy our wind in your canoe though. A 15mph wind is pretty light here.

 

Here's the video of some of the fish from our day yesterday.

 

15 mph would be way too much for me. I'll stick to fishing in the Land of Trees, aka Big, Green Windshields.

 

However, since you do take your kids fishing and you do have a big boat, I am open to being adopted. Being old, figure on me napping on the way home too 

End of year kayak tournament:

Nov 5; smallish, hill-land reservoir with blueback herring; surface temps 55-59; air temp 62-73; winds gusting over 20; 8 hours; 5 fish limit, min length 12".

Numbers: 25 of some of the better anglers in the state; 17 fish submitted....Total.  12 anglers caught 'scoreable' bass.  Winner had 2 fish @ 29.25".  

  I've never fished a tournament this tough.  New lake to me.  I got out there twice in last month and struggled, but did find deep point bottom bites. Saturday, I went looking for shallow fish off the bat and missed two bites within an hour of start.  Didn't get another bite for next 5+ hours.  Marked fish in main channels at 18-23', nearly all suspended.  Wind was coming straight up the middle of the lake.  I threw deep jerks, shallow jerks, deep cranks, jigs, soft swimbaits, blade baits, swimming worms, spinnerbaits, traps, Rage Bugs, grubs, chatterbaits and probably a few I am forgetting.  If I got bit deep, I never knew it.  The wind was nasty enough that unless they had choked down a treble bait, I would never have known.

  Finally got one up shallow while i was taking a break out of the wind; I almost had to stretch him to cross the 12" marks.  Followed that with a 10" short fish and that was it.  Four bites.  2 fish, only one of which was legal.  13 anglers zeroed.  Wish I could say it was fun.  Hard to have the patience needed for suspended lmb in those conditions.   I wouldn't mind trying again without the wind, but honestly not in a hurry to get back there.

Another big numbers day yet the big LGM eluded me today.    Today's high was 84 degrees, and at one point I saw 70 water temps.    

 

Close to 20 Bass, and a dozen or so big Crappie.   Biggest Bass was a 2.6 Spot taken on an Alabama Rig....absolutely murdered it lol.   The Flashback Mini accounted for most fish, crank took a few fish.    Most fish were in the 1-2lb range.    Almost all of them had large to extended bellies, and a number of them puked shad up on me.  

Took a few months to crack the Crappie code, but over the last several days I've worn them out like I've heard people do when they get on a hot Crappie bite.   Fun fish to catch, but certainly not like Bass.    

 

 

Congrats on another fine fishing trip, Alex. That first spot is beautiful and that third fish is on its way to becoming one of your beloved five-pounders. You can safely consider it a pre-five-pounder. The lm in the second photo too!

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

Congrats on another fine fishing trip, Alex. That first spot is beautiful and that third fish is on its way to becoming one of your beloved five-pounders. You can safely consider it a pre-five-pounder. The lm in the second photo too!

Thanks Katie!    I really thought the Spot was beautiful as well.   something about them pleases my OCD.  They are rather perfect fish in comparison to LGMs.  

You and I really get into the shapes and colors and patterns of fish. Of course, we both love them big and fat, but there's more to enjoying a bass than simply its size. You once compared gardening to fishing and as a gardener, I would be silly to only treasure my biggest trees and bushes. Sure, I love, love, LOVE a big tree, but I also enjoy my lesser-in-size trees, but greater in color and form trees. 

21 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

You and I really get into the shapes and colors and patterns of fish. Of course, we both love them big and fat, but there's more to enjoying a bass than simply its size. You once compared gardening to fishing and as a gardener, I would be silly to only treasure my biggest trees and bushes. Sure, I love, love, LOVE a big tree, but I also enjoy my lesser-in-size trees, but greater in color and form trees. 

Absolutely Katie.   I've always been fascinated by fish since a boy.      It's the start of Camellia season in Alabama, our state flower.   Lots of variety within the genus.  I love all the blooms, big, small........all equally beautiful just like Bass.     

This hit a 10" Ol Monster this morning, as soon as it hit the water. Water that was rising. My boots are soaked. First ever ribbontail fish. If there was ever any doubt. Bass of all sizes eat mag worms.

Been giving it my best shot before the weather turns. I've been trying to crack 6 lb. after a banner season with several 6's and even a 7 last year. Really can't complain, though with many above 4 like this one today. Have had a blast the past couple of months with a 1/4 oz. Booyah One Knocker. I catch some of my biggest bass well into Dec. if the weather lets me. This year's gonna be different though with knee replacement surgery in two weeks. Highly unlikely I'll get any fishing in until after New Year so this will be the first time in several years that I won't be able to brag about twelve months of bass. Been a heckuva season this year as far as numbers and average size, though.

Had about 1.5 hours to fish, my buddy got a nice 18” that was jumping like crazy and I got a super dink with and orange fin tip and orange eyes 

 

Another day with 15-20 fish, and a few big Crappie, however the highlight was getting on the hottest Buzzbait of my life after being inspired to throw them just last night reading about a guy who caught 1100+ 10lb fish on them.   

 

Got most of it on film.    Got a 3.3lb Spot to start the party off.    Lots of 2-3lb fish followed.   Had two come loose that looked to be in that 3lb range as well.   

 

12 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Another day with 15-20 fish, and a few big Crappie, however the highlight was getting on the hottest Buzzbait of my life after being inspired to throw them just last night reading about a guy who caught 1100+ 10lb fish on them.   

 

Got most of it on film.    Got a 3.3lb Spot to start the party off.    Lots of 2-3lb fish followed.   Had two come loose that looked to be in that 3lb range as well.   

 

Had a blast watching your video! I was a nervous wreck watching you work that buzz and I felt like I was in the yak with you cheering you on. Thanks so much for sharing!

Great video, Alex. I laughed and grinned through it. I love your excitement and I'm going to add buzzbaits to my tacklebox next year. I have NEVER caught a bass on a buzzbait. Heck, I've never even used a buzzbait for bass.

 

I have caught five fish on a buzzbait, all muskies, in a single hour, which was perhaps the greatest hour of fishing I've ever enjoyed. I was fishing a strait with a wind howling through it and I needed something that could be heard over the chop. At one point, I had two V's/muskies chasing my buzzbait. If I'm smiling at the moment of my death, it's because I'm remembering that hour. 

54 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Had a blast watching your video! I was a nervous wreck watching you work that buzz and I felt like I was in the yak with you cheering you on. Thanks so much for sharing!

 

Heck, yeah, Bob! I felt the same way!

On 11/8/2022 at 10:12 AM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thanks Katie!    I really thought the Spot was beautiful as well.   something about them pleases my OCD.  They are rather perfect fish in comparison to LGMs.  

 

@AlabamaSpothunter that was awesome! I’ve not been able to catch anything with a buzzbait to date except a sore shoulder (old injury). Those fish were tearing yours up. 
 

I did manage to catch a decent LM this afternoon that was around 2 pounds +/-. The sun was settling behind the trees too making the scenery something to awe. I tossed a high bomber of a cast by accident due to the resident goose squawking like it saw a zombie. The fact it had sidled up close to me when it cut loose made it all the more unexpected.

 

Turned out the lure (One Knocker lipless crank in Sunset Craw) landed almost at the other end of the pond. Was halfway back with it when it must have slapped the fish and thumbed its nose at it on the way by. The LM wasn’t about to let that slide and nailed it with impunity. Needless to say he came to a ‘hook fight’ with only some fins and lips. ? Snapped his photo for posterity and sent him back on his way. Next cast was a snag so as it was getting darker I packed up after freeing up the lure.

 

Went and explored some new water today, managed to pull fish from 3 of 4 locations. I caught the only catfish in my buddy's farm pond, unhooked at the bank but looked like a very well-fed 3-4lb channel cat. Murdered my trailer. Then these two at the next small lake in the first 10 casts.

Two dinks at the next place, one of which unhooked himself as I got stuck on someone else's cut line.

Last lake was super muddy and we were running short on time, so I only fished maybe 5% of the available shoreline. Definitely a place to return.

Scooting from pond to pond sounds like a blast!

10 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Had a blast watching your video! I was a nervous wreck watching you work that buzz and I felt like I was in the yak with you cheering you on. Thanks so much for sharing!

Thanks for watching, and the kind words Bob!   It's so nice to be able to share these moments that are special for me with a community of friends.   Many of us don't have friends or family who "get it" in real life.   They want to, but you can see the boredom in their eyes when you try to share something so meaningful in your life.       

9 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Great video, Alex. I laughed and grinned through it. I love your excitement and I'm going to add buzzbaits to my tacklebox next year. I have NEVER caught a bass on a buzzbait. Heck, I've never even used a buzzbait for bass.

 

I have caught five fish on a buzzbait, all muskies, in a single hour, which was perhaps the greatest hour of fishing I've ever enjoyed. I was fishing a strait with a wind howling through it and I needed something that could be heard over the chop. At one point, I had two V's/muskies chasing my buzzbait. If I'm smiling at the moment of my death, it's because I'm remembering that hour. 

 

Heck, yeah, Bob! I felt the same way!

As always Katie, your kind words and great stories never fail to make me smile.    Unlike you I've never had a ton of luck on topwater, and when I got into them yesterday I thought about how proud Katie would be of me hammering em' on top.      You're spoiled, there's nothing more exciting than catching fish on top.      I'm slowly building my confidence after yesterday and now today.   You're gonna be buying a buzzbait while I'm gonna be buying a whopper plopper....almost bought my first the other day, but the same company makes the S Waver 168 and it was like two rows over.....the Monkey is relentless.  

 

I grew up reading Muskie stories like the one you just posted......everything about them seems epic.

1 hour ago, sdw215 said:

@AlabamaSpothunter that was awesome! I’ve not been able to catch anything with a buzzbait to date except a sore shoulder (old injury). Those fish were tearing yours up. 
 

I did manage to catch a decent LM this afternoon that was around 2 pounds +/-. The sun was settling behind the trees too making the scenery something to awe. I tossed a high bomber of a cast by accident due to the resident goose squawking like it saw a zombie. The fact it had sidled up close to me when it cut loose made it all the more unexpected.

 

Turned out the lure (One Knocker lipless crank in Sunset Craw) landed almost at the other end of the pond. Was halfway back with it when it must have slapped the fish and thumbed its nose at it on the way by. The LM wasn’t about to let that slide and nailed it with impunity. Needless to say he came to a ‘hook fight’ with only some fins and lips. ? Snapped his photo for posterity and sent him back on his way. Next cast was a snag so as it was getting darker I packed up after freeing up the lure.

 

Great looking fish Scott and appreciate the kind words.      That cart is killer. 

First time seeing your pond.......beautiful!     Nothing better than having your own pond

Didn't catch the numbers like I've been this last week, but a 3.5lb Spot made the day on the buzzbait, and for about 10mins I was treated by a truly epic show put on by a pack of dozens of big Spots.    I was lucky enough to get it on camera.    I've never seen anything like it.     Imagine flying carp but flying 2-4lb Spotted Bass.    

 

 

Chunky bass, Mr. 46.

 

Alex, you're pulling the Bass Resource wagon. It's as big as a Budweiser wagon because it's chock full of a million lures and there used to be a herd of Yankee horses in harness with you, but we northern horses are all growing fat in our feed bags and barns. You and a few others keep these threads alive because you keep pulling and thank goodness for that. Seeing you catch fish is the next best thing to catching fish and especially when you're catching them on the surface. 

 

 

Alex, I just watched that school video. It's. Your, Best. One. Yet! Too exciting. I love seeing bass on the surface and casting to them.