I have a recipe if you want to try it:

 

Soak a pine shingle in beer for thirty minutes or so.

Gut the drum, salt & pepper then fill the cavity with lemon, butter & parsley.

Place the fish on the shingle and smoke for a beer or three.

Carefully remove and dispose of the fish.

Serve the plank piping hot!  

10 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Sorry about the image quality but I had to get it to where it would post!

 

Pre spawn 6 lber on the Siebert Outdoors Brush jig 1/2 oz in Sunfish with a Blue Shad Zoom big salty chunk on the back.

 

Caught her at 6 am in 1 FOW.  Hit it on the fall.

 

Happy pre spawn from NC!

Congrats on a magnificent fish!   The weird filter is cool.  

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

The drum was a riot on 4 lb test 

I have no idea how you guys fish 4lb test....that's pretty impressive, the Drums I caught up there pulled hard below Wheeler Dam.       

 

I'm so used to power fishing that when I last took out the panfish setup with 6lb, I was breaking off left and right.  

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Congrats on a magnificent fish!   The weird filter is cool.  

I have no idea how you guys fish 4lb test....that's pretty impressive, the Drums I caught up there pulled hard below Wheeler Dam.       

 

I'm so used to power fishing that when I last took out the panfish setup with 6lb, I was breaking off left and right.  

I was trying to catch panfish but then that happened……… the drum felt like it was stuck in a gob of fishing line but then it came loose, fun fight. 
 

the 4 lb allows you to cast much further from the bank, especially with 1/16 and 1/32 oz jigs 

I used 4 lb. test on Lake Pepin, a natural widening of the Mississippi, about 20 miles long and a mile wide. There weren't weeds and wood, so it sufficed for walleyes, white bass, largemouth, crappies, sheepshead, and smallmouth. I caught a LOT of fish, so many fish that other boats would anchor next to me and some would even troll around me, but they caught few fish. I think the four-pound test was the difference maker. There's no way I could use it in the weeds and wood I fish in Maine. 

I feel like in many ways today was the biggest breakthrough I've ever had in fishing.   I've been working on these deep fish for months, had my first real breakthrough a week or so ago I guess, but today it was the plan from jump based on the conditions.    Today was the make or break it confirmation of my theory that my goal can be accomplished in this place with my new hard earned knowledge.   

 

I lost the big fish of the day at dusk, another easy 6.5-7lb+ fish.....however big fish today was a 6.4lb beautiful girl.    Two more fish right on the 5lb mark, a couple in the 3.5-4lb range, and 12-15 fish ranging in between 1-3lbs that were all butterballs.     Best 5 would have been well over 20lbs, and if the big fish of the day didn't come unbuttoned it would have been my best 5 day out there ever.  

 

Around 30 fish total, close to 25 of this Damaki Axe Blade in 1oz in Holo Shad.     100% bought because of Matt Allen and Tactical Bassin.    They are salesman obviously, but a day like today was 100% because of his bait, and a quality Garmin unit.     The feeling of catching quality fish because of sonar is a high I've got to keep pursuing, if you use these things, man they are fun and effective.  

 

When I brought this Shad up early on in the day, I knew I had the bait

 

5 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I feel like in many ways today was the biggest breakthrough I've ever had in fishing.   I've been working on these deep fish for months, had my first real breakthrough a week or so ago I guess, but today it was the plan from jump based on the conditions.    Today was the make or break it confirmation of my theory that my goal can be accomplished in this place with my new hard earned knowledge.   

 

I lost the big fish of the day at dusk, another easy 6.5-7lb+ fish.....however big fish today was a 6.4lb beautiful girl.    Two more fish right on the 5lb mark, a couple in the 3.5-4lb range, and 12-15 fish ranging in between 1-3lbs that were all butterballs.     Best 5 would have been well over 20lbs, and if the big fish of the day didn't come unbuttoned it would have been my best 5 day out there ever.  

 

Around 30 fish total, close to 25 of this Damaki Axe Blade in 1oz in Holo Shad.     100% bought because of Matt Allen and Tactical Bassin.    They are salesman obviously, but a day like today was 100% because of his bait, and a quality Garmin unit.     The feeling of catching quality fish because of sonar is a high I've got to keep pursuing, if you use these things, man they are fun and effective.  

 

When I brought this Shad up early on in the day, I knew I had the bait

 

Alright, ya got me. I'm officially subscribed. NOW GET YOUR BUTT OUT THERE AND FILM US ANOTHER EPISODE!!! #ALABAMASLAMMA 

7 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I feel like in many ways today was the biggest breakthrough I've ever had in fishing.   I've been working on these deep fish for months, had my first real breakthrough a week or so ago I guess, but today it was the plan from jump based on the conditions.    Today was the make or break it confirmation of my theory that my goal can be accomplished in this place with my new hard earned knowledge.   

 

I lost the big fish of the day at dusk, another easy 6.5-7lb+ fish.....however big fish today was a 6.4lb beautiful girl.    Two more fish right on the 5lb mark, a couple in the 3.5-4lb range, and 12-15 fish ranging in between 1-3lbs that were all butterballs.     Best 5 would have been well over 20lbs, and if the big fish of the day didn't come unbuttoned it would have been my best 5 day out there ever.  

 

Around 30 fish total, close to 25 of this Damaki Axe Blade in 1oz in Holo Shad.     100% bought because of Matt Allen and Tactical Bassin.    They are salesman obviously, but a day like today was 100% because of his bait, and a quality Garmin unit.     The feeling of catching quality fish because of sonar is a high I've got to keep pursuing, if you use these things, man they are fun and effective.  

 

When I brought this Shad up early on in the day, I knew I had the bait

 

Awesome day, I love blade baits. Is it me or does your baitcaster drag make a noise like a spinning reel? Never heard such 

13 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

does your baitcaster drag make a noise like a spinning reel? Never heard such

It's becoming more common. Nifty, eh?

Just now, PhishLI said:

It's becoming more common. Nifty, eh?

Making sure I wasn’t hearing things 

10 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I used 4 lb. test on Lake Pepin, a natural widening of the Mississippi, about 20 miles long and a mile wide. There weren't weeds and wood, so it sufficed for walleyes, white bass, largemouth, crappies, sheepshead, and smallmouth. I caught a LOT of fish, so many fish that other boats would anchor next to me and some would even troll around me, but they caught few fish. I think the four-pound test was the difference maker. There's no way I could use it in the weeds and wood I fish in Maine. 

 I fish #4 Tatsu on the Tennessee River. Lighter line produces more bites.

30 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 I fish #4 Tatsu on the Tennessee River. Lighter line produces more bites.

That’s the river I was on, only like 350 miles upstream though haha

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Awesome day, I love blade baits. Is it me or does your baitcaster drag make a noise like a spinning reel? Never heard such 

Thanks brother, yeah those are the new Zillion reels with clicker style drag.    Really addictive hearing that drag ?

3 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Alright, ya got me. I'm officially subscribed. NOW GET YOUR BUTT OUT THERE AND FILM US ANOTHER EPISODE!!! #ALABAMASLAMMA 

Thanks Tim!   Now if only this pattern can hold for a few days.   I'd love to see how big of fish is down there.  

I just went to buy a 1 oz. Damiki Axe Blade at Tackle Warehouse in Holo Shad and they're sold out and that's the only size and color that are sold out. Alex, Damiki should send you a check. Better yet, Damiki should send you more Axe Blades. 

 

Alex, I have never caught 30 fish with the size you caught. Never. If I'm catching quantity, there's less quality. If I'm catching more quality, there's less quantity. You did both and I'm wowed and happy for you. You deserve it. Again and again, I watch your videos where you're the only one on the water. 

 

I was once paddling the Mississippi on a cold, blustery day in October and I saw a fisherman with two huge walleyes in his live well. I was wowed that day too.

 

"What's your secret?" I asked him.

 

"Well, all the guys think I've got a secret bait or technique, but my secret is no secret for anyone can see it and it's that I'm out here long after everyone else has garaged their boats."

 

You've got the same open secret, Alex, and here's how you spell it: P L U C K. You make your luck with pluck.

 

BTW, we hit 17 below zero last night and more than 40 below with windchill, so that's my excuse for having my canoe in the garage. 

 

Remember that video of Bluebasser with what looked like howling mist? And he was fishing in a kayak, a couple inches above the water. He was catching fat, Alex-sized bass too. The two of you are brothers by different mothers. 

 

 

Alex and others, do you think the Axe Blades will work for pre-spawn bass too? I'm thinking April/early May bass in Maine. 

10 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

BTW, we hit 17 below zero last night and more than 40 below with windchill, so that's my excuse for having my canoe in the garage. 

 

Sissy...

14 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I just went to buy a 1 oz. Damiki Axe Blade at Tackle Warehouse in Holo Shad and they're sold out and that's the only size and color that are sold out. Alex, Damiki should send you a check. Better yet, Damiki should send you more Axe Blades. 

 

Alex, I have never caught 30 fish with the size you caught. Never. If I'm catching quantity, there's less quality. If I'm catching more quality, there's less quantity. You did both and I'm wowed and happy for you. You deserve it. Again and again, I watch your videos where you're the only one on the water. 

 

I was once paddling the Mississippi on a cold, blustery day in October and I saw a fisherman with two huge walleyes in his live well. I was wowed that day too.

 

"What's your secret?" I asked him.

 

"Well, all the guys think I've got a secret bait or technique, but my secret is no secret for anyone can see it and it's that I'm out here long after everyone else has garaged their boats."

 

You've got the same open secret, Alex, and here's how you spell it: P L U C K. You make your luck with pluck.

 

BTW, we hit 17 below zero last night and more than 40 below with windchill, so that's my excuse for having my canoe in the garage. 

 

Remember that video of Bluebasser with what looked like howling mist? And he was fishing in a kayak, a couple inches above the water. He was catching fat, Alex-sized bass too. The two of you are brothers by different mothers. 

 

 

Alex and others, do you think the Axe Blades will work for pre-spawn bass too? I'm thinking April/early May bass in Maine. 

Blades are ideal for pre spawn cold water 

6 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

Sissy...

 

I don't fish unless the forecast high is  40* or more.

 

                                            

28 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I just went to buy a 1 oz. Damiki Axe Blade at Tackle Warehouse in Holo Shad and they're sold out and that's the only size and color that are sold out. Alex, Damiki should send you a check. Better yet, Damiki should send you more Axe Blades. 

 

Alex, I have never caught 30 fish with the size you caught. Never. If I'm catching quantity, there's less quality. If I'm catching more quality, there's less quantity. You did both and I'm wowed and happy for you. You deserve it. Again and again, I watch your videos where you're the only one on the water. 

 

I was once paddling the Mississippi on a cold, blustery day in October and I saw a fisherman with two huge walleyes in his live well. I was wowed that day too.

 

"What's your secret?" I asked him.

 

"Well, all the guys think I've got a secret bait or technique, but my secret is no secret for anyone can see it and it's that I'm out here long after everyone else has garaged their boats."

 

You've got the same open secret, Alex, and here's how you spell it: P L U C K. You make your luck with pluck.

 

BTW, we hit 17 below zero last night and more than 40 below with windchill, so that's my excuse for having my canoe in the garage. 

 

Remember that video of Bluebasser with what looked like howling mist? And he was fishing in a kayak, a couple inches above the water. He was catching fat, Alex-sized bass too. The two of you are brothers by different mothers. 

 

 

Alex and others, do you think the Axe Blades will work for pre-spawn bass too? I'm thinking April/early May bass in Maine. 

I love reading your replies more than catching the fish ?....you might be the most supportive and encouraging person I've ever known, you are truly a gift to all of us in this thread!    You fish so hardcore and spartan that I think your fishing season is perfect.     Most year-round anglers aren't spending the time on the water that you do once conditions permit you to.    As for the sizes of your fish, you catch so many fat fish it's crazy, and I honestly believe that you could break Maine's record.   She just might be in that special place you recently discovered.   I love how Bass fishing is relative, a Maine hog is equal to an Alabama hog is equal to a Texas hog.    We can only control catching the biggest Bass we have in our home waters.   

 

I bought them as dead of the winter baits, but now I'm thinking I'm going to try fishing these things whenever I think they are keyed in on really small bait.      I'm finding that when they are eating a smaller particular size of bait, I have lots of trouble getting them to consistently bite a single bait like a Jerk, or A-Rig.    I think right when you hit the water for the year, throwing one of these in deeper open water pockets might work great for those girls still staging in a bit deeper water.       

 

Might be coincidence or a testament to how many people listen to Tactical Bassin, but many of the items they'll recommend will be sold out.           

10 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I feel like in many ways today was the biggest breakthrough I've ever had in fishing.   I've been working on these deep fish for months, had my first real breakthrough a week or so ago I guess, but today it was the plan from jump based on the conditions.    Today was the make or break it confirmation of my theory that my goal can be accomplished in this place with my new hard earned knowledge.   

 

I lost the big fish of the day at dusk, another easy 6.5-7lb+ fish.....however big fish today was a 6.4lb beautiful girl.    Two more fish right on the 5lb mark, a couple in the 3.5-4lb range, and 12-15 fish ranging in between 1-3lbs that were all butterballs.     Best 5 would have been well over 20lbs, and if the big fish of the day didn't come unbuttoned it would have been my best 5 day out there ever.  

 

Around 30 fish total, close to 25 of this Damaki Axe Blade in 1oz in Holo Shad.     100% bought because of Matt Allen and Tactical Bassin.    They are salesman obviously, but a day like today was 100% because of his bait, and a quality Garmin unit.     The feeling of catching quality fish because of sonar is a high I've got to keep pursuing, if you use these things, man they are fun and effective.  

 

When I brought this Shad up early on in the day, I knew I had the bait

 

 

Nice video Alex your enthusiasm really shines when you hook up. 

Okay, I'm going to go try an Axe Blade today. We'll see if Maine bass really, really want it. If they truly do, they'll bust through the ice to reach it. 

 

 

I have wasted plenty of money on lures I have never fished, but $12 seems like a lot

for a blade bait...I guess I will just buy two...

 

                                                 

6 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I have wasted plenty of money on lures I have never fished, but $12 seems like a lot

for a blade bait...I guess I will just buy two...

 

                                                 

 

^Funniest post I've ever read at Bass Resource^

 

Psychologists could use your post to better understand our fevered sickness. 

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

She just might be in that special place you recently discovered.

 

Quote

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

She just might be in that special place you recently discovered. 

 

 

I'm so excited to fish that bog. I'm going to spend a night on one of those islands so that I can fish deep into the dark and then begin again in the dark.  

 

Alex, I'm so glad you feel supported by your peers/pals at Bass Resource, but if you keep catching more and bigger fish, you won't have any fishing peers anymore! 

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Alex, I'm so glad you feel supported by your peers/pals at Bass Resource, but if you keep catching more and bigger fish, you won't have any fishing peers anymore! 

Pretty tough to hang with the Alabamaslamma. The man boats five fish limits with two casts for cryin out loud.

On 1/31/2023 at 9:17 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I've caught a lot of fish on an A rig, and a lot of doubles, but I've never caught a double on an A-rig, let alone a triple, that's pretty crazy. I've heard they're changing the law here from 2 hooks on the rig, to the full 5 this year

We aren't allowed to have more than one with a single hook here in MN on an A-rig.  So catching more than one fish is literally impossible, because it's illegal.

 

The other minnows can be there on the rig, they just can't have any hooks.  "Decoys" if you want to call them that.