7 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

@Bluebasser86, I don’t know how you tourney guys do it, those fish absolutely WILL NOT keep their mouth closed long enough for a photo 

 

When I lip and grip 'em for a photo, I can't get my bass to stop swinging their tails, thus my many, MANY photos of curved fish.

 

And my two 22"+ bass of 2023 would NOT lie on the bump board for a photo. So, I lipped and gripped them and they were swinging their tails too. I did get to weigh them: 6.75 pounds and 6.71 pounds. I wish @TnRiver46's scale had worked. 

I’ve never had a scale that worked more than about twice, no dry storage on any of my vessels. I can’t be constantly ruining something that costs more than my rods/reels 

I struggle with scales too, @TnRiver46. And speaking of wet boats, every time I switch my paddle from one side to the other, I'm dripping water into my canoe. Plus, I like to fish in the rain. So, yeah, I understand your iffy scale situation, my bassin' buddy. 

21 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve never had a scale that worked more than about twice, no dry storage on any of my vessels. I can’t be constantly ruining something that costs more than my rods/reels 

Get a cheap waterproof container and some cheap grippers to hang from this scale and you'll have the whole setup for less than the expensive scales and it's just as accurate. You can find them for 1/4 this price, just the first one I found.

https://www.amazon.com/AlepTau-Portable-Multi-functionals-Back-lit-Display/dp/B07GF2DZW1/ref=asc_df_B07GF2DZW1/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241969147179&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13283311898807087985&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9023858&hvtargid=pla-524342386022&psc=1

 

I use gravity in my favor. I lay the bridge of the scale on the bottom of the kayak and the end up on the rails so the fish naturally slides down nose first into the bridge. A lot of times, they'll just lay there without me doing anything. 

 

 

15 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Get a cheap waterproof container and some cheap grippers to hang from this scale and you'll have the whole setup for less than the expensive scales and it's just as accurate. You can find them for 1/4 this price, just the first one I found.

https://www.amazon.com/AlepTau-Portable-Multi-functionals-Back-lit-Display/dp/B07GF2DZW1/ref=asc_df_B07GF2DZW1/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241969147179&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13283311898807087985&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9023858&hvtargid=pla-524342386022&psc=1

 

I use gravity in my favor. I lay the bridge of the scale on the bottom of the kayak and the end up on the rails so the fish naturally slides down nose first into the bridge. A lot of times, they'll just lay there without me doing anything. 

 

 

 

that's what I use too -- they're dirt cheap, as accurate as anything else (or better), and fit nicely in a zippered pocket on my pfd.  May as well buy 3 or 4 for that price.

I could fry it before thanksgiving 

2 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I could fry it before thanksgiving 

That's why you buy more than one.

It’s not really that important to me, especially on a skunk trapping salary 

1 hour ago, MIbassyaker said:

That's why you buy more than one.

I usually buy 4 or 5 at a time. I've probably given more away than I've ruined. I've found even when they get wet, just take the batteries out and let them dry out good and they'll start working again. 

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

It’s not really that important to me, especially on a skunk trapping salary 

Come get my muskrats, pays better than skunks!

this discussion about scales is wild to me, mine get wet all the time and I'm only on scale #2...not because the first one died (it's just a little rusty), but because I wanted a smaller one for when I don't carry my tackle box. New fear unlocked

Got out this afternoon from about 12 30 -4 30, caught 13 bass ,1 on a bladed jig and 12 on a spinnerbait with the best of the day a 3-15 spinnerbait fish. 

Mag II strikes again. Chilly morning, it was 36 degrees and about 10mph wind when I got there. But close to 60 by the time I left. Hopefully we stay warm for a bit after this cold snap

@thediscochef: With that jacket and beard, I'd cast you in a western. A western about a cowpoke who catches lmbs. Who catches lmbs in the ocean, 'cause that looks like the ocean behind you. And when the cowpoke ain't acatchin' bass, he's rescuing damsels with his trusty fishin' tackle.

We did our Georges lake trip today, even though a front had come through. Low Temps in the high 40s . When we launched it was bluebird skies and in the 50s. Wind 10-15. Later went up to 15-20.

So we launched, get to our first spot, and the TM won’t work. Dead batteries. So back we go to the ramp. Jeff goes to the closet town to get new batteries. Finally get back on the water and try to fish our normal way, which is the northside to the westside of the lake.

But the wind has really picked up. So out of necessity we went to the only fishable water, which is the SE corner of the lake. 
This is the part we rarely fish. We’ve been going there now for 40 years, and Ive fished that corner maybe 3 times.Scattered docks, pads, and sparse grass patches. We ended up catching 15 , but nothing big.  I got the dink of the day honors and most fish caught. Jeff caught most of his fish on the red shad culprit. I caught all of mine on the uv speed worm. 
Not too bad considering the weather. 

Hit another work route pond today. It was raining and the fish were fired up. I caught 10 and lost nearly as many , all about the same size. I caught 7-8 of them on a uv speed worm. The same one. It was so torn up I could just barely hook it.  I finally cut it about 1/4 inch and caught another one.Caught the rest on a yum dinger that was already torn up!

And no, I’m not on the clock!

@N Florida Mike, you gotta get yourself onto that clock while fishing! We only get one life 😂 

First ever fish on a skirted jig. Slammed it up under the pier in about 10-15fow. Had to pack up and go after that but it was nice to add to the list of lures I feel capable with 

Cold up in Canada. Water temps are high 40s

Hockey season is here and the rare base is biting.

We finally dipped down to 32* the other morning. 44* with 15mph winds last night. Brrrrr. My fingertips were burning. I'm ordering electric underwear.

 

Trout just got stocked. The best part of the night was finding a school of 9 inchers up close to the shore with a massive pickerel hovering motionless right in the middle of them. My headlamp froze them all in place and I was able to wade right into the thick of the scene. Had to gently poke the pickerel with my rod to get it to move. It was either completely stuffed or just a totally locked in assassin.

 

Got a few bites then I split. Big Bite Baits jerk minnow in alewife.

5 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

The best part of the night was finding a school of 9 inchers up close to the shore with a massive pickerel hovering motionless right in the middle of them. My headlamp froze them all in place and I was able to wade right into the middle of the scene. Had to gently poke the pickerel with my rod to get it to move. It was either completely stuffed or just a totally locked in assassin.

 

Cool story!

We've had our first cold nights here.  The low a couple nights ago was 26.   It was 32 when I launched my boat this morning.  Water temp is down 5 degrees to 63.   The lake isn't showing signs of turning over yet.   It's low, we've had very little rain for quite some time.   Fishing was slow, but I guess steady.  The Bass weren't schooled up.  That's strange, since spots are usually schooled up year round.   I caught 8, all spots.  A few were what I call "micro bass".   Little super aggressive 10 inchers.   The first and last (both pictured) were the biggest at ~16 inches.   First was at 8:32, last was a 10:42.   I saw a couple people duck hunting.....so I'm guessing duck season is in now.  I also saw a deer swim across a really wide channel.   A co worker is deer hunting today so I sent him a video of the deer in the middle of the lake.   While I was watching the deer a really fast bass boat came by, heading right toward the deer to stay away from me.  I was just idling.  I blew my horn and pointed toward the deer.   He swerved to miss it, then turned around, came back toward me and yelled "thanks".   We have plenty of deer/automobile crashes here.  I suspect a deer/boat crash would be bad.  Bass were scattered and hugging the bottom, mostly around 10 to 15 feet deep near channel swings.   I caught 5 on a Shakey head, 2 on a bladed jig, and 1 on a lipless crank.   I also caught a smallish Yellow Perch on a lipless.   

 

Hey,

 

Caught this decent peacock this morning held up near a structure, just thought to share. Be well everyone 

Got a bass while crappie fishing, bout 13” under a dock that was loaded with crappie 

Good morning happy Sunday 😎

 

Caught yet again another nice peacock bass this morning, almost landed a baby one but it jumped off. Have a nice day everyone