ATA Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 2 hours ago, ol'crickety said: Dang it, at @ATA, your catching your first 2023 bass means I have less and less company in the 2023 Lonely Hearts Catchin' Bass Club. Since we've had some sunny days in the low forties in Maine, I visited a couple nearby ponds yesterday, but saw nothing but ice. You must make a visit to SoCal next year and you can catch your first at Jan first 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottW Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 On 3/11/2023 at 9:36 PM, Jeff Zurawski said: I'm new here and just put up an introduction post a couple days ago in which 'Ol Crickety asked me to post my fish here so I can get some attaboys. Unfortunately I haven't been out yet this year. It was looking good around here for a bit last week and the week before when water temps were hitting upper 40s, but I missed out. Now we're back to Winter and water temps crashed back down to mid 30s the past couple days. I am chompin at the bit to get after them when water warms back up. Best I can do for now is show a nice 21.5" I got last year right about this time. That is truly one heck of a toad sir! Congrats! 20 hours ago, Jmurphy87 said: Well broke the new combo in, maybe 30 minutes if that. Just yo yoing a lipless, not too cold out there today at 34 degrees overcast sky’s with a very slight Breeze. Not big by far, although it could be a lot smaller, I am definitely doing a lot better than I have been this time of year for the past few. I will definitely take it happily. Sure beats my dink of a dink! 🤣 6 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol'crickety Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 29 minutes ago, ATA said: You must make a visit to SoCal next year and you can catch your first at Jan first That sounds great. Say, it might sound strange that I would be so California-obsessed since I live nearly as far away from you as a fellow American can, but I check your weather radar everyday and I am so happy for you, despite your floods and landslides, that your reservoirs and aquifer are filling again. I also check the US Drought Monitor Map and more than half of California is out of drought, with more water coming. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cbump Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 Took my buddy who doesn’t bass fish out today to Possum Kingdom. He’s not that experienced in fishing in general. I wanted to get him on some fish but told him up front I’m no guide so no guarantees. Air temps 45, water 53 when we got on the water. Started fishing at 830. I had us throwing chatterbait and swim jig for an hour with not one bite. About 930 I was feeling some pressure, not wanting him to skunk. (I’m used to It). I broke out the spinning gear and tied on some weightless zoom flukes. Turned out to be a pretty good move! Fished until 1130 with 10 fish including my buddy’s personal best. Just babies for me. He caught two others not pictured. 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Billy Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 3 hours ago, ol'crickety said: Dang it, at @ATA, your catching your first 2023 bass means I have less and less company in the 2023 Lonely Hearts Catchin' Bass Club. I'm still with ya Darlin. 😉 Gonna get started next week, but it'll be a grind. Snowing right now, I expect water temps in the high 30's - low 40's when I hit the lake next Monday. It'll feel good to be out though, even if it's a skunking. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol'crickety Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 @T-Billy, well then, I'm in good company. If someone says, "Anyone else smellin' a skunk at BR," I can say, "I'm with Mr. Musky." And you can say, "Whatever you've got to say to her, you say to me." And give that skunk sniffer a snarl worthy of your hat. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User PhishLI Posted March 13 Super User Share Posted March 13 I was cozy yesterday watching the Redcrest finals, and it's been so crappy out with freezing nighttime temps with snow and sleet, so I had all intentions of staying put. Oddly, the winds finally shifted from north to south in the late afternoon, so even though it was still miserable out, I started thinking. My brother sent me a late afternoon swimbait bass pic, then I saw @The Bassman's snow bass, so I was out of excuses. By the time the Redcrest ceremony officially ended it was dinner time. I bribed my wife with delivered sushi, then made my way up. By the time I trekked to my spot my it was well into dark, and hands were already burning from the cold. Water temp dropped back down to 37 from the relentless north winds, and my dogs were barking rather quickly. My cheapo PVC hip waders literally transmit the cold to my feet. Worked the bottom nice and slow with the usual suspects, but no takers. Rigged up a hard swimbait floater and nabbed a scrappy bass pronto. Threw the chrome rat for the first time and the pickerel demolished it. Got a crazy wintertime topwater explosion followed by a ferocious fight. They didn't saw off my rat, so I bounced outta there frozen, but happy. More snow tonight, so it was good to slip in a session. 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Zurawski Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 4 hours ago, Cbump said: Took my buddy who doesn’t bass fish out today to Possum Kingdom. He’s not that experienced in fishing in general. I wanted to get him on some fish but told him up front I’m no guide so no guarantees. Air temps 45, water 53 when we got on the water. Started fishing at 830. I had us throwing chatterbait and swim jig for an hour with not one bite. About 930 I was feeling some pressure, not wanting him to skunk. (I’m used to It). I broke out the spinning gear and tied on some weightless zoom flukes. Turned out to be a pretty good move! Fished until 1130 with 10 fish including my buddy’s personal best. Just babies for me. He caught two others not pictured. Love it when things click like that. Your buddy must've been excited with his biggun. Awesome job! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted March 13 Super User Share Posted March 13 1 hour ago, PhishLI said: I was cozy yesterday watching the Redcrest finals, and it's been so crappy out with freezing nighttime temps with snow and sleet, so I had all intentions of staying put. Oddly, the winds finally shifted from north to south in the late afternoon, so even though it was still miserable out, I started thinking. My brother sent me a late afternoon swimbait bass pic, then I saw @The Bassman's snow bass, so I was out of excuses. By the time the Redcrest ceremony officially ended it was dinner time. I bribed my wife with delivered sushi, then made my way up. By the time I trekked to my spot my it was well into dark, and hands were already burning from the cold. Water temp dropped back down to 37 from the relentless north winds, and my dogs were barking rather quickly. My cheapo PVC hip waders literally transmit the cold to my feet. Worked the bottom nice and slow with the usual suspects, but no takers. Rigged up a hard swimbait floater and nabbed a scrappy bass pronto. Threw the chrome rat for the first time and the pickerel demolished it. Got a crazy wintertime topwater explosion followed by a ferocious fight. They didn't saw off my rat, so I bounced outta there frozen, but happy. More snow tonight, so it was good to slip in a session. Somebody's on the board for 2023! Great job, and doing it on what you love best. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User PhishLI Posted March 13 Super User Share Posted March 13 32 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: Somebody's on the board for 2023! Great job, and doing it on what you love best. Actually broke the ice on Feb 20. All swimbait bite in 38* water! Spro BBZ-1 Shad floater tweaked with lead tape for a super slow sink. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treble hook Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 I probably shouldn’t even post this, but it’s my latest catch. Last week it was finally a warm enough day… 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Zurawski Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 1 hour ago, PhishLI said: I was cozy yesterday watching the Redcrest finals, and it's been so crappy out with freezing nighttime temps with snow and sleet, so I had all intentions of staying put. Oddly, the winds finally shifted from north to south in the late afternoon, so even though it was still miserable out, I started thinking. My brother sent me a late afternoon swimbait bass pic, then I saw @The Bassman's snow bass, so I was out of excuses. By the time the Redcrest ceremony officially ended it was dinner time. I bribed my wife with delivered sushi, then made my way up. By the time I trekked to my spot my it was well into dark, and hands were already burning from the cold. Water temp dropped back down to 37 from the relentless north winds, and my dogs were barking rather quickly. My cheapo PVC hip waders literally transmit the cold to my feet. Worked the bottom nice and slow with the usual suspects, but no takers. Rigged up a hard swimbait floater and nabbed a scrappy bass pronto. Threw the chrome rat for the first time and the pickerel demolished it. Got a crazy wintertime topwater explosion followed by a ferocious fight. They didn't saw off my rat, so I bounced outta there frozen, but happy. More snow tonight, so it was good to slip in a session. That's hardcore, man. And topwater action under those conditions blows my mind. Outstanding! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted March 13 Super User Share Posted March 13 Caught 3 and lost a toad on the Berkeley Slobberknocker. Tough fishing continues and looks to get a bit worse over the next few days with a few nights with freezing temps. Nice 4+ came off the Shimano swimbait, then jerked the other two with a 110jr +1. Met a new friend way offshore, so I scooped it up and put it in the middle of emerging weeds. They suck as adults, but as babies they are too cute. 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol'crickety Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Nice bass, Phish. Nice pickerel too. Pickerel don't usually impress me. They're lure thieves, but your pickerel has length and girth. I've caught them as long as yours, but never as heavy as yours. Love the belly on that first bass, Alex. I am so looking forward to seeing my Shimano. It's been mailed. And even more excited to fish it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted March 14 Super User Share Posted March 14 1 hour ago, ol'crickety said: Nice bass, Phish. Nice pickerel too. Pickerel don't usually impress me. They're lure thieves, but your pickerel has length and girth. I've caught them as long as yours, but never as heavy as yours. Love the belly on that first bass, Alex. I am so looking forward to seeing my Shimano. It's been mailed. And even more excited to fish it! I'm really stoked to see your results on this bait! I'm just excited to see your reports again, see your Spartan adventures in Bass fishing 😎 Your type of fishing, and the fish you are tapping into are really exciting to me, I think you are going to catch some freaks this year. Knowing you are gonna throw a big fish bait like this one in that place you might camp out is the stuff that fuels bed time dreams. I'm going to keep saying it until it happens, but that PB is going to change fast on your avatar. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User PhishLI Posted March 14 Super User Share Posted March 14 7 hours ago, ol'crickety said: Nice bass, Phish. Nice pickerel too. Pickerel don't usually impress me. They're lure thieves, but your pickerel has length and girth. They grow big to huge around here which is awesome and terrifying at the same time. Like bass, their heads continue to grow over time, so their mouths widen. That's an angry mouth full of daggers, and they can slice you to the bone if you're not cautious when they do the crazy shake while unhooking them. The one I caught yesterday had its top and bottom lips pinned shut by a treble, so there was no way to use the fish gripper. Yeesh yet again. They can engulf a decent size swimbait too. I had one cream a Gantarel Jr a while back. Checked my line carefully and felt no nicks. I was just about to chuck the bait again when I stopped, grabbed it tightly, pulled on the line, and blink, it popped very easily exactly above the knot. A cast or two later I had a 5-15 bass hooked and landed. No way the line would've withstood the hookset. Pickerel like to head-shot a bait, so the nick is sometimes right at the knot, and it can be hard to detect doing the fingernail-feel-test. The smart move is to just retie. If you're impatient and a blockhead like me, at least grab the bait and the line and give it a good pull, but that has dangers of its own if the bait slips. Double-ouch🤣 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User PhishLI Posted March 14 Super User Share Posted March 14 9 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: Nice 4+ came off the Shimano swimbait, That one's on my list for sure in my Alewife spots. Thanks! Did you see the MegaBass SuWitch @J._Bricker posted in the monkey thread? Go to their site to read the full description about the ways it can be rigged to run. Oh boy. Sick! 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol'crickety Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 @PhishLI, I know we've talked about alewives already, but I'm hoping you can give me a little more direction. I did buy all the lures you suggested for alewives, but I've looked at video of the alewives entering a pond I'll be fishing and they are beyond counting. The water is blackened by them. Will a bass hit a lure when there's so much live bait or is the best fishing to be had in the week or two after they're gone, when the bass are fattened and the easy eating is gone? @AlabamaSpothunter, I do think I'll catch a lot of four and five-pounders in 2023, but I'm guessing that six and seven-pounders are rare in Maine. I'd like a new PB, but I'm guessing that for every 20 or 30 four-to-five pounders, I might catch one six-pounder. We'll see. I love them all, so a new PB won't make or break my season. I am much better equipped for largemouth fishing. I started fishing around late August last year, which means I missed the pre-spawn and most of the summer. I also have much more largemouth tackle, thanks to you guys and your suggestions. And I've read a lot of articles and watched a lot of videos. Regarding my PB, since I haven't weighed any fish all the decades I've fished, that's just a guess. I told this story already, but I think my PB is a smallmouth deformed by feeding, a smallmouth that bulged and belly-hung like a fat largemouth. I caught it after the Sun had set, so it was extremely low light and when I saw it beside my canoe, I swore at its size. I've caught thousands of smallmouth and scores in the 19": - 21" range, but that fish was different than any of the others. I think it weighed more than five pounds, but I'll never know. I also caught a 21.5 largemouth in 2022, but I was so excited and shaky that I released it without photographing it. I think that was five-to-six pounds. At least, that's what the length-to-weight charts say. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted March 14 Super User Share Posted March 14 5 hours ago, PhishLI said: That one's on my list for sure in my Alewife spots. Thanks! Did you see the MegaBass SuWitch @J._Bricker posted in the monkey thread? Go to their site to read the full description about the ways it can be rigged to run. Oh boy. Sick! Oh yeah I saw that awesome lure. MegaBass has my credit card number on file at this point 🤣 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishlegs Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 On 3/12/2023 at 10:11 PM, TnRiver46 said: This is a meme waiting to happen! 🤣 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted March 14 Super User Share Posted March 14 11 minutes ago, Fishlegs said: This is a meme waiting to happen! 🤣 If he would've added "duck lips" and put a cat ears filter on it, I would've lost my mind 🤣 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol'crickety Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 It's a yoga pose. He's multi-tasking. Tom Brady and LeBron James also stretch A LOT to extend their careers. I figure Mr. 46 will still be fishing when the rest of us are being wheeled around nursing homes. #46getsthelastlaughandthelastbass 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmurphy87 Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Well no bass today had 20 minutes to fish, small wind today so I decided spinner bait. I did catch a pike though, didn’t damage the spinner bait besides bending the wire a little bit. Better than a skunk 🦨. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassSteve Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Hey, After work I managed to land a few nice Mayan cichlids, just wanted to share. Hope everyone is doing well 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User GreenPig Posted March 15 Super User Share Posted March 15 Caught 9 Spots & 3 LM today. 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.