@gimruis gone crazy catching bass!   

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

 

@A-Jay how much longer do you have soft water do you think?

8 weeks I guess.

But only 4-6 will be fishable.

Meanwhile, I'm going when I can.

A-Jay

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Most definitely a fashion police violation.  I follow my own letter of the law here.

 

If the haircut is looking a little shaggy, @Woody B will be sure to let me know.

As long as the carpet matches the curtains you should be good.

And don't ask me about Hard wood . . . . floors.

A-Jay 

 

Returned to the local reservoir this afternoon, but the wind wasn’t blowing, and subsequently, the bass and the shad weren’t moving. Hunkered down and scratched out 8 in the first couple hours, along with some nice crappie. In the last hour, a good breeze picked up as the clouds and eventual rain moved in, and the fish started stirring. Final bass count ended up at 24 today, along with some nice crappie. Boat and motor registrations are on the way, so should be able to branch out to a few more reservoirs over the next couple weeks.

 

 

 

Nothing of size but it was nice to catch more than a couple. Went to a state park that's a little further from me and has a better survey report.

Most were caught on a shakey head but a couple drums on back to back casts with a chatterbait. Missed a couple smaller bites but overall a good day to build some confidence. 6 bass and two drums. Nothing crazy, but enough to shake the skunk funk of the last few days 

Hesitated about heading out into this extreme rainy cold front finding out temps were to be in the low wet 40s but Eins is all about fronts and besides I had just fuddled with my decade old Mattlures Hardgill yesterday and just wanted to test the new modifications.  Not too much confidence in the Hardgill as it had only nailed a few smallish fish over the years you see I made the mistake of buying the floater thinking that it'd be no biggie to modify it to slow sink if need be.  Well it weren't easy since there werent any references on utube or elsewhere and having to use 5 nail weights of varying sizes epoxied in at strategic dremel-drilled spots (see attached pics) in the underside to replaced egg-weighted trebles which I ended also downsizing and then buoyancy tested to be a slow sinker.  So overall a cleaner profile and hopefully reducing sight profile of trebles.

Anyway, it was tough conditions as few skunked fishermen atested to but nailing a few 2 pounders early on my tried and true lures before the bite slowed as the water temps dropped with the icy rain even these aging bones wanted home early.  Well before eagerly retreating from the icy wet whipped out the mod Hardgill.  Few casts to get the presentation down and wasn't long before a slow-roll Hardgill felt the subtle cold slow bite of a suitable biggie gill-eater and hookset.

Always good to see a mod go right and so quickly as confirmation.  Hope to add the Hardgill to the bigger fish repetoir as it was meant for more after these mods.

Thanks Matt!

Got a little fishing in before the rain came, but its nice weather out these days in florida. Cooling down nicely. 

 

They loving the lipless.....

 

I was disappointed to catch 10 today.  It was raining.  Usually when it's raining I catch a BUNCH.  The first one was the biggest, at 7:22(time, not weight).   (pictured)  The last, at 12:05 was the smallest(pictured).   5 Largemouth and 5 spots.   I missed way more than I caught.  The only thing they would hit was a buzz bait with no trailer hook.  The first one was on my second cast.   After a few misses I added a trailer hook and they quit hitting.  I removed the trailer and they started back.  I tired a Devils Horse, a popper, cranks, shakey head, bladed jig, swim baits, both small and large and a few other lures.  All they would hit was a black buzz bait with no trailer.  The lake is down a foot or so.  It's still clear in spite of the rain.  I suspect it will be a little more murky tomorrow.   Water temperature was down to 72.   

 

It's the weekend and there's not enough fishing. I'm going mid-day Tuesday and Wednesday. Mid-day fishing gets tricky because it's windier, but the mornings have become too cool for bass to bite. After Wednesday, the weather forecast does not look good: cool and windy. 

I'm shooting for 1 more day on the water with the kayak. If weather holds up it will be next monday or tuesday, and afternoon for sure. After that, I may get out for a few bank trips here and there, but that will be it.

31 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

I'm shooting for 1 more day on the water with the kayak. If weather holds up it will be next monday or tuesday, and afternoon for sure. After that, I may get out for a few bank trips here and there, but that will be it.

Hope you slay em buddy 

Wife wanted to go on a fall colors drive in the mtns but we had to run some stuff by the house first on the way. Of course I brought a couple rods…….. 

 

Didn’t wanna get skunked on a short trip so I threw my

4’10” ultra light with 4 lb mono and a tiny rapala. I was twitching it on top letting sunfish hit it. All of a sudden a silver streak grabbed it and starting taking line, a nice Alabama and/or spotted bass. One heck of a fight on ultra light , thought I’d never get it close enough to hand land.
 

Side note: caught in same lake where we landed 80+ smallmouth last weekend, the takeover must have stalled out 

It's funny how a day changes things.  I was disappointed yesterday with 10.  Today was bluebird post front skies.  There was a little wind at times.  I caught 8 bass, and was pleased.  I also caught a Crappie (on a Devils Horse, on my first cast) and a Yellow Perch.  (other species thread later)   I normally picture my first and last, but they were both nubbins.  (Y'all call them dinks)  I decided to post all 8.  I'm not ashamed of my dinks.  The 2 biggest were 18" and 18 1/2" long.   I try to fish different areas.  I went up river from where I normally fish.   The Crappie, Perch and 3 Bass were on a Devils Horse.   1 Bass was on a shakey head, the others on a bladed jig.   I had a HUGE flathead cat look at my Devils Horse.  It just sit there a foot or so away.  When I'd move it, the cat would move.  It followed it a twitch at a time all the way to the boat, then just swam slowly under the boat.  Y'all have seen the cats I catch.  For me to call one HUGE it was really big.   I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture of it looking at my lure 5 feet from the boat.  It's back was sticking out of the water.   

Nice work @Woody B, looks like the larger participants today were LM. Well except the curious Flathead, and yes if you’re calling it huge I’m a tad scared 

 

crappie on a devils horse, now that’s funny 

53 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Wife wanted to go on a fall colors drive in the mtns but we had to run some stuff by the house first on the way. Of course I brought a couple rods…….. 

 

Didn’t wanna get skunked on a short trip so I threw my

4’10” ultra light with 4 lb mono and a tiny rapala. I was twitching it on top letting sunfish hit it. All of a sudden a silver streak grabbed it and starting taking line, a nice Alabama and/or spotted bass. One heck of a fight on ultra light , thought I’d never get it close enough to hand land.
 

Side note: caught in same lake where we landed 80+ smallmouth last weekend, the takeover must have stalled out 

 

What rod/reel were you using? Between my eyes and this old laptop I'm having a heck of a time seeing it. 😛

9 minutes ago, ScottW said:

 

What rod/reel were you using? Between my eyes and this old laptop I'm having a heck of a time seeing it. 😛

The reel was $20 and the rod was $10 hahah. Both from academy. Rod is B &M 410 medium ultra light and reel is quantam optix that was completely broken a few weeks ago (got flooded canoeing) but I got her up and running again . 4 lb Shakespeare mono 

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Side note: caught in same lake where we landed 80+ smallmouth last weekend, the takeover must have stalled out 

Tough day out, north wind gusting to 25 but I managed to catch this one bass on a crawler around 2pm over some riprap. It missed the bait all three times it struck but a little patience on the last hit landed some barbs on its back/head. The strikes on those pompadours are straight up violent 

2 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Love Martin short! 
 

Missed most of the past 5 weeks due to schedule, crazy rain blowing up our bi-monthly Jon boat trips, and finally, my first bout of kidney stones. The thought of being found on the side of the lake in the fetal position crying like a baby kept me away even after it was well over with. Better safe than sorry, and I have a reputation to protect.😁 I don't have a worst enemy, but I now know what I'd wish upon them if I git me one. I thought I was dying via flaming razor blades.

 

Anyway, big rains were guaranteed to blow up Saturday's Jon boat trip yet again, so I shot up late Friday afternoon for some throws. It was great finding my favorite spot at full pool after so many months of being dreadfully low. Nothing special happened, but it felt good getting some tugs once again.

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Missed most of the past 5 weeks due to schedule, crazy rain blowing up our bi-monthly Jon boat trips, and finally, my first bout of kidney stones. The thought of being found on the side of the lake in the fetal position crying like a baby kept me away even after it was well over with. Better safe than sorry, and I have a reputation to protect.😁 I don't have a worst enemy, but I now know what I'd wish upon them if I git me one. I thought I was dying via flaming razor blades.

 

Anyway, big rains were guaranteed to blow up Saturday's Jon boat trip yet again, so I shot up late Friday afternoon for some throws. It was great finding my favorite spot at full pool after so many months of being dreadfully low. Nothing special happened, but it felt good getting some tugs once again.

F a kidney stone, those hurt so so bad. Couldn't imagine being stuck with one lakeside.

Glad you're back in action, here's to calcium staying where it belongs 😳

2 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Missed most of the past 5 weeks due to schedule, crazy rain blowing up our bi-monthly Jon boat trips, and finally, my first bout of kidney stones. The thought of being found on the side of the lake in the fetal position crying like a baby kept me away even after it was well over with. Better safe than sorry, and I have a reputation to protect.😁 I don't have a worst enemy, but I now know what I'd wish upon them if I git me one. I thought I was dying via flaming razor blades.

 

Anyway, big rains were guaranteed to blow up Saturday's Jon boat trip yet again, so I shot up late Friday afternoon for some throws. It was great finding my favorite spot at full pool after so many months of being dreadfully low. Nothing special happened, but it felt good getting some tugs once again.

June of 2020 changed my life brother.......same deal, first and hopefully last kidney stone, nurses said child birth is the only thing comparable, took 4 rounds of IV meds to finally get me handled.   

 

From June of 2020 until today, I've never drank another thing besides water.....seriously 😁

 

Glad to hear you're better, and back at it!   

Windy, rainy, cool… but I hadn’t fished in over a week and just had to try for a few hours this afternoon.  Water temps now 55-56F.  All my bites came up shallow and close to the bank on a black and blue buzzbait. First a 3.15# lmb, then about a 6-7# pike that came home for dinner.  Had another good pike miss me short, then I lost a really good lmb just when I was getting ready to leave - a great buzzbait blowup and she pulled drag right away.  Got her to the boat but she must have hit short and been skin hooked because she came off pretty easy - looking like at least 4#.

4 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

June of 2020 changed my life brother.......same deal, first and hopefully last kidney stone, nurses said child birth is the only thing comparable, took 4 rounds of IV meds to finally get me handled.   

This one was shaped like a flint arrowhead. God help me.

 

5 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

From June of 2020 until today, I've never drank another thing besides water.....seriously 😁

That's been me for the past 6 months after being a lifelong tea drinker. Who knows what actually got me though? I won't play with it again. Water or bust. What a long 4 days, man. Pain mixed with terrible anticipation, then holy mother of god pain as a crescendo.

4 hours ago, PhishLI said:

This one was shaped like a flint arrowhead. God help me.

 

That's been me for the past 6 months after being a lifelong tea drinker. Who knows what actually got me though? I won't play with it again. Water or bust. What a long 4 days, man. Pain mixed with terrible anticipation, then holy mother of god pain as a crescendo.

Nobody forgets their first kidney stone. Had my first at 17, I'm somewhere around #55 and they haven't any less painful. I've actually passed 3 or 4 while fishing. Get you some Flomax(Tamsulosin) and muscle relaxers as it really helps expedite the trip from kidney to bladder.

Almost forgot a latest catch pic.

8 hours ago, PhishLI said:

my first bout of kidney stones.

 

I try to stay on topic, but I also put this information EVERYWHERE I get the chance to.   When you're in kidney stone pain get in a tub of HOT water, as hot as you can stand.  It instantly, but temporarily relieves the pain.  When the water cools the pain will come back, just drain some and add more hot.   They had me so morphined up I couldn't even walk through a door, but I was still in pain.   The janitor at the medical facility told me to go home and get in a tub of hot water.