25 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

I get to fish a few deep water lakes and reservoirs in upstate NY. I won't fish deep because I'm not fizzing a bass. What a turn off. Unfortunately, it's going happen, but I'm not down with killing bass for my amusement. When it occurs, it's a real buzzkill. I'm good with what I catch the way I can catch them.

I think its bad enough we stick them in the mouth with a hook, pull them from their homes, scare the heck out of them, then throw them back for our enjoyment. I'm not going to stick a needle in their air bladders after all that. I'll just fish shallow. I'm not that mad at em'!

Besides, what is the puncture in the bladder supposed to do, heal up? Do we know it does heal, and how long does it take? With an open puncture, what happens to the bass when it returns to the depths? If it can release pressure one way, it can dang sure release in in the other direction. This can't be good for the fish. I can't in good consience, increase an obvious mortality rate. Just my humble thoughts.

My brother finally broke his long running February curse with a few ambitious squirts. Matt Lures Baby Hardgill and Legal Dope Tiny Tum Tum got the bites. He lost something heavy, but was happy to get what he got. The Phish brothers are officially off the schneid for '23.

 

 

Go Phish!

 

2 hours ago, PhishLI said:

My brother finally broke his long running February curse with a few ambitious squirts. Matt Lures Baby Hardgill and Legal Dope Tiny Tum Tum got the bites. He lost something heavy, but was happy to get what he got. The Phish brothers are officially off the schneid for '23.

 

 

I'm sure your brother loves the fact you got him hooked on high dollar awesome big swimbaits ?

 

Just a matter of time until your posting pics of awesome fish with outrageous big swimbaits, I remember the first time you posted some fish you caught on that big ole' rat ?

Wind didn’t blow, and my fish weren’t happy about it. That’s supposed to change these next few days. Rain in the forecast for Wed. might be a good thing, too - water is getting a little too clear for these sunny, bluebird days. Just a handful of little chunks this afternoon.

 

 

12 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Wind didn’t blow, and my fish weren’t happy about it. That’s supposed to change these next few days. Rain in the forecast for Wed. might be a good thing, too - water is getting a little too clear for these sunny, bluebird days. Just a handful of little chunks this afternoon.

 

 

Nice ones, burned through my emotions lol.

 

I find it cool though that we are both fishing for the same species, yet you are wanting my conditions and I'm wanting your conditions.   Clearer water, less wind.....yes please ?

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I'm sure your brother loves the fact you got him hooked on high dollar awesome big swimbaits ?

He's lost his marbles on them. I get new pics weekly. He's having fun.

44 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

 

I find it cool though that we are both fishing for the same species, yet you are wanting my conditions and I'm wanting your conditions.   Clearer water, less wind.....yes please ?

On our reservoirs, I like clear and calm, or perhaps light winds for this early in the season. However, in our small waters, often we only have 7-8 ft max depth. When the water starts getting really clear, combined with sun, blue skies and little wind, I think our bass just go to the center of the pond in the deepest water they can get and just sulk. The bite might even go nocturnal - I haven’t tested that out yet. I can say more days than not, strong winds and warm temps are the key triggers for a good bite through the winter - or heavy downpours that stain the water.

8 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

WoodyB, what does the water look like where you fish? I ask because your fish are so pale.

 

The water is still a little muddy but not as bad as a few weeks ago.  We got 1 1/2 inches of rain Friday.  Largemouth around here are usually really pale during winter.  They'll have more color when it warms up.   Some of it may be settings on my camera (I phone) I was messing with some setting trying to get some pictures at work a week or 2 ago.   I noticed in the pictures that my hair has some gray.  That's can't be right. 

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Nice ones, burned through my emotions lol.

 

I find it cool though that we are both fishing for the same species, yet you are wanting my conditions and I'm wanting your conditions.   Clearer water, less wind.....yes please ?

Yep, Willy wonka chocolate water sucks . Plenty of skunks for many ‘round here. My buddy that always catches monsters zeroed in his tourney Saturday 

 

more chocolate to come

Got a little largemouth on a big junebug lizard at the pond today during a brief trip with my son (teacher work day).  He got 10 channel catfish fishing with chicken liver on a Carolina rig!  He was needing a confidence boost and the panfish aren't quite hitting yet so I suggested catfish and boy did it work! Hahahaha

Was so balmy after I got off work I had to put the boat on the water.  First bass of '23.  4lb 8oz.  Water was 44.5 degrees.  The bite was so mushy that it was one of those "something feels different" hooksets.  Can't complain about a jig bite in February in Illinois!

 

20 incher on a swim jig in 73 degree water.  So far I don't miss ice fishing  ?

28 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

Was so balmy after I got off work I had to put the boat on the water.  First bass of '23.  4lb 8oz.  Water was 44.5 degrees.  The bite was so mushy that it was one of those "something feels different" hooksets.  Can't complain about a jig bite in February in Illinois!

 

What a toad, almost messed around and got a new PB ?

Just now, FryDog62 said:

20 incher on a swim jig in 73 degree water.  So far I don't miss ice fishing  ?

Fantastic fish, and 73 degree water sounds like summer to me ?

40 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

Got a little largemouth on a big junebug lizard at the pond today during a brief trip with my son (teacher work day).  He got 10 channel catfish fishing with chicken liver on a Carolina rig!  He was needing a confidence boost and the panfish aren't quite hitting yet so I suggested catfish and boy did it work! Hahahaha

Most impressive Dad!

 

A dad who gives his son the gift and love of fishing is an incredible blessing, if your son doesn't now, some day he'll realize how lucky he is to have an old man who loves to fish.  

59 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Yep, Willy wonka chocolate water sucks . Plenty of skunks for many ‘round here. My buddy that always catches monsters zeroed in his tourney Saturday 

 

more chocolate to come

We might set a historical day time high temp this week.....on Thursday it's forecasted to be 85......EIGHTY-FIVE DEGREES in Feb ?

Nice catches to all the basssheads.

The past several pages of this one have been stoking a fire in me

that at this point, really doesn't need it . . . . .

A-Jay

Just now, A-Jay said:

Nice catches to all the basssheads.

The past several pages of this one have been stoking a fire in me

that at this point, really doesn't need it . . . . .

A-Jay

I fear for those Menderchuck big brown Bass, there is a storm coming there way ?

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Yep, Willy wonka chocolate water sucks . Plenty of skunks for many ‘round here. My buddy that always catches monsters zeroed in his tourney Saturday 

 

more chocolate to come

I'd tell you that the answer to chocolate milk water is a double Colorado spinnerbait...but you think they are the work of the devil and would just think I'm lying.

2 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

I'd tell you that the answer to chocolate milk water is a double Colorado spinnerbait...but you think they are the work of the devil and would just think I'm lying.

Well you know what they say, fool me 173 times, shame on me 

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Well you know what they say, fool me 173 times, shame on me 

I just don't get it

3 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

I just don't get it

I think that’s about how many times I threw a spinnerbait the last couple trips without any bites, 48-52 degree water, all the stuff you read about in magazines that should be perfect for it 

Got in about an hour of fishing from shore before work this morning, got 2 to bite, both on a jerkbait, they weighed 3-4 and 5-2

On 2/17/2023 at 7:01 AM, Pat Brown said:

NEW PB!  Happy Pre Spawn from muddy, rainy NC!

 

9.1 lber on the 1/4 oz Siebert Outdoors Bluegill Flash swim jig with a 4.5" Yum Scottsboro swimbait trailer.  7'6 medium heavy moderate veritas/daiwa Fuego /20 lb seagaur red label/san Diego Jam knot.

 

She was taken out of 1 FOW in the NW corner of my local pond when drizzle turned to rain.  Released shortly after a little DIY photo shoot and she swam away happy as a clam.

 

The most incredible fight of my life and the peak of my bass fishing adventure so far!

 

 

 

On 2/19/2023 at 5:55 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Much like Pat I caught the definition of a big pre spawn female earlier.   One of those fish you know is at the height of her power, a pinnacle of health, and a true apex predating Largemouth.   Clearly full of eggs and heft for the soon to be Spawn.

 

Mine was bouncing around from 8.15-9.5 and locked twice briefly on 9.1, so that's what I'm calling her.  I was shaking like a leaf at that point as usual lol.   There was brief moment that I thought I accomplished a lifelong dream.    At the end of the brief video, I'm glad I forgot to end it as it captured perfectly the indescribable flood of emotions and adrenaline that overtake you and make you clutch for your knees once you see her swim away.   Most here I'm sure will know this feeling, Pat felt it for sure.  

 

Terrible day with chocolate milk colored water, caught 6 small fish from about 10-1pm........drove back to the dock, pondered quitting, took a 30min break and then went back out.    30mins from coming back out, I caught her.    

 

She moved up shallow from nearby deep water into about 8-10fow on a pinch point, and was holding on a fantastic piece of cover.    I ran a naked Chatterbait with a 3.5" Live Magic Shad right into the cover, it deflected, and wham she smoked it.      

 

 

 

 

 

You deserve it friend, love to see somebody catch such a magnificent fish that truly appreciates her.      

I haven’t checked this thread in a few day, and come back to see these fantastic beasts. Wow! Congrats, guys! @Pat Brown & @AlabamaSpothunter

5 minutes ago, Fishlegs said:

 

I haven’t checked this thread in a few day, and come back to see these fantastic beasts. Wow! Congrats, guys! @Pat Brown & @AlabamaSpothunter

Thanks friend! 

So I bought this Berkeley Squarebull during the great sale they had awhile ago with the intent of maybe having a great night crankbait, but today it was so shiny and the water was still very stained so away we went.    

 

Within 5mins of leaving the dock, and two casts in, a solid 4-5lb fish inhaled the darn thing.    While she was still bleeding, I feel it wasn't very significant.   I pray she is okay, the biggest fish I've ever had bleed.   Thank God for the hemostats I've started putting in the boat.    Going in from the rear with a great set of hemostats at least allows you to remove the hook will very little subsequent trauma from the hook removal which I believe creates the most when hooks are removed from going down into the mouth. 

 

As fun as it's been throwing either a moving treble hooked bait or an A-rig 95% of the time this winter sans the flashback mini usage, I'm so looking forward to getting back to fishing large single hooked baits like Chatterbaits, Scroungerheads, and Buzzbaits, along with big hard swimbaits that the fish simply can't swallow like a 2.5 squarebill, lipless, or smaller blade bait.    

 

Everything I've been reading/watching for weeks each night is preaching red.....I've yet to catch a fish on either the Red TN70 or Red Little Jon 50 I've been using.

 

I was just watching a video where Tim from TB said red lipstick on big girls is from Crawdad eating......this contradicts what I read other places saying it was "Shad lipstick", and they got that from eating lots of Shad.   

 

 

Caught 8 today, all on the TRD Flatlands wobblehead in 2 - 6'.