I've been at a campground with no wifi access so I haven't posted.  

1st, super nice bass.....everyone.  Especially the cow pond bass.  The NC state record largemouth came from a cow pond.  My youngest grandson caught one last year that was 6lbs from a SC cow pond.  

Weather has been changing.  Monday was a struggle.  I ended up catching 5,  all nubbins.  (dinks)  I fished 4 or 5 hours after getting the camper towed down there and set up.  Tuesday was a struggle.  I caught 9, fishing pretty much all day with 5 of the 9 coming in the last hour I fished.  I caught 19 Wednesday, including one that was 19 5/8 inches and 4.69 lbs.  (It's pictured)  I also caught a goldish colored dink, that's pictured.  Mrs B fished with me a couple hours and caught 3.  Per her wishes no pictures posted.  We were coming home this morning.  I was planning on leaving my boat, bringing the camper home, and going back today.  My plan didn't work out.  (My Dad is OK)  I got a phone call waking me up in the middle of the night.  My 88 year old Dad had a terrible headache, the worst of his life, his nose was pouring and his hands were really shaky.  He was really scared, and called 911.  I left Mrs B, and the camper at the campground around midnight, and took my boat home, on the way to the hospital.  (my house is between the campground and the emergency room).  After an EKG and a bunch of blood work they determined my Dad had experienced a cluster headache.  (his first ever)   They recently changed his blood pressure meds, and believe that was the cause.  (his blood pressure was OK)   I got him back to his house around 3am.  I slept a couple hours there, after getting him settled, then went back to get Mrs B, the camper, and our dog.  (once again, my Dad is OK)   We're tired today.  I'll go back tomorrow, the last day of vacation.   On a side note, Mrs B got me an inflatable life jacket for my birthday.  I've been wearing it anytime the big motor is running.  I've got it in my seat clipped to my kill switch lanyard.   

5 minutes ago, Woody B said:

I've been at a campground with no wifi access so I haven't posted.  

1st, super nice bass.....everyone.  Especially the cow pond bass.  The NC state record largemouth came from a cow pond.  My youngest grandson caught one last year that was 6lbs from a SC cow pond.  

Weather has been changing.  Monday was a struggle.  I ended up catching 5,  all nubbins.  (dinks)  I fished 4 or 5 hours after getting the camper towed down there and set up.  Tuesday was a struggle.  I caught 9, fishing pretty much all day with 5 of the 9 coming in the last hour I fished.  I caught 19 Wednesday, including one that was 19 5/8 inches and 4.69 lbs.  (It's pictured)  I also caught a goldish colored dink, that's pictured.  Mrs B fished with me a couple hours and caught 3.  Per her wishes no pictures posted.  We were coming home this morning.  I was planning on leaving my boat, bringing the camper home, and going back today.  My plan didn't work out.  (My Dad is OK)  I got a phone call waking me up in the middle of the night.  My 88 year old Dad had a terrible headache, the worst of his life, his nose was pouring and his hands were really shaky.  He was really scared, and called 911.  I left Mrs B, and the camper at the campground around midnight, and took my boat home, on the way to the hospital.  (my house is between the campground and the emergency room).  After an EKG and a bunch of blood work they determined my Dad had experienced a cluster headache.  (his first ever)   They recently changed his blood pressure meds, and believe that was the cause.  (his blood pressure was OK)   I got him back to his house around 3am.  I slept a couple hours there, after getting him settled, then went back to get Mrs B, the camper, and our dog.  (once again, my Dad is OK)   We're tired today.  I'll go back tomorrow, the last day of vacation.   On a side note, Mrs B got me an inflatable life jacket for my birthday.  I've been wearing it anytime the big motor is running.  I've got it in my seat clipped to my kill switch lanyard.   

Nice ones!   You're a good son, happy to hear your dad is okay.  Headaches are no joke.

Nice fish. Your daddy's symptoms would've scared me too. Happy Birthday.

Before anybody asks, it was my decision not to fish the Classic this weekend ?

 

4 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Before anybody asks, it was my decision not to fish the Classic this weekend ?

 

 

Be careful.  You're showing too much background in your pictures.  We might use those landmarks to figure out where you caught that bad boy.   FWIW I always talk to the little ones.  

1 hour ago, Mbirdsley said:

On the board for 2023.  Lake was between 42-43 degrees. Shallow lake called duck lake. Caught 2 pike, one looks like it’s full of eggs.  I had about 10 follows from pike total.  
 

caught one 14 inch bass.  

Bass and bigger pike came on a black and blue stealth 3/8 jack hammer 

 

one pike came in a blue gill 3/8 jack hammer 

Yes sir!!!!! MI on the board!!!

 

Pre-spawn is back on like donkey Kong!

 

Nice one on the 1/2 oz Siebert swim jig with a yum Scottsboro minnow on the back 4.5"

 

I was working it quick just below the surface and she crushed it like a freight train. I set the hook fairly instantly on this one and was able to get her up and on the bank fairly quickly and then back into the water so she can lay her eggs in the next couple days.

 

Her belly is looking nice.

 

Happy to see the staging females moving back up with this warm weather!

 

More to come this weekend hopefully.

man, you southern guys have me itching to get out with dreams of 55 degree water.  We're in the low 40's and while there are fish to be had, the spray up over the bow isn't so nice.

2 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

man, you southern guys have me itching to get out with dreams of 55 degree water.  We're in the low 40's and while there are fish to be had, the spray up over the bow isn't so nice.

Windows open all night, it was a low of like 61 maybe more 

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Windows open all night, it was a low of like 61 maybe more 

 

Come July, when it's 74 degrees with low humidity here, I'll be giving you the Daily Maine Weather Report. 

 

Atta boy, Pat! 

8 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Come July, when it's 74 degrees with low humidity here, I'll be giving you the Daily Maine Weather Report. 

In the meantime you oughta pay a visit to the other species thread, ya slacker. ?

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Windows open all night, it was a low of like 61 maybe more 

That's right! Windows open and listening to the Spring Peepers!

2 hours ago, T-Billy said:

In the meantime you oughta pay a visit to the other species thread, ya slacker. ?

 

I went. I saw. I was WOWED!

 

50 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

I went. I saw. I was WOWED!

 

Lol. Hadn't seen you over there lately and thought you might like those. I'm only working a few days the first half of April. Hopefully there's a bunch more to come.

I caught 15 in 6 hours today.  It was really windy.  The wake boats are starting to come out too.   I felt like I was in the ocean.   Alex raved about a Shimano Armajoint so I shelled out $42 for one last week.   I fished it a little bit today and caught a genuine dink on it.  Little guy meant to have it.  He came out of the water when he grabbed it.  I would have took a picture with the huge bait in the little fishes mouth, but he came off when I boat flipped him.  No big ones.  The other one pictured "might" have been 16 inches.  I caught a few like it.  I saw an bald eagle today.  I've seen a bunch over the years but this is the first I've seen on Lake Wylie.  

 

Rain last night put some nice ones on my favorite drain. The biggest just touched 5 lb. so that makes two 5+ in three days. She came on a Berkley Square Bull which is a bait that I never use because I can't keep it out of the vegetation. Only took a couple of cranks to get it bit in the current, though. I caught three others, all better than two lbs. on it before the bite slowed down.

Just now, The Bassman said:

Rain last night put some nice ones on my favorite drain. The biggest just touched 5 lb. so that makes two 5+ in three days.

 

Super nice looking drain n the background. I had a couple like that back about 20 years ago that were dynamite after every good drenching. Sure do miss them these days ?

 

Had to go out in the 43 degree, “almost stopped” misting rain, along with 15 mph ENE winds today to see what that Rozante looked like. Wasn’t the best pond or conditions for it, but got to get a feel for it - and even caught a few. Then I got in a shallow windblown pocket and caught a bunch more. Twenty total for the afternoon. No biggies (this pond only has a couple in it), but healthy and aggressive fish running 14”-16”. 
 

 

 

 

On 3/21/2023 at 11:53 PM, thediscochef said:

i'm gonna catch a bass this week. and when i do. i'm gonna post it. and there's nothing you can do about it

It ain't much but it's bass

1 minute ago, thediscochef said:

It ain't much but it's bass

Congratulations ? My retention ponds are still quite cold ? I’ve been out a handful of times but haven’t hit yet.

Just now, Eric 26 said:

Congratulations ? My retention ponds are still quite cold ? I’ve been out a handful of times but haven’t hit yet.

Thanks! Main lake here is still in the 55-57 territory, this cove was low 60s. Managed to get this one to bite after getting teased a few times lol

2 hours ago, Woody B said:

I caught 15 in 6 hours today.  It was really windy.  The wake boats are starting to come out too.   I felt like I was in the ocean.   Alex raved about a Shimano Armajoint so I shelled out $42 for one last week.   I fished it a little bit today and caught a genuine dink on it.  Little guy meant to have it.  He came out of the water when he grabbed it.  I would have took a picture with the huge bait in the little fishes mouth, but he came off when I boat flipped him.  No big ones.  The other one pictured "might" have been 16 inches.  I caught a few like it.  I saw an bald eagle today.  I've seen a bunch over the years but this is the first I've seen on Lake Wylie.  

 

You're gonna crush those Spots on that Shimano brother, they can't say no.   

 

Great looking fish as well!  

3 hours ago, thediscochef said:

It ain't much but it's bass

melanosed dink for good measure. Two in one day. I'm on fire!! Or something is, at least. I smell toast burning. 

Hey, chefs don't burn toast unless...unless...unless they're distracted by disco music! 

 

By the way, I checked the nearest pond this evening. Nothin' but ice. 

Went fishing with @roadwarrior today, fishing was slow about like it was for the classic boys but no skunk. 
 

I learned all kind of tricks and tactics and heard lots of funny stories. Wind was rough and supposed to be worse tomorrow 

15 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Went fishing with @roadwarrior today, fishing was slow about like it was for the classic boys but no skunk. 
 

I learned all kind of tricks and tactics and heard lots of funny stories. Wind was rough and supposed to be worse tomorrow 

Same here with the wind, and fish for 5.5 hours for about 8 fish, lost a few fish.   I actually observed Bass spawning for the first time though, a buck and 4-5lb fish are doing the nasty right by where I dock the boat lol.   I watched them for about 30mins throughout the day.     The Spring and Spawn suck, it's a combo of the fish dropping huge cheatcode bellies, the scattering of them, and really I think the most important thing, the very unstable weather.   Water skyrocketed over the last few days and will continue for a several more days, I wouldn't doubt if I see close to 70 tom.   Today was the first day I've seen 62+ in a couple weeks.   That cold snap dropped it after I think the first big Spawn or two happened.   

 

It's so much work to catch fish in the Spring and early Fall.   It sucks too because you get the most beautiful days for fishing during those times.     

 

One quality today on the Jackhammer/5.5" Spunk Shad...3ish Spot.    Those big 5.5" Spunk Shads on a Jackhammer are really effective.    Dozen fish including a 5.3 over the last week since stopping the Berkeley Slobberknocker experiment.   Got it all on sale, but with two models, and then 4 packs of the Power Stingers, it's like $50 MSRP.   You lose some, you win some.    I think it's important for me to mention the baits I lose money on because of how much I boast about "magical" baits.   

 

For clearer water I still think they might be better than a Jackhammer, or other brandname Chatterbaits.    They are right between a beautiful Swimjig, and a Jackhammer if that makes sense.    

 

Finally, getting more and more action on the buzzbait, and the Shimano produced the first fish of the day.