Alex, the MOST useful thing for me to see in videos is the retrieve. If I can see what your hands are doing, then I can do it too. Sure, I like those videos where they show surface hits, but they're not nearly as educational as getting to see a fisher work the bait. When I work a jerkbait, I always worry that there's some special twitch that I'm not doing, but you, Alex, really mix up your jerkbait retrieves and I'm going to do that too, come spring.

 

Thanks, professor! 

12 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Had a really fantastic session today.    Biggest 5 fish day since this summer with about 18-19lbs.    Caught my biggest fish since August 4th, and second biggest fish since starting back, a 7.2lb fish that couldn't have been healthier and fatter.    To see this big girl swim off so much easier in the 45 degree water is a big plus of catching them in the winter vs. summer I see.   Loved seeing her swim off full of spunk.   She'll be my White Whale in about 1.5 years hopefully.   

 

Pardon the usual schoolgirl excitement, but wow this fish lit me up on my BFS Steez setup with a 110Jr +1  in Threadfin Shad.    She peeled dragged within nano seconds of hooking up.   Catfish was the first thought in my head lol.    Some might remember a week or two back I lost a really nice fish I never got to see, just got this same lure back with a straightened out treble hook.   Note the last picture, WHEW lol 

 

 

eta:  @ScottW   got so excited after catching her I had to text Scott, told him I'd tag him once I got the video up

Oh my! Please stay hooked......Please stay hooked!!!!  I can't stand too much more of this Alex! My heart is racing watching your video and !'m way too old to have a racing heart! It may race off without me!

Totally loved fishing with you yesterday and if my heart slows down long enough I'll go again with you tomorrow!

Thanks for the video and congrats on your EPIC day!

9 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thank ya'll so much for the kind words and support!!! ? Such a privilege to not only catch these fish, but share them with others that are equally as passionate about them as I am.   With anything else I'd die of embarrassment sharing something like that first 3mins of the video, but you guys afford me the buzzword of the last few years.....a true "safe space" ?

 

After a decade + break, I had only started fishing about two weeks until I was searching for a community of great people who I could learn from.   Enter BassResource and the amazingly talented, friendly, knowledgeable, and diverse background membership base.   I've learned more in 4 months here than I had in all my previous years of Bass fishing growing up and as a young adult.  The members here especially in this thread have given me confidence to fish vastly differently than I had in the past.   Seeing some of you post ridiculous reports on top waters, others on big Swimbaits, others on Jerkbaits, etc., all stick in the back of your mind next time on the water.   

 

I'm inspired by some members, others fascinate me, others educate me, some always seem to make their posts funny, this is a wonderful place because of the wonderful group of people that populate it.    I enjoy getting to share the occasions I have some success because there is no doubt that many in this thread and community have played a huge role in facilitating that success.   

 

Katie you are spot on correct, that beautiful lure caught me with all three trebles, but one managed to snag that big girl....so now MegaBass will snag more of my money tom., and thus the viscous tackle monkey cycle continues  ?

 

 

You got that right brother!    When I stop shaking, I'll go golfing or antiquing or something ?

Alex never be embarrassed! We are all fishermen...and women. We get to share our extreme joy with our brothers and sisters from other mothers! One other thing.....school girls aren't the only people allowed to get excited! School boys can get pretty giggly too! Even old ones like me!

12 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Had a really fantastic session today.    Biggest 5 fish day since this summer with about 18-19lbs.    Caught my biggest fish since August 4th, and second biggest fish since starting back, a 7.2lb fish that couldn't have been healthier and fatter.    To see this big girl swim off so much easier in the 45 degree water is a big plus of catching them in the winter vs. summer I see.   Loved seeing her swim off full of spunk.   She'll be my White Whale in about 1.5 years hopefully.   

 

Pardon the usual schoolgirl excitement, but wow this fish lit me up on my BFS Steez setup with a 110Jr +1  in Threadfin Shad.    She peeled dragged within nano seconds of hooking up.   Catfish was the first thought in my head lol.    Some might remember a week or two back I lost a really nice fish I never got to see, just got this same lure back with a straightened out treble hook.   Note the last picture, WHEW lol 

 

 

eta:  @ScottW   got so excited after catching her I had to text Scott, told him I'd tag him once I got the video up

I get a text from Alex and when I opened it I see this huge fish with the words “Just caught a 7.2.  Unreal”. I look down at my Frankenstein hands with all the stitches in them and slowly typed out the words: “You Suck!” ?

 

We texted back and forth for a bit with him showing me various images of the Garmin, Lake and boat and I got real tempted to go down to the pond. Stitches be darned.

 

Seriously Alex, @AlabamaSpothunter: Congratulations on that pig! Great job and awesome commentary. I’d also like to thank you for no ads at the beginning of your videos. ? You’re an inspiration sir!

1 hour ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Oh my! Please stay hooked......Please stay hooked!!!!  I can't stand too much more of this Alex! My heart is racing watching your video and !'m way too old to have a racing heart! It may race off without me!

Totally loved fishing with you yesterday and if my heart slows down long enough I'll go again with you tomorrow!

 

^This made me laugh and also made my eyes shine with tears.^

 

As far as giggly boys, I was a prairie schoolmarm and I'd be on the floor with my students, reading, and one would fart. 

 

"Who did that?" someone would always say.

 

And I'd always say, to protect the farter, "It was me."

 

And because the kids loved me, they would never tease me.

 

Well, one day, they suddenly realized that I wasn't the fartiest teacher on the prairie we all giggled and giggled, the boys as much as the girls. 

Thank you Bob, and Scott for the very kind words!    Can't wait until you heal up Scott, and he's helping me find another boat so eventually we can post a twofer report!

 

Can't wait until you get one of these fish on your new suspending jerkbaits Bob, they are a blast to fish with ?

5 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

^This made me laugh and also made my eyes shine with tears.^

 

As far as giggly boys, I was a prairie schoolmarm and I'd be on the floor with my students, reading, and one would fart. 

 

"Who did that?" someone would always say.

 

And I'd always say, to protect the farter, "It was me."

 

And because the kids loved me, they would never tease me.

 

Well, one day, they suddenly realized that I was the fartiest teacher on the prairie we all giggled and giggled, the boys as much as the girls. 

I would have loved to have been one of your students! Something tells me I’d have learned a lot more in your classroom ?

2 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thank you Bob, and Scott for the very kind words!    Can't wait until you heal up Scott, and he's helping me find another boat so eventually we can post a twofer report!

 

Can't wait until you get one of these fish on your new suspending jerkbaits Bob, they are a blast to fish with ?

With the size fish you’re catching now Alex the new boat is gonna need to be longer! A lot longer! ?

I’m in Florida catching dinks, meanwhile in TN…….

ScottW, I was the trickiest teacher in the Midwest. We'd be reading a story and one of the characters from the story would crawl into the classroom through an open window. Or we'd be writing about a make-believe camping trip, complete with tents and "campfire" in the classroom, when a bear would amble into the room. I even created a superhero who defended our school and supervillains who attacked it. I loved teaching. Can ya tell?

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’m in Florida catching dinks, meanwhile in TN…….

 

^Beautiful fish^

 

I can't stop looking at them.

4 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

^Beautiful fish^

 

I can't stop looking at them.

They caught those two at the same time! I bet it was pandemonium aboard a bass tracker haha

27 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

They caught those two at the same time! I bet it was pandemonium aboard a bass tracker haha

 

It was heavenmonium!

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thank you Bob, and Scott for the very kind words!    Can't wait until you heal up Scott, and he's helping me find another boat so eventually we can post a twofer report!

 

Can't wait until you get one of these fish on your new suspending jerkbaits Bob, they are a blast to fish with ?

My 110 is unpacked and in the tacklebox! Expecting the rain to end Saturday and I'm headin' for the Big-T Sunday! I'll drift down the river and toss the MB all the way to Alabama if I have to! I'll post Monday Lord willin'!

 

@Blue Raider Bob

17 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Had a really fantastic session today.    Biggest 5 fish day since this summer with about 18-19lbs.    Caught my biggest fish since August 4th, and second biggest fish since starting back, a 7.2lb fish that couldn't have been healthier and fatter.    To see this big girl swim off so much easier in the 45 degree water is a big plus of catching them in the winter vs. summer I see.   Loved seeing her swim off full of spunk.   She'll be my White Whale in about 1.5 years hopefully.   

 

Pardon the usual schoolgirl excitement, but wow this fish lit me up on my BFS Steez setup with a 110Jr +1  in Threadfin Shad.    She peeled dragged within nano seconds of hooking up.   Catfish was the first thought in my head lol.    Some might remember a week or two back I lost a really nice fish I never got to see, just got this same lure back with a straightened out treble hook.   Note the last picture, WHEW lol 

 

 

eta:  @ScottW   got so excited after catching her I had to text Scott, told him I'd tag him once I got the video up

 

 

That immediate realization that you just hooked into a different class of fish is just...*chef's kiss*

 

Truly fantastic fish, congrats!

2 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

 

 

That immediate realization that you just hooked into a different class of fish is just...*chef's kiss*

 

Truly fantastic fish, congrats!

Thanks Aaron!    You catch em bigger than me, but I completely agree, the moment you realize you have a different class of fish hooked is an indescribable feeling of exhilaration and fear all rolled together lol.    

 

Slower day with only 4 fish caught, but everyone was a really quality fish.   Caught a 4.7lb on the Flashback mini w 3" Armor Shad, easily the biggest Bass caught on my magic little bait, and she came on spinning tackle.   Then caught a 4.3 on the MB 110Jr +1.      Loving the new scale, so much faster and easier to weigh fish now. 

 

The big highlight was a Crappie oddly enough.  I know very little about Crappie, but I suspect this is a big one.    It weighed 2.7lbs, and it just looked almost cartoonish in comparison to any other Crappie I've seen.   Huge stomach, just a beautiful fish.    Kind of wish I took some measurements in case I want a replica mount but wasn't sure if that was replica mount worthy.    State record is 4.5.  WR is 5.7/5.2 for the respective subspecies 

 

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thanks Aaron!    You catch em bigger than me, but I completely agree, the moment you realize you have a different class of fish hooked is an indescribable feeling of exhilaration and fear all rolled together lol.    

 

Slower day with only 4 fish caught, but everyone was a really quality fish.   Caught a 4.7lb on the Flashback mini w 3" Armor Shad, easily the biggest Bass caught on my magic little bait, and she came on spinning tackle.   Then caught a 4.3 on the MB 110Jr +1.      Loving the new scale, so much faster and easier to weigh fish now. 

 

The big highlight was a Crappie oddly enough.  I know very little about Crappie, but I suspect this is a big one.    It weighed 2.7lbs, and it just looked almost cartoonish in comparison to any other Crappie I've seen.   Huge stomach, just a beautiful fish.    Kind of wish I took some measurements in case I want a replica mount but wasn't sure if that was replica mount worthy.    State record is 4.5.  WR is 5.7/5.2 for the respective subspecies 

 

 

Your suspicions are correct, that is a Certified Slab™ of a crappie.

Managed to grab this lil guy on the second cast today. Lasted about an hour in 25mph wind gusting to 35. Backlashed hard and decided to call it a day. Not bad. I'll take it

For your edification, I've worked out a FOOL-PROOF 3-step program to catching BIG bass:

 

1. Be Alex...

 

2. ...in Alabama...

 

3. ...in December.

 

 

 

You are welcome. 

Been a while since I posted. Was boatless for a bit but up and running again. 
 

November 26 tournament. 3 fish limit. I got 4th. 
 

 

 

Beautiful fish, Mr. 24. 

Going through my pics from this last year. This little guy is eating GOOD. 

 

10 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Going through my pics from this last year. This little guy is eating GOOD. 

 

OMG! He ate everybody in the lake!

And my smallest LM of the year, also a little piggy.

 

8 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

And my smallest LM of the year, also a little piggy.

 

Gotcha beat!