For the most part I've been having the majority of my success this last month at the furthest north end of the lake.     I started there for the third day in a row with the same results, got blanked sans an aquarium sized fish.   Promised myself if that happened, I would motor to the exact opposite part of the lake a couple of miles away, the most southern portion, the dam, and lots of deep water from 28ft- 34ft.    My nemesis outside of summer, and heavy cover in deeper water on key structure elements....which tends to cost more money in baits than when I can't reach the baits with the pole.  

 

My first hint that the fish might be active "offshore" was the flashback mini being trolled, I can't stress enough how much I learn from this bait, and then how many times I stop because of it, look around with sonar and start casting and bam, next thing I know I'm on a pattern.   The flashback mini just opens that door so many days it seems.   More of a tool than a lure at this point.      

 

I've tried to catch the fish in the deep 20ft+ water all over this lake since mid-August, and never had any success.     Josh Jones is the whole reason I haven't given up, I can see the fish he can catch perfectly fine on quality downscan, but never could get them to bite anything.    Obviously I'm not catching JJ fish, but I scratched the surface today, and I'm even more convinced giants are down there. 

 

All the quality fish came 100% because of downscan and strolling an A-Rig in an avg. of 30fow along a carpet of bait.  I would just countdown to where I saw the Bass diving down into them, many times 15-20ft over bait in 20-34ft.  I think somebody with FFS would have absolutely destroyed it today in my situation.   Something that was again inspired from bits and pieces of Josh Jones's interview and what he's disclosed thus far.

 

Two 5lb class fish, a 4lb class fish, and several other smaller quality fish including a solid Spot.   These fish were absolutely fat to the max, and their colors were just something else.    Every time I hooked up in that deep water, I thought it was my white whale lol.  It was like I tapped into a secret source of fish on the lake. 

 

Got two double ups on the A-Rig as well and caught another nice fat fish on the 110jr +1.   Total was around 15 fish in about 6 hours so it wasn't hot fishing for sure.  About 10 came from the deep water, the others came in 10-15fow.    A week ago I was catching them in less than 2fow, it's a defective puzzle I want my money back ?

 

 

Hey,

 

So it's no giant but a decent fish, my first largemouth of 2023. Feels good again to feel the fight of a bass ?? hopefully there's more where that came from 

Gosh, those are beautiful bass, Alex. Your bass have preposterous bellies, bellies that make me laugh!

 

Thanks for showing us the sonar screen on video and still shots. There is no way I'll lug a battery for a sonar unit, but I still like seeing how you apply it to catch fish. 

 

Congrats, Steve, on your first 2023 bass. You are one ahead of me. Alex is about 256 ahead of me. 

10 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Congrats, Steve, on your first 2023 bass. You are one ahead of me.

Thanks I appreciate that. If I put in more effort I would get more, I'm probably not going to get heavy into my fishing until March. That was just casting out in the backyard this morning to see if I could produce anything lol 

Figured I’d share this MONSTER of a first fish that I caught on a Keitech. Absolute beaut

 

Nah, Im done fishing this lake I think. I’ve spent a lot of time on various parts of the lake and not catching the size I want. I may return if I think we start going into prespawn

I've met @LrgmouthShad. He's the first giant I've ever met, so I can only roughly estimate his size, but I'm guessing he stands about 14' tall. I know I got a crick in my neck talking to him. So, his bass is likely a DD. 

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Gosh, those are beautiful bass, Alex. Your bass have preposterous bellies, bellies that make me laugh!

 

Thanks for showing us the sonar screen on video and still shots. There is no way I'll lug a battery for a sonar unit, but I still like seeing how you apply it to catch fish. 

 

Congrats, Steve, on your first 2023 bass. You are one ahead of me. Alex is about 256 ahead of me. 

Thanks Katie!  On the good days I rarely need the sonar, but as time goes on and I improve with it, there are days now where it's the only reason I catch them.  

 

You put in a ton of effort on the front end before ever getting in the kayak.   Your sonar is your ability to find tucked away pieces of water, and truck back into places where fish aren't nearly as likely to be pressured.  I think the people who are doing the best with electronics in the fishing world are using them to target un pressured fish on otherwise pressured bodies of water.

 

Being a topwater queen, and heavy cover angler such as you are, I'm not sure it would make a huge difference anyway.       

You're probably right, Alex. I'm casting to cover and fishing shallow water. Heck, I fish some bodies of water that are 10' at their deepest.

 

You're right about my prep too, Alex. I study the Fish & Wildlife depth maps and the Google Earth images too. I use the historical slider to see the water at different times of the year, which shows me where vegetation grows. I also bought a laminator so I can print and protect the maps in plastic.

 

I can't see the bait balls, but sometimes I see bass chasing shad on the surface and I've had good luck casting to them.  

 

BUT, Alex, I am seriously impressed by your winter fishing. A of Bass Resource guys are struggling, but you have caught so many fish in the four, five, and even SEVEN-pound class. And you're doing it with your dinky boat on a lake that no one else is bothering to fish just now. 

23 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

You're probably right, Alex. I'm casting to cover and fishing shallow water. Heck, I fish some bodies of water that are 10' at their deepest.

 

You're right about my prep too, Alex. I study the Fish & Wildlife depth maps and the Google Earth images too. I use the historical slider to see the water at different times of the year, which shows me where vegetation grows. I also bought a laminator so I can print and protect the maps in plastic.

 

I can't see the bait balls, but sometimes I see bass chasing shad on the surface and I've had good luck casting to them.  

 

BUT, Alex, I am seriously impressed by your winter fishing. A of Bass Resource guys are struggling, but you have caught so many fish in the four, five, and even SEVEN-pound class. And you're doing it with your dinky boat on a lake that no one else is bothering to fish just now. 

You're too kind, the blind squirrel just found a bounty of acorns  ?

 

Nothing makes me happier than seeing shad on the surface and fish blowing them up, I get so excited every time I cast straight into the water, backlash, hook rods, anything but make a good cast on the fish.   

 

 

5 hours ago, BassSteve said:

Hey,

 

So it's no giant but a decent fish, my first largemouth of 2023. Feels good again to feel the fight of a bass ?? hopefully there's more where that came from 

No fair wearing flip-flops in January! No bonus points for you! ?

 

@AlabamaSpothunter, if these winds ever die down enough I’ll try my Garmin out on the pond. Not even gonna try it and be blown all over the place and spun like a top. ?

19 minutes ago, ScottW said:

No fair wearing flip-flops in January! No bonus points for you! ?

Ha lol, well even though I'm in Florida I still wear them even if it's 50° out so....we don't get cool fronts too often so I make the most of it when we do

5 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Being a topwater queen,

Queen? I thought Katie was the Plopper Princess. Dang, she moved on up faster than Weezy Jefferson!!! ?

1 minute ago, T-Billy said:

Queen? I thought Katie was the Plopper Princess. Dang, she moved on up faster than Weezy Jefferson!!! ?

Well I called her the Whopper Plopper Queen this one time.........Plopper Princess is downright brutal ?

 

Bless your heart Katie, it's a bad bunch in this thread ?

12 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Well I called her the Whopper Plopper Queen this one time.........Plopper Princess is downright brutal ?

 

Bless your heart Katie, it's a bad bunch in this thread ?

? Well... I mean... That girl caught more bass on a plopper last year than I caught on everything put together so............ ?   ?? Love ya Katie!!!

Just now, T-Billy said:

? Well... I mean... That girl caught more bass on a plopper last year than I caught on everything put together so............ ?   ?? Love ya Katie!!!

Tis true, it's a well earned nickname....it comes from a place of extreme jealously and humor ?

Single digit wind chills, high in the low twenties, freezing guides, and footballs.

 

3 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Single digit wind chills, high in the low twenties, freezing guides, and footballs.

 

Atta boy...way to keep at it

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Tis true, it's a well earned nickname....it comes from a place of extreme jealously and humor ?

 

You guys are sweet and funny! 

 

I feel for everyone with hard water. Been 6 weeks since we were last able to get out and I was going through withdrawals. ?  Water temps 49-52*. Lake has come up 58 ft since our last trip... just another 150 ft and it'll be full pool!

 

Any fish in January is a good fish.

 

A little better one...

 

And better...

 

Not a big one by any means but it sure was great catching some decent fish.

 

Pops getting in on the action.

Those are beauties, @NorcalBassin. I worry a lot about the western drought. I check the usdroughtmonitor map every week. No lie. And I've been relieved to see your drought conditions improving. Those two numbers you cited, 58' and 150', are stunning. I'm hoping your coming snow melt will help a lot too. 

 

We're supposed to hit 16 below zero this week, but I hope to be fishing again come April and maybe even late March if we get a few warm days in a row. 

4 minutes ago, NorcalBassin said:

I feel for everyone with hard water. Been 6 weeks since we were last able to get out and I was going through withdrawals. ?  Water temps 49-52*. Lake has come up 58 ft since our last trip... just another 150 ft and it'll be full pool!

 

Any fish in January is a good fish.

 

A little better one...

 

And better...

 

Not a big one by any means but it sure was great catching some decent fish.

 

Pops getting in on the action.

Awesome fish brother, that fish your pops has looks the biggest.  

42 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Awesome fish brother, that fish your pops has looks the biggest.  

Definitely wasn't but I would have been super happy if it was. He has mastered long arming, but I have to remind him to tuck that thumbs up further back or it shows the fish is small or his thumb is a foot long. ?

1 hour ago, NorcalBassin said:

I feel for everyone with hard water. Been 6 weeks since we were last able to get out and I was going through withdrawals. ?  Water temps 49-52*. Lake has come up 58 ft since our last trip... just another 150 ft and it'll be full pool!

 

Any fish in January is a good fish.

 

A little better one...

 

And better...

 

Not a big one by any means but it sure was great catching some decent fish.

 

Pops getting in on the action.

Thing I love the most about your pics is your dads dirty a.....sorry well worn Iaconelli hat. That's a real fishing hat!

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

Those are beauties, @NorcalBassin. I worry a lot about the western drought. I check the usdroughtmonitor map every week. No lie. And I've been relieved to see your drought conditions improving. Those two numbers you cited, 58' and 150', are stunning. I'm hoping your coming snow melt will help a lot too. 

 

We're supposed to hit 16 below zero this week, but I hope to be fishing again come April and maybe even late March if we get a few warm days in a row. 

I'm fortunate to be up in the mountains where even in the drought years we get all the storage water we need to support our little community for the year. The luscious lawns and golf courses in the most arid parts of the state on the other hand...

 

Our snowpack was 250% of normal on the most recent survey, so as long as we don't get a pineapple express to prematurely melt it all in the spring we should be able to get another 40-50ft of water in the lake. At full pool its deepest water is over 580 ft, so even when it's low there's still quire a bit of water for the fish to survive. Should be a good season for both of us on the opposite coasts!