Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted June 20, 2023 Global Moderator Share Posted June 20, 2023 10 hours ago, Jmurphy87 said: I got out on Father’s Day evening with the family for 2 hours or less. It was the wife’s birthday on the 17th so I bought her a pack of stick baits of her choice, she loves throwing a wacky rig. She chose quite cove baby bass with gold flake, interesting choice. She caught 5 dinks, my daughter caught one dink, I caught 3 dinks. I am struggling at this lake this year. I have caught some big fish out of it, although looking back it’s mostly smaller ones with a couple 2-3lb fish regularly and then a couple right around 5lbs. This year I have not broken 3lbs. There is so much going on in my life right now though, bills are more than my income. Housing is up in the air at this point and I am working 40 hours a week. It’s a struggle to even get out of bed in the morning, I get out of work and want to fish but don’t have the motivation or energy for it. I have a great wife and family who tell me that I am doing the best I can and that they are proud of me, although I still feel like a failure. I am thinking about getting a part time job on top of my full time one, shooting for 16 hours of work a day just to stay afloat. sorry for the rant and no pics of the fish, I just needed to vent. I hope that everyone has a good night. I’m right there with ya buddy, I’ve worked every day since I got back from my annual trip, will be 21 days straight on Sunday. Looking like I’ll be doing 7 days a week til about Halloween with the exception of another trip that I couldn’t afford, luckily my wife paid for that one. But yes it’s good to have side gigs!. Hang in there man, the fish will be around for ya after work. And when all the retired people have to wait 5 extra minutes and say “nobody wants to work anymore” just keep walking on by haha. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Raider Bob Posted June 20, 2023 Share Posted June 20, 2023 17 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said: The Duck River is special. Caught my first bass out of it a long time ago. I haven’t fished it in decades even though I own land on it. I agree. It is a priceless piece of America. I am also a landowner there. The problem is there is such a small window to fish each year. It floods all spring long. When the water subsides it takes weeks for it to clear. When the water clears the jet boats muddy it up again and then when fall arrives, it gets totally covered in leaves, making it unfishable. With all that said, it is one of America's scenic rivers with a diverse fish population that is purported to contain more species than the entire continent of Europe. Holler one day when you want to re-visit and we'll give a shot! I'm 2mi downriver from the State Park. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Raider Bob Posted June 20, 2023 Share Posted June 20, 2023 11 hours ago, Jmurphy87 said: I got out on Father’s Day evening with the family for 2 hours or less. It was the wife’s birthday on the 17th so I bought her a pack of stick baits of her choice, she loves throwing a wacky rig. She chose quite cove baby bass with gold flake, interesting choice. She caught 5 dinks, my daughter caught one dink, I caught 3 dinks. I am struggling at this lake this year. I have caught some big fish out of it, although looking back it’s mostly smaller ones with a couple 2-3lb fish regularly and then a couple right around 5lbs. This year I have not broken 3lbs. There is so much going on in my life right now though, bills are more than my income. Housing is up in the air at this point and I am working 40 hours a week. It’s a struggle to even get out of bed in the morning, I get out of work and want to fish but don’t have the motivation or energy for it. I have a great wife and family who tell me that I am doing the best I can and that they are proud of me, although I still feel like a failure. I am thinking about getting a part time job on top of my full time one, shooting for 16 hours of work a day just to stay afloat. sorry for the rant and no pics of the fish, I just needed to vent. I hope that everyone has a good night. Hang in there Murph! I can tell you one thing.......no, two things. Your wife is durn lucky! She has a man with a backbone....AND....she gets fishing lures for her birthday! You guys will work through this. That I can promise from experience! The harder life pushes, the stronger you push back! One other thing.....no one with a heart is a failure....EVER! 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmurphy87 Posted June 20, 2023 Share Posted June 20, 2023 3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said: I’m right there with ya buddy, I’ve worked every day since I got back from my annual trip, will be 21 days straight on Sunday. Looking like I’ll be doing 7 days a week til about Halloween with the exception of another trip that I couldn’t afford, luckily my wife paid for that one. But yes it’s good to have side gigs!. Hang in there man, the fish will be around for ya after work. And when all the retired people have to wait 5 extra minutes and say “nobody wants to work anymore” just keep walking on by haha. Thank you, it’s rough but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Yeah my job use to be 12 days on and 2 days off if not mandated on your weekend off. Then it went to 12 on 2 off 12 on 2 off and then followed by 2 five day weeks. Now it is crazy and they only have one person who works the weekend in my position, instead of 2. I just need to stick it out and hopefully get promoted to supervisor and get some experience with that and then money should not be too much of a issue. I don’t mind working a lot of hours, heck around the holidays last year I pulled 41-42 hours in 3 days. 31 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said: Hang in there Murph! I can tell you one thing.......no, two things. Your wife is durn lucky! She has a man with a backbone....AND....she gets fishing lures for her birthday! You guys will work through this. That I can promise from experience! The harder life pushes, the stronger you push back! One other thing.....no one with a heart is a failure....EVER! Thanks it means a lot, I try to do my best for my family. A household of 5 with one income is tough and then we have our 2 dogs. I try my best to give them what they need, with wants here and there when I can afford it. I just don’t want to be that guy who doesn’t due enough. I will run myself ragged for my family to help them get by. The wife loves her baits and to me that’s priceless. It will get better for sure just like the weather sometimes life has storms and we have to endure and push through and not give up, you don’t get anywhere by giving up. You have to fight for it. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted June 20, 2023 Global Moderator Share Posted June 20, 2023 Been gone on vacation this past week, got some pictures and stories to share, but I was prefishing for an upcoming tournament yesterday and had my first double in a pretty good while on the RAD squarebill. The largemouth was actually hooked first, the smallmouth tried to take it away from him. 24 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominat0r Posted June 20, 2023 Share Posted June 20, 2023 Caught my fish for the day late last night or early this morning, whichever type you are.... Storming bad here the past few days, got a chance to go out right before it started to hail. Got it on a sinking Rat-L-Trap. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Team9nine Posted June 20, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 20, 2023 We’re stuck between pressure systems here, with highs in the mid eighties, partly cloudy skies, and an ENE wind at 15 mph, gusting to 25 mph. Given the conditions, I decided to head back to the numbers lake with a small swimbait setup. Worked out pretty well as I was able to cast and control my bait in those winds, keeping it just above the Chara that covers the bottom in many areas. Ended up with 26 post spawners in about 2’ish hours of fishing, mostly ‘cookie cutters.’ You know what they say, “Wind from the east, fish will feast” ? 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ol'crickety Posted June 20, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 20, 2023 @Team9nine, you and I fish much the same way, switching between quantity and quality. I love numbers lakes. I call it staying "busy." Of course, I love the quality lakes too, even though I should start carrying a defibrillator in my canoe cause they half stop my heart. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominat0r Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 Weds, covered. Had to wait for the rain to slow down enough. Keeping the streak alive, both off the whopper plopper. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody B Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 We cut our camping trip a day short due to weather. We did get some good fishing in and managed to grill out one night. My bilge pump earned it's keep on this trip. 17 Bass Monday, 21 Bass and 1 Crappie Tuesday and 6 Bass this morning. Mrs B only fished a couple hours between rain showers but managed to catch 5 of the total number, including a nice 3.5 pounder pictured. My biggest was a 5.2 pound skinny, 22 inch long Largemouth, in the pouring rain(pictures). I also caught a really fat Largemouth that appeared to be pre spawn(pictured). I texted Mrs B a picture of it, and said that's a fat one. She texted back and said "the fish looks healthy too" LOL 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bp_fowler Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 Went on a camping/fishing/hiking trip with my son this past weekend. Murphy seemed to be an uninvited guest as I had all sorts of equipment issues, hangups and ended up skunked. However my boy caught his PB of 2lbs 2oz so it was totally worth it. The last couple days here we’ve been dealing with crappy weather so I’ve been stuck inside listening to him talk smack about landing the biggest fish so far this year. Today however we were able to get on the water and reminded him that ‘ol dad can still walk the walk with my biggest fish this year at 2lbs 6oz. Now I’m looking forward to hearing about how I only beat his fish by 4oz. ? 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ol'crickety Posted June 21, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 21, 2023 1 hour ago, Woody B said: Mrs B only fished a couple hours between rain showers but managed to catch 5 of the total number, including a nice 3.5 pounder pictured. Way to go, Mrs. B.! 1 hour ago, Woody B said: My biggest was a 5.2 pound skinny, 22 inch long Largemouth, in the pouring rain(pictures). 22 inches and 5.2 pounds??? Somebody buy that bass a bluegill burger! With perch fries!!! Or overnight that bass to Maine and I'll drop him in a bog, where he'll feast on the Maine Butterball Diet (TM). I'll send him back in two months at 22" and 7 pounds. 26 minutes ago, bp_fowler said: reminded him that ‘ol dad can still walk Dad thunders back! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User PhishLI Posted June 21, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 21, 2023 Got on a little roll last night with the Livingston Bullnose working it through high weeds. Had a feeling things were about to really get going but then I caught a treble to the bird during the crazy shake, fully buried through the bend and connected to an angry bass. Too dumb to use my fish grippers, but wise enough to always carry sidecutters, so I didn't end up driving home with a bass riding shotgun mocking me all the way. Had about a 1/16" of the point popping through and was able to cut around it with an Xacto blade, then grab it. I nearly quit a few times but gave myself one final pep talk, bit down, grunted Raaaaa!, then twisted that sucka out. My dog covered her eyes. It's remarkable how much force it took. Very unpleasant. Yeesh. I hope I've finally learned my lesson. 7 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric 26 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 @PhishLI that hurts just looking at the photo. I’m glad you’re alright. I’ve shot myself with a few nail guns in my day so I kind of feel your pain. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User PhishLI Posted June 21, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 21, 2023 26 minutes ago, Eric 26 said: I’ve shot myself with a few nail guns in my day Funny you should mention that. Last night on the way home I was thinking of the time I was hanging crown and had a 2 1/2" 15 gauge nail hit something hard then curl back out and blow through my thumb. I patched it up and kept going. I was thinking that this couldn't be much worse, but yes it was. My last grasp for inspiration came from thinking about civil war soldiers having limbs sawn off without the benefit of anesthesia. Those were real men. I thought of them, called myself the P word, then got it out. 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric 26 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 @PhishLI Yeah I did something similar, I just bought an 18 gauge trim nailer loaded it up with 2-1/2 in nails grabbed a scrap piece of trim and proceeded to put the nail clean through the trim and my pointer finger on my left hand. Asked the wife to pull it out for me and her response was “you’re an idiot and I’m on the phone with my mom” ? 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ol'crickety Posted June 21, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 21, 2023 @PhishLI: Fingertips are the worst. The. Worst! They're nothing but nerve endings, which they have to be for our hands to be useful. I once slipped a fingertip into an electric hedge trimmer because I was balancing on a ladder on a slope trimming a high hedge. At the ER, as the doctor was stitching it up, I started leaking tears, which is unusual for me, as I tend to take pain well. I apologized to the nurse and she whispered into my ear, "There's nothing worse than a fingertip." That moment where you're hooked and the bass is still hooked is a scary one, isn't it? I've never had it happen to me, but I've talked to guys who were hooked and connected to a musky. I think Satan will use that on the Tenth Circle of Hell if he ever gets around to building it. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User T-Billy Posted June 21, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 21, 2023 1 hour ago, PhishLI said: Got on a little roll last night with the Livingston Bullnose working it through high weeds. Had a feeling things were about to really get going but then I caught a treble to the bird during the crazy shake, fully buried through the bend and connected to an angry bass. Too dumb to use my fish grippers, but wise enough to always carry sidecutters, so I didn't end up driving home with a bass riding shotgun mocking me all the way. Had about a 1/16" of the point popping through and was able to cut around it with an Xacto blade, then grab it. I nearly quit a few times but gave myself one final pep talk, bit down, grunted Raaaaa!, then twisted that sucka out. My dog covered her eyes. It's remarkable how much force it took. Very unpleasant. Yeesh. I hope I've finally learned my lesson. 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted June 21, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 21, 2023 42 minutes ago, ol'crickety said: That moment where you're hooked and the bass is still hooked is a scary one, isn't it? I've never had it happen to me, but I've talked to guys who were hooked and connected to a musky. I’ve had it happen more than once with small northern pike and treble hooked lures. They are very slimy, they often swallow the lure, the wiggle and shake, and there isn’t much to grab. I catch a lot of them too. I have a snag proof glove I’ve been using more to prevent this but sometimes I honestly forget to use it. Never had it happen with a muskie. Could be disastrous if it happens on a larger fish. Usually there is more to grab because they are bigger. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Team9nine Posted June 21, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 21, 2023 Mostly sunny and 87 degrees this afternoon, but wanted to make a quick pass on a micro lake and test out a #straightbraidbrigade approach in some heavy Chara for comparison sake (to my normal fluoro setup). Was able to swing on 4 decent bass and hooked up on all of them. Hoping to take the setup out again tomorrow on a larger place with even heavier weed growth as a further test. Forecast is for about 10 degrees cooler and a bit more cloud cover, both of which would be appreciated. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ol'crickety Posted June 21, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 21, 2023 59 minutes ago, gimruis said: I’ve had it happen more than once with small northern pike and treble hooked lures. They are very slimy, they often swallow the lure, the wiggle and shake, and there isn’t much to grab. I catch a lot of them too. Small northern pike are the most dangerous fish I've ever boated. They save all their energy for mayhem in the boat. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody B Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 1 minute ago, ol'crickety said: Small northern pike are the most dangerous fish I've ever boated. They save all their energy for mayhem in the boat. Blue Cats will do that. They'll fight like heck for a few seconds then just turn into dead weight. Once you get them in the boat they come back to life with a vengeance. I took a fin to the bone in my foot last year dealing with one. Since then I've started dragging them beside the boat until they "come back to life". I want them tired when they get in the boat. Whatever kind of situation you get into, fishing or otherwise. DON'T PANIC. Be mentally prepared. Do the best you can to ignore whatever pain you're in until you have the situation under control. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted June 22, 2023 Super User Share Posted June 22, 2023 46 minutes ago, ol'crickety said: Small northern pike are the most dangerous fish I've ever boated. They save all their energy for mayhem in the boat. I try not to even BRING them aboard lol Its like trying to grab a toothy snake covered in stinky slime that’s shaking with a treble hook lure attached. #dangerous 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmurphy87 Posted June 22, 2023 Share Posted June 22, 2023 The only few times that I have gotten hooked were by a fish while trying to get the trebles out but not past the barb. I have gotten a ewg hook in my ankle before while wading barefoot and fishing lol. The fish was running towards me in the water kicked up a bunch of debris in the water and I knew that it was getting close to me and then I felt it, that was very awkward. Trying to reach down and get the hook out of my ankle and keep my rod out of the water all while the fish was on the hook, good times. Luckily I don’t have much meat on my bones so that made it easier. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominat0r Posted June 22, 2023 Share Posted June 22, 2023 Got a couple right when I came home from work. First spinnerbait bass in my pond. Both about 2lbs+. 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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