27 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

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

Thanks! A milk crate, some pvc, zip ties and voila! Instant gear toter. Can’t take credit for the pond. It’s part of the property my daughter and son in law bought a year or so ago. I just fish the heck out of it as often as I can. ?

51 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

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. 

You're too kind friend!    This is most certainly the type of fishing you're accustomed to, there is just nothing like watching these fish on the surface, or the anticipation of waiting for that blowup.   

 

One of these days I'll catch half as many as you do on a good day.....around 25 or so up top, and at that point my excitement fuse will no doubt blow ?

 

Alex, I've been in Canada when the smallmouth were surface feeding. They'd snatch something from the surface and then you had ten seconds or less to land a surface Rapala within a three or four foot circle of where they hit. If you were quick enough and accurate enough, it was FISH ON! It was the best kind of nervous, wondering if you could meet the two criteria of speed and precision casting. 

 

White bass, on the other hand, are much less demanding. When they're chasing shad to the surface, "general direction" catches fish. 

Watched AlabamaSpothunters video about buzzbaits yesterday morning and go so tore up I had to leave work and head for the Big T! It was either work or fish buzzbaits! Easy choice. Started out using a small 1/8 that Chris Catignani used one day to hook a whale but all I could get were little dinks. Went to a size up and the bites slowed but the size increased. I couldn't set hooks because I hurt my wrist the other day but most of the little spots hooked themselves. Finally couldn't stand the pain any longer and went to trolling cranks. The were eating like sharks. Ended with 48 in four hours but big fish was only 16". Had a blast regardless. Had to show a photo of one of the small spots. His belly is so big I'm sure we was eating the rip-rap! 

13 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

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.    

 

 

Oh my goodness! Don't panic! Just gittum!

 

I love it!!!!!

@Blue Raider Bob Looks like weights in that one Kentucky. Headed to Priest in a few...holler if your out.

11 minutes ago, Chris Catignani said:

@Blue Raider Bob Looks like weights in that one Kentucky. Headed to Priest in a few...holler if your out.

Thanks Chris but I really need to stay at work after playing hookey yesterday afternoon. Besides my wrist hurts so badly, I can't hold a rod. But let me know if they're biting and maybe I can down some Tylenol and man up!

16 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Thanks Chris but I really need to stay at work after playing hookey yesterday afternoon. Besides my wrist hurts so badly, I can't hold a rod. But let me know if they're biting and maybe I can down some Tylenol and man up!

I just need a net man...?

Been absent on here for a while because earlier sunsets and hunting season means I unfortunately don't have time for fishing.  Made some time before the time change to take the kids out on a warm day for a little bit after a morning hunt.

 

Had a buzzbait still tied on from this summer so I tried it out.  Only took a few casts and I was bringing in a decent ~2 pounder.

 

 

Let the kids try to find some bluegills with no luck.

 

 

 

Switched to a spinnerbait and caught this fish for like the 4th time this year.  HIs tail is finally looking better.

 

 

Had a fox come in to get a drink of water across the pond from us that both kids got to see and a bald eagle fly overhead as combines picked the corn.  Just can't beat this place, fish or no fish.

 

 

 

29 minutes ago, Chris Catignani said:

I just need a net man...?

Guys he's telling the truth! But why he wants me after I messed him up last time is hard to figure. He hooked a big smallie on the Cumberland and once, maybe twice I missed him before he went airborne and, Adios! He just took it in stride as he mumbled something under his breath!

1 hour ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Watched AlabamaSpothunters video about buzzbaits yesterday morning and go so tore up I had to leave work and head for the Big T! It was either work or fish buzzbaits! Easy choice. Started out using a small 1/8 that Chris Catignani used one day to hook a whale but all I could get were little dinks. Went to a size up and the bites slowed but the size increased. I couldn't set hooks because I hurt my wrist the other day but most of the little spots hooked themselves. Finally couldn't stand the pain any longer and went to trolling cranks. The were eating like sharks. Ended with 48 in four hours but big fish was only 16". Had a blast regardless. Had to show a photo of one of the small spots. His belly is so big I'm sure we was eating the rip-rap! 

Oh my goodness! Don't panic! Just gittum!

 

I love it!!!!!

Bob that's epic.......that one FAT fish makes me so happy, imagine how much that fish is eating ?

 

I don't care what size they are, 48 fish up top is incredible fishing.   

49 minutes ago, hokiehunter373 said:

Been absent on here for a while because earlier sunsets and hunting season means I unfortunately don't have time for fishing.  Made some time before the time change to take the kids out on a warm day for a little bit after a morning hunt.

 

Had a buzzbait still tied on from this summer so I tried it out.  Only took a few casts and I was bringing in a decent ~2 pounder.

 

 

Let the kids try to find some bluegills with no luck.

 

 

 

Switched to a spinnerbait and caught this fish for like the 4th time this year.  HIs tail is finally looking better.

 

 

Had a fox come in to get a drink of water across the pond from us that both kids got to see and a bald eagle fly overhead as combines picked the corn.  Just can't beat this place, fish or no fish.

 

 

 

 

Beautiful kids, and pics!   Great job Dad!  

3 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Alex, I've been in Canada when the smallmouth were surface feeding. They'd snatch something from the surface and then you had ten seconds or less to land a surface Rapala within a three or four foot circle of where they hit. If you were quick enough and accurate enough, it was FISH ON! It was the best kind of nervous, wondering if you could meet the two criteria of speed and precision casting. 

 

White bass, on the other hand, are much less demanding. When they're chasing shad to the surface, "general direction" catches fish. 

It surely ruins you to some degree to other types of baits.    I started back fishing this year being a 90% bottom contact guy, but incredibly that's flipped to 90% moving baits.   

 

I'm already thinking about how hard it's going to be to transition back to the bottom, and slow fishing.    Fishing is already exciting, but topwater takes it over the edge.  

Alex, I agree that surface fishing is tops, literally and figuratively. I'd rather catch one musky/largemouth/smallmouth on the surface than two beneath the surface. Then there's froggin', which is Surface Fishing 2.0 Ultra XXXL, since they're hunkered under the lily pads a couple feet from you and whereas they want to eat a Whopper Plopper, they want to obliterate a frog. Like muskies on the surface sometimes do, I've seen bass make those V's in their haste to clobber my frog and if they could talk, they'd say, "Bass smash puny frog!"

 

hokiehunter lives in Heaven. This is me looking at hokiehunters' photos:

 

4 hours ago, hokiehunter373 said:

Been absent on here for a while because earlier sunsets and hunting season means I unfortunately don't have time for fishing.  Made some time before the time change to take the kids out on a warm day for a little bit after a morning hunt.

 

Had a buzzbait still tied on from this summer so I tried it out.  Only took a few casts and I was bringing in a decent ~2 pounder.

 

 

Let the kids try to find some bluegills with no luck.

 

 

 

Switched to a spinnerbait and caught this fish for like the 4th time this year.  HIs tail is finally looking better.

 

 

Had a fox come in to get a drink of water across the pond from us that both kids got to see and a bald eagle fly overhead as combines picked the corn.  Just can't beat this place, fish or no fish.

 

 

 

 

Those are some awesome pictures! My daughter used to use bread, string and a hook to fish with back when she was around your kids age. She’d make us look bad with how many she’d catch. Beautiful scenery too. Can’t beat that at all!

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Bob that's epic.......that one FAT fish makes me so happy, imagine how much that fish is eating ?

 

I don't care what size they are, 48 fish up top is incredible fishing.   

Beautiful kids, and pics!   Great job Dad!  

It surely ruins you to some degree to other types of baits.    I started back fishing this year being a 90% bottom contact guy, but incredibly that's flipped to 90% moving baits.   

 

I'm already thinking about how hard it's going to be to transition back to the bottom, and slow fishing.    Fishing is already exciting, but topwater takes it over the edge.  

One crazy thing about yesterday was I hung a good fish while trolling a Shad Rap. While fighting the heavy fish against the current my line got hung up and the current started pulling drag. I got the boat turned around with the trolling motor and headed upriver to try to retrieve my Shad Rap. All of a sudden there was a big fish leap by the boat and I could see him down in the clear water. There was my Shad Rap in the mouth of a large Spotted Bass at least ten feet away from where my line was wrapped around submerged timber. I was not about to break off and leave this fish with a crank bait stuck in it's mouth If I could help it. I reached down with my net as far as I could go while fighting the current with the trolling motor. Twice I had him in the net but when I lifted the net the tangled line pulled him out of the net before I could get my fingers on him. It was getting dark and I was in panic mode. I got soaked trying to reach him with my arms but finally he pulled free and I netted my Shad Rap and cut the line. Drove home with wet clothes and lost my probable PB Spot but was more than happy to see him go!

Thanks for working so hard to free that bass, Bob. You lost the fish, but caught a heckuva yarn. 

2 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

One crazy thing about yesterday was I hung a good fish while trolling a Shad Rap. While fighting the heavy fish against the current my line got hung up and the current started pulling drag. I got the boat turned around with the trolling motor and headed upriver to try to retrieve my Shad Rap. All of a sudden there was a big fish leap by the boat and I could see him down in the clear water. There was my Shad Rap in the mouth of a large Spotted Bass at least ten feet away from where my line was wrapped around submerged timber. I was not about to break off and leave this fish with a crank bait stuck in it's mouth If I could help it. I reached down with my net as far as I could go while fighting the current with the trolling motor. Twice I had him in the net but when I lifted the net the tangled line pulled him out of the net before I could get my fingers on him. It was getting dark and I was in panic mode. I got soaked trying to reach him with my arms but finally he pulled free and I netted my Shad Rap and cut the line. Drove home with wet clothes and lost my probable PB Spot but was more than happy to see him go!

Hate to hear about the PB aspect, but you collected lots of karma on that deal.    

 

Considering that you recently got a new Spot PB, I'd bet heavily on you topping that one soon enough Bob.    The universe might just reward you with this same fish but only in a year when it's a 4-5lb fish

Didn’t really have time for boating after work so I hit up the local rock pit. Caught one first cast, bad luck. Apparently not, got one second cast! Ended up with 4-5 all the same size. An old timer told me

there were big fish in there so I keep trying, so far after 2 years every fish I’ve caught is the exact same size 

Fall is always my best days for numbers but today was fat fish day.  4-7 LM, 4-8 walleye, 8-1 striper.  All on the same chrome Cotton Cordell Super Spot.  The striper was in a foot of water in the back of a creek arm with about 10 of his buddies (that I also caught on the same crankbait).  

 

Another fun day but the weather wasn't great which dampened the bite.    

 

Got a half dozen or so on the Buzzbait, another half dozen on the Flashback Mini, and two on a S Waver 168s swimbait.   Watching those fish follow it, and then hammer it right at the boat is so neat.  Caught a few lb+ Crappie as well.   

 

I'm catching a lot of fish with Shad in their mouths, or they puke Shad up.....always makes me feel bad lol.   

On 11/9/2022 at 6:18 PM, ol'crickety said:

Scooting from pond to pond sounds like a blast!

Always a good time, especially when you can access the majority of the shores.

 

Back at my usual spot today, another 5lb fish. Also a small LMB and another meanmouth I believe. Life is good.

It was one of the better days on the water. I caught 11 wipers/white bass in the 2lb range,

 

at least 30+ crappie and 7 large mouth. Most of them were caught on these two lures. Broke some hooks while I was at it too.

 

11 hours ago, thediscochef said:

Always a good time, especially when you can access the majority of the shores.

 

Back at my usual spot today, another 5lb fish. Also a small LMB and another meanmouth I believe. Life is good.

 

That second one kind of looks like a Guadalupe bass to me, but I'm no expert.

 

Killing it with those 5lber man, good job.

59 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

 

That second one kind of looks like a Guadalupe bass to me, but I'm no expert.

 

Killing it with those 5lber man, good job.

Thanks! Always a good time. That one yesterday was nearly my first heartbreak...it was hooked on one barb of my red eye shad...on the outside of its mouth. One of those situations where you probably have only one chance to lip it.

 

I've caught a few bass at Ray Bob that look similar to guaddies, but definitely aren't. The Guadalupe tends to resemble Shoal bass a little more in marking/coloration, the one I caught is more brown than green (though I've never caught either species). I'm 99.99% sure it's a spot×smallie hybrid, we're also about 200 miles too far north to get Guadalupe bass. Shame, too, because that's a bucket list fish for me

7 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Thanks! Always a good time. That one yesterday was nearly my first heartbreak...it was hooked on one barb of my red eye shad...on the outside of its mouth. One of those situations where you probably have only one chance to lip it.

 

I've caught a few bass at Ray Bob that look similar to guaddies, but definitely aren't. The Guadalupe tends to resemble Shoal bass a little more in marking/coloration, the one I caught is more brown than green (though I've never caught either species). I'm 99.99% sure it's a spot×smallie hybrid, we're also about 200 miles too far north to get Guadalupe bass. Shame, too, because that's a bucket list fish for me

 

Sometimes I forget just how big Texas is. ?

13 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

Fall is always my best days for numbers but today was fat fish day.  4-7 LM, 4-8 walleye, 8-1 striper.  All on the same chrome Cotton Cordell Super Spot.  The striper was in a foot of water in the back of a creek arm with about 10 of his buddies (that I also caught on the same crankbait).  

 

OMG! What a huge beast!

Way to go!!!

1 minute ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Sometimes I forget just how big Texas is. ?

There's places here I want to fish, but I'd need to spend the night just because of the drive, and I'm usually not prepared for that lol

 

That said, all but one of my fish over 5lb has been caught right at that little spot, including my PB. I wasn't catching fish this size there last year until Christmas; I really believe I will break my PB there this winter if I give it 100% and be ready. It's fishing really well compared to this time last year.