2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Well, this season is a wrap. Always sad when it finally arrives, but forecast from here on out is nothing but cold, especially later next week. Took one last pass at a couple spots today under cloudy skies, breezy winds, and 38 deg. air temps. Was able to swing on 5 and connect on 3. Now I’ve got all winter to decide on my approach for next year. 
 

Not so fast. They're giving us mid 30's yet tomorrow. I'm planning on bundling up and taking this to the limit. Switched to jerks today and caught six. Gotta try it one more time. Weather gurus are saying the core of the cold air won't come for several days yet, just seasonal stuff like 20's at night to 30's during the day. So maybe if we can get some wind to keep the ice off? I seem to remember you being the guy who was catching bass in the hole of open water around the fountain a few years back. lol

32 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Not so fast. They're giving us mid 30's yet tomorrow. I'm planning on bundling up and taking this to the limit. Switched to jerks today and caught six. Gotta try it one more time. Weather gurus are saying the core of the cold air won't come for several days yet, just seasonal stuff like 20's at night to 30's during the day. So maybe if we can get some wind to keep the ice off? I seem to remember you being the guy who was catching bass in the hole of open water around the fountain a few years back. lol

 

We'll see. I see 34-36 with flurries tomorrow, and 35 Monday if things aren't frozen, but I'm not quite as bitten this late in the year as I have been in the past. Lots of it was always going just to prove to myself (or not) that you could still catch fish under even the worst conditions. Been there, done that. I don't think I'll fight freezing guides and that kind of stuff just to catch a fish this year. I'll post if I go though 

8 hours ago, Team9nine said:

 

We'll see. I see 34-36 with flurries tomorrow, and 35 Monday if things aren't frozen, but I'm not quite as bitten this late in the year as I have been in the past. Lots of it was always going just to prove to myself (or not) that you could still catch fish under even the worst conditions. Been there, done that. I don't think I'll fight freezing guides and that kind of stuff just to catch a fish this year. I'll post if I go though 

Truthfully, the same goes for me. I've just been so jacked lately with my knee progress that I feel like I want to conquer the world. One thing that I do is plan where I'm going as to orient the wind behind me. Narrower ponds and corner areas still let me fish windward. I really do believe fishing windward is key.

Finally installed new gear on my beloved Curado 70, missed the pure distance, super comfortable and raw power. I guess I give Shimano one last chance. 

 

Most likely closed out the season today with only three footlongs to show for three hours of 33* and 20+ mph winds. Didn't mess with pics. These shots were from yesterday when conditions were more tolerable. Spring can't come soon enough.

5 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Most likely closed out the season today with only three footlongs to show for three hours of 33* and 20+ mph winds. Didn't mess with pics. These shots were from yesterday when conditions were more tolerable. Spring can't come soon enough.

Good deal - I stayed inside today. If I find an open spot Monday, then maybe, but I’m not crossing my fingers.

Great pics!

 

 

                                                      

Fished yesterday from 7a - 2p and managed 5. Air temp 35 - 55, water temp 57 and a lovely gentle 15 - 35 mph breeze made it interesting. 

38 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

Fished yesterday from 7a - 2p and managed 5. Air temp 35 - 55, water temp 57 and a lovely gentle 15 - 35 mph breeze made it interesting. 

Good for you brother, if I see a Ned rig I know the fishing is terrible......I've started going home if the Ned rigs comes out lol.

 

We share very similar fishing weather.   The huge rain and awful cold front have just stunned the fish in my lake, along with my confidence.   Water went up several feet, and this was the first rain since I've been back on the lake that changed the water clarity in a profound way.   All it took was three 2-3hr sessions of this 45-55degree weather with 10-15 constant winds to make me question what the heck I'm going to do over the next two months at a min.     Each day including today I caught a single really small Bass.    Today I caught a Crappie as well, and yesterday I actually had a cool thing happen when I caught an 8" Golden shiner on a 110Jr......I had no idea the lake had them.    Thrilled to see another huge baitfish that only the big fish can eat.    Adds just another little bit more confidence I'm gaining with the big Swimbaits.   

 

To say I don't know how to winter fish is an understatement.   I'm out there throwing these stupid metal baits literally laughing at myself like a raving lunatic.  I try not to take it personal, but my word is Bass fishing frustrating and humbling.   #Firstworldproblems ?

8 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Good for you brother, if I see a Ned rig I know the fishing is terrible......I've started going home if the Ned rigs comes out lol.

 

We share very similar fishing weather.   The huge rain and awful cold front have just stunned the fish in my lake, along with my confidence.   Water went up several feet, and this was the first rain since I've been back on the lake that changed the water clarity in a profound way.   All it took was three 2-3hr sessions of this 45-55degree weather with 10-15 constant winds to make me question what the heck I'm going to do over the next two months at a min.     Each day including today I caught a single really small Bass.    Today I caught a Crappie as well, and yesterday I actually had a cool thing happen when I caught an 8" Golden shiner on a 110Jr......I had no idea the lake had them.    Thrilled to see another huge baitfish that only the big fish can eat.    Adds just another little bit more confidence I'm gaining with the big Swimbaits.   

 

To say I don't know how to winter fish is an understatement.   I'm out there throwing these stupid metal baits literally laughing at myself like a raving lunatic.  I try not to take it personal, but my word is Bass fishing frustrating and humbling.   #Firstworldproblems ?

Our lake also came up 2' in the past week. I also threw the the 6th Sense 9" Draw, 8" Sneaky Pete, 5.75" Pistol Pete, and 6" Bull Shad with not so much as a follow. I'll throw the Ned anytime, the Spots including big Spots love them. I love winter fishing, it separates the men from the crazies. That might not be right, but you know what I think i mean.? I'm actually looking forward to the lake getting cooler and put these fish in winter mode so I can pull out my jigging spoons and blade baits.

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Water went up several feet,

 

54 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

Our lake also came up 2' in the past week.

This screams flippin stick and shoreline cover to me. Creek mouths and cuts that still have water running in are prime targets. If the water's 50ish or higher, I'll have a spinnerbait rod handy too.

52 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

 

This screams flippin stick and shoreline cover to me. Creek mouths and cuts that still have water running in are prime targets. If the water's 50ish or higher, I'll have a spinnerbait rod handy too.

The bulk of our water is pumped up to the lake so it doesn't get muddy or stained. If we get lucky, maybe twice a year it'll get a bit off colored. Still had 5' of visibility yesterday. Spinnerbaits haven't produced since Spring. But I'm going to try slow rolling some heavy big Spinnerbaits Friday deep.

On 12/14/2022 at 6:30 PM, thediscochef said:

Out and about Houston this week for work, hit Fairfield Lake on the way down for this nice bass. Went to Livingston this morning and came up empty, left a chatterbait minimax and a red eye shad behind. Just wrapped up at a pond in Woodlands after snapping off the heaviest fish I've hooked in probably 3 months. Whatever that was it had to have been well over 5lbs to rip drag that hard. I haven't caught anything decent since probably October and that was an absolute gut punch. This year is ending badly, hopefully the last two weeks get a little better.

Today the last two weeks of the year improved. My buddy and I went on a guided trip of Ray Roberts that was postponed from a couple weeks ago. It was 29 degrees at the boat ramp this morning and all the fish came early. I caught a new PB, 7lbs 10oz. She was a little skinny and pretty beat up, but to me that's still as pretty a bass as I've caught. Thing fought like a tree branch lol I wasn't convinced it was a fish until a large bass head came up out of the water for a shake and everyone on the boat shouted ? I was using a megabass vision 110 in bone on 12lb siege mono. Bait has a slight rise to its pause. Light tac40 rod/lews tournament xp reel. 

 

Absolutely worth the last month of pain. I'm particularly relieved considering we have a high of ... 20 degrees ... on Friday. I will hopefully be on South Padre Island by then ? and when I get back we should be in full blown jerkbait season. 

28 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

I caught a new PB, 7lbs 10oz.

 

Nice Bass ~ 

Congrats on the new Personal Best !

And if you weren't previously a member,

Welcome to the 7 lb Club. 

A-Jay

 

27 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Today the last two weeks of the year improved. My buddy and I went on a guided trip of Ray Roberts that was postponed from a couple weeks ago. It was 29 degrees at the boat ramp this morning and all the fish came early. I caught a new PB, 7lbs 10oz. She was a little skinny and pretty beat up, but to me that's still as pretty a bass as I've caught. Thing fought like a tree branch lol I wasn't convinced it was a fish until a large bass head came up out of the water for a shake and everyone on the boat shouted ? I was using a megabass vision 110 in bone on 12lb siege mono. Bait has a slight rise to its pause. Light tac40 rod/lews tournament xp reel. 

 

Absolutely worth the last month of pain. I'm particularly relieved considering we have a high of ... 20 degrees ... on Friday. I will hopefully be on South Padre Island by then ? and when I get back we should be in full blown jerkbait season. 

Awesome job!    

 

MegaBass's 110 series is one of the few baits that is worth the hype and money.   Lot of great jerkbaits, but there just isn't another 110.     I'm loving the Jr models right now.  

35 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Today the last two weeks of the year improved. My buddy and I went on a guided trip of Ray Roberts that was postponed from a couple weeks ago. It was 29 degrees at the boat ramp this morning and all the fish came early. I caught a new PB, 7lbs 10oz. She was a little skinny and pretty beat up, but to me that's still as pretty a bass as I've caught. Thing fought like a tree branch lol I wasn't convinced it was a fish until a large bass head came up out of the water for a shake and everyone on the boat shouted ? I was using a megabass vision 110 in bone on 12lb siege mono. Bait has a slight rise to its pause. Light tac40 rod/lews tournament xp reel. 

 

Absolutely worth the last month of pain. I'm particularly relieved considering we have a high of ... 20 degrees ... on Friday. I will hopefully be on South Padre Island by then ? and when I get back we should be in full blown jerkbait season. 

Congrats on the new PB!!!

50 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Today the last two weeks of the year improved. My buddy and I went on a guided trip of Ray Roberts that was postponed from a couple weeks ago. It was 29 degrees at the boat ramp this morning and all the fish came early. I caught a new PB, 7lbs 10oz. She was a little skinny and pretty beat up, but to me that's still as pretty a bass as I've caught. Thing fought like a tree branch lol I wasn't convinced it was a fish until a large bass head came up out of the water for a shake and everyone on the boat shouted ? I was using a megabass vision 110 in bone on 12lb siege mono. Bait has a slight rise to its pause. Light tac40 rod/lews tournament xp reel. 

 

Absolutely worth the last month of pain. I'm particularly relieved considering we have a high of ... 20 degrees ... on Friday. I will hopefully be on South Padre Island by then ? and when I get back we should be in full blown jerkbait season. 

Great catch. Congrats on your PB

I thought last Sunday was it for me until Jan 1 but plans changed.  My Wife has a get together each year before Christmas with her brother and all her sisters.   It was today but the location changed to her Sisters house that's on Lake Wylie so I got one more 2022 trip.   I've had my boat for a year now.  I bought it on Dec 18 2021.  I caught my PB Spotted bass that day.  (4 lbs, 4 ounces).    I broke that record today with a 4 pound 15 ounce Spot.   It was 20 1/4 inches long.   I also caught 3 more.  A 3 pound 5 ounce spot, a 2 pound 5 ounce spot, and a 3 pound 10 ounce Largemouth.   The biggest spot got tangled up in a fallen down dock.  I was about to panic, and try to horse it out, and I thought about something (I think) WRB said.  He said don't force a bass out of cover, lead it out.   I felt like it was hooked really good.  I got a good solid hookset on a Siebert Jig.   I moved the boat the direction the bass was trying to go, and let up some on the pressure.  She swam out.   I caught the LM on a jig, and the other 2 spots on a DT8.  According to the temperature display in my truck it was 28 degrees when I launched my boat.   The water temp was 52 degrees.  

1 hour ago, thediscochef said:

Today the last two weeks of the year improved. My buddy and I went on a guided trip of Ray Roberts that was postponed from a couple weeks ago. It was 29 degrees at the boat ramp this morning and all the fish came early. I caught a new PB, 7lbs 10oz. She was a little skinny and pretty beat up, but to me that's still as pretty a bass as I've caught. Thing fought like a tree branch lol I wasn't convinced it was a fish until a large bass head came up out of the water for a shake and everyone on the boat shouted ? I was using a megabass vision 110 in bone on 12lb siege mono. Bait has a slight rise to its pause. Light tac40 rod/lews tournament xp reel. 

 

Absolutely worth the last month of pain. I'm particularly relieved considering we have a high of ... 20 degrees ... on Friday. I will hopefully be on South Padre Island by then ? and when I get back we should be in full blown jerkbait season. 

Great fish. Congrats. 

11 minutes ago, Woody B said:

I thought last Sunday was it for me until Jan 1 but plans changed.  My Wife has a get together each year before Christmas with her brother and all her sisters.   It was today but the location changed to her Sisters house that's on Lake Wylie so I got one more 2022 trip.   I've had my boat for a year now.  I bought it on Dec 18 2021.  I caught my PB Spotted bass that day.  (4 lbs, 4 ounces).    I broke that record today with a 4 pound 15 ounce Spot.   It was 20 1/4 inches long.   I also caught 3 more.  A 3 pound 5 ounce spot, a 2 pound 5 ounce spot, and a 3 pound 10 ounce Largemouth.   The biggest spot got tangled up in a fallen down dock.  I was about to panic, and try to horse it out, and I thought about something (I think) WRB said.  He said don't force a bass out of cover, lead it out.   I felt like it was hooked really good.  I got a good solid hookset on a Siebert Jig.   I moved the boat the direction the bass was trying to go, and let up some on the pressure.  She swam out.   I caught the LM on a jig, and the other 2 spots on a DT8.  According to the temperature display in my truck it was 28 degrees when I launched my boat.   The water temp was 52 degrees.  

4 lb 15 ounce Spot! Excellent! 

5 minutes ago, Woody B said:

I thought last Sunday was it for me until Jan 1 but plans changed.  My Wife has a get together each year before Christmas with her brother and all her sisters.   It was today but the location changed to her Sisters house that's on Lake Wylie so I got one more 2022 trip.   I've had my boat for a year now.  I bought it on Dec 18 2021.  I caught my PB Spotted bass that day.  (4 lbs, 4 ounces).    I broke that record today with a 4 pound 15 ounce Spot.   It was 20 1/4 inches long.   I also caught 3 more.  A 3 pound 5 ounce spot, a 2 pound 5 ounce spot, and a 3 pound 10 ounce Largemouth.   The biggest spot got tangled up in a fallen down dock.  I was about to panic, and try to horse it out, and I thought about something (I think) WRB said.  He said don't force a bass out of cover, lead it out.   I felt like it was hooked really good.  I got a good solid hookset on a Siebert Jig.   I moved the boat the direction the bass was trying to go, and let up some on the pressure.  She swam out.   I caught the LM on a jig, and the other 2 spots on a DT8.  According to the temperature display in my truck it was 28 degrees when I launched my boat.   The water temp was 52 degrees.  

Must be the PB day that someone forget to send the memo to me about, congrats brother, what a fantastic specimen! 

 

I've found that if I catch one big Spot, the chances of catching others in that same area are quite high.

 

Based on my observations, Spots aren't like big LGMs in regard to being solitary by in large, I think they pack hunt many times, with some outliers that are like LGMs.    Best fishing day of my life involved packs of 4-6lb Spotted Bass and Lay Lake.    A big Spotted Bass is exceptional in every way, you never catch one that big and not know immediately you are hooked into a big Spot.  

5 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

Great fish. Congrats. 

4 lb 15 ounce Spot! Excellent! 

The most impressive thing is that he didn't round it up......I mean that's a 5lb Spot to 90% of us at least, he just spit up a Shad while reeling him in ?

18 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Must be the PB day that someone forget to send the memo to me about, congrats brother, what a fantastic specimen! 

 

I've found that if I catch one big Spot, the chances of catching others in that same area are quite high.

 

Based on my observations, Spots aren't like big LGMs in regard to being solitary by in large, I think they pack hunt many times, with some outliers that are like LGMs.    Best fishing day of my life involved packs of 4-6lb Spotted Bass and Lay Lake.    A big Spotted Bass is exceptional in every way, you never catch one that big and not know immediately you are hooked into a big Spot.  

The most impressive thing is that he didn't round it up......I mean that's a 5lb Spot to 90% of us at least, he just spit up a Shad while reeling him in ?

True. That's why all my big fish hit the scale. No misremembering weights.?

1 hour ago, thediscochef said:

Today the last two weeks of the year improved. My buddy and I went on a guided trip of Ray Roberts that was postponed from a couple weeks ago. It was 29 degrees at the boat ramp this morning and all the fish came early. I caught a new PB, 7lbs 10oz. She was a little skinny and pretty beat up, but to me that's still as pretty a bass as I've caught. Thing fought like a tree branch lol I wasn't convinced it was a fish until a large bass head came up out of the water for a shake and everyone on the boat shouted ? I was using a megabass vision 110 in bone on 12lb siege mono. Bait has a slight rise to its pause. Light tac40 rod/lews tournament xp reel. 

 

Absolutely worth the last month of pain. I'm particularly relieved considering we have a high of ... 20 degrees ... on Friday. I will hopefully be on South Padre Island by then ? and when I get back we should be in full blown jerkbait season. 

Awesome fish man! Y’all are killing it! We just got back home from a 7 day camping trip with no fishing involved. ? I see the doc in the morning about my hands and hope he can do both before the end of the year. The trigger finger has gotten so bad now both hands feel like they have 3rd degree burns. If I could train my feet to cast I’d be good! ?

The NC state record spot is 6 lbs, 5 ounces.   I believe a new record swims in Lake Wylie.  ( I caught the 4-15 in SC though)   I've caught a bunch of 3 pounders this year.   I don't know if a DD Largemouth swims in Wylie though.   I caught on that was 7 lbs 13 ounces back in March.  I haven't heard of or talked to anyone who's caught one bigger this year.   A guy I see at the landing occasionally did catch two 6 pound LM's a couple months ago.   

I'm just bass fishing, not doing anything specific to chase a state record spot, but I would get a kick out of catching a record.   SC state record spot is 8 lbs 5 oz.  It was caught in Lake Jocassee.  I suspect it got fat eating Trout, like the California bass do.  

 

 

My only DD Largemouth was over 30 years ago.  

1 hour ago, Woody B said:

I thought last Sunday was it for me until Jan 1 but plans changed.  My Wife has a get together each year before Christmas with her brother and all her sisters.   It was today but the location changed to her Sisters house that's on Lake Wylie so I got one more 2022 trip.   I've had my boat for a year now.  I bought it on Dec 18 2021.  I caught my PB Spotted bass that day.  (4 lbs, 4 ounces).    I broke that record today with a 4 pound 15 ounce Spot.   It was 20 1/4 inches long.   I also caught 3 more.  A 3 pound 5 ounce spot, a 2 pound 5 ounce spot, and a 3 pound 10 ounce Largemouth.   The biggest spot got tangled up in a fallen down dock.  I was about to panic, and try to horse it out, and I thought about something (I think) WRB said.  He said don't force a bass out of cover, lead it out.   I felt like it was hooked really good.  I got a good solid hookset on a Siebert Jig.   I moved the boat the direction the bass was trying to go, and let up some on the pressure.  She swam out.   I caught the LM on a jig, and the other 2 spots on a DT8.  According to the temperature display in my truck it was 28 degrees when I launched my boat.   The water temp was 52 degrees.  

A 4lb 15oz spot would be a lake record where I was at today, and is about double my PB - great catch!!

On 12/17/2022 at 3:57 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Good for you brother, if I see a Ned rig I know the fishing is terrible......I've started going home if the Ned rigs comes out lol.

 

We share very similar fishing weather.   The huge rain and awful cold front have just stunned the fish in my lake, along with my confidence.   Water went up several feet, and this was the first rain since I've been back on the lake that changed the water clarity in a profound way.   All it took was three 2-3hr sessions of this 45-55degree weather with 10-15 constant winds to make me question what the heck I'm going to do over the next two months at a min.     Each day including today I caught a single really small Bass.    Today I caught a Crappie as well, and yesterday I actually had a cool thing happen when I caught an 8" Golden shiner on a 110Jr......I had no idea the lake had them.    Thrilled to see another huge baitfish that only the big fish can eat.    Adds just another little bit more confidence I'm gaining with the big Swimbaits.   

 

To say I don't know how to winter fish is an understatement.   I'm out there throwing these stupid metal baits literally laughing at myself like a raving lunatic.  I try not to take it personal, but my word is Bass fishing frustrating and humbling.   #Firstworldproblems ?

It's been a real struggle this year down south with the early winter, 100%. They're shallow here from about 7:30am to about 8:30am, and the rest of the day right now they're all in 20-30 feet of water trying to have a little stability in their lives. We did best with jerkbaits just above deeply submerged timbers and riprap. Couldn't find em anywhere else. Loooong pauses on the 110. I spent most of this month wondering how I'm gonna make it work till late March, too lol

it'd better be a darn good jerkbait winter or ... else

On 12/14/2022 at 6:56 PM, ol'crickety said:

@thediscochef

 

Dear Santa, 

 

I'm not asking for anything nice for myself. I've earned all of my 66 lumps of coal. However, I am asking for one thing for thediscochef. It's this (See below.). I know your eyes are old, so I had a friend hold it up high and close so you can see. Please, for the love of Christmas, don't bring him a freshwater drum and if you can't deliver a big bass, he will accept an Official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle, but a big bass is the ultimate gift, you know:

 

It worked! Thanks!! ? my eyes remain safe from my own projectiles for yet another Christmas