1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Big fish was 6.8 with another 5.1 weighed, best 5 for 23.5lbs with several 4lb class fish. 

 

Another great day on the water, Alex. And I think you've strung enough great days for this to count as your second streak. If the last one was Joe DiMaggio's streak, this one is at least Pete's streak, Rose's 44-game hitting streak.

 

I know you're pining for another DD, but beyond that goal, have you ever had a season of bassing like this one? I never have and I'm guessing that 99% of the Bass Resource anglers haven't. 

 

That screenshot is cool. Thanks for sharing it. 

 

And thanks for the video too. Lawdy,, those big girls don't quit, do they?

Thanks A-Jay!   After yesterday I put on 70spf and still feel cooked.   Think we get one more day.   

 

I've got the

Keitech Super Round Tungsten Jighead 1/8th 2/0

Owner Range Roller in 1/8th 3/0 (still trying to get the bigger Mellow 5.2 Drift fry for this one with the bigger hook)

Deps Midst 1/8th 2/0 

 

I really like all three, but the Owner Range Roller and Deps Midst jigead really do create more of that roll, however I wish they used Tungsten like the Keitech does.  They both do it differently though.   The Owner changes the center of gravity, whereas the Deps changes the orientation of the line tie.  

 

Today I tried the Fish Arrow Flash J 4" that are such a cool bait, but it didn't produce fast enough so I put the Drift Fry back on.    Same deal a week or two ago I tried to use the Spunk Shad but couldn't draw a bite.   

 

The Fish Arrow Flash J just won't roll like the Drift Fry, and neither will the Spunk Shad, yet both rolled awesomely in a filled-up sink.    Odd and not sure why.   

 

@ol'crickety  Thanks Katie, I love both the analogies and your attitude and perspective.   I really do wish to emulate your attitude and outlook, and truth be told I think that's my biggest limiting factor.   I am however trying to strongly work on that in part because of our PMs and your replies in this thread about it.   

 

Hopefully it showed a bit of that "green Tuna" action I've tried to described in so many replies.    I'm staring at what looks like 100k Threadfins, many times inches from the boat, Bass blow up so often right by the boat as well.  One thing I've learned is that when Bass are actively feeding, they're like a Buck in heat, they really can't see anything but the prize.    Every time it feels like I'm in the middle of a nature documentary on predators and prey.   

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Big fish was 6.8 with another 5.1 weighed, best 5 for 23.5lbs with several 4lb class fish.    Lost two fish over 5 including the one on the KGB TSG.   

 

Got a new Crappie PB at 2.11.  

Is your scale measuring pounds and ounces, or pounds and hundredths of a pound? You typed/posted them as the latter, but the video makes it sound like the former. Just curious.  Crazy that you’ve got massive schooling and shad feeding going on with 50 degree water. Fish still think it's fall/winter and not pre-spawn 😆 Any idea how much longer that will last?

20 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Bass blow up so often right by the boat as well.  One thing I've learned is that when Bass are actively feeding, they're like a Buck in heat, they really can't see anything but the prize. 

 

I experienced this last summer too and couldn't crack the code. For three consecutive trips, I saw bass chasing shad on the surface, but couldn't catch a single one. I caught other bass on those trips, but none of those bass that had that rutting buck focus.

 

22 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

 I am however trying to strongly work on that in part because of our PMs and your replies in this thread about it.   

 

I'm glad. We'll all be pushing daisies in a few years or decades. It's wise to celebrate the fish that we do catch and not pine for those we don't. 

@Team9nine  Yeah it blew my mind last year when they did it even more frequently, as I'd always heard winter fishing is slow, the fish are sluggish, etc.   

 

It slows way down once they start spawning, but then the Shad Spawn kicks in and you get that whole deal around April.   They do it on the "hi activity" days year-round, but nothing like what they do in the winter.     Fall has a ton of it, but I've found for whatever reason the size class fish are much smaller predating on them. 

 

I've spent as much time trying to learn Gizzard and Threadfin Shad as Bass since fishing this lake, but they're as hard to predict and understand as Bass for me.  For example Feb 8-9 last year I had 40-50 fish days in that same area as today, and the amount of Threadfins were equally as staggering, yet they were in 20-25fow carpeted up for hundreds of yards with the spaghetti right above them, and I was using a Damiki Axe Blade 1oz tail spinner to catch them in about 15-20ft.

 

Today they were in 8-10fow exploding upwards at groups of thousands yet spaced out balls of Threadfins sunning on the surface.  

 

Too much info I'm sure, but those Shad fascinate the heck out of me.   

10 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

I experienced this last summer too and couldn't crack the code. For three consecutive trips, I saw bass chasing shad on the surface, but couldn't catch a single one. I caught other bass on those trips, but none of those bass that had that rutting buck focus.

 

 

I'm glad. We'll all be pushing daisies in a few years or decades. It's wise to celebrate the fish that we do catch and not pine for those we don't. 

Agreed on the second part, and hopefully it's something improvable and with work I'll grow in that area.

 

As far as the first part, I think there's lots of logic in the fact that you can have too much of the real thing and at some point it's impossible to compete with the real thing.    One thing I've found is that these fish seemed to be keyed in more on size than any other factor of the real prey.    I get the best results matching the size first and then trying other things.     

 

Usually a Vision 110jr is kryptonite for them in the Fall, and in the Winter an A-Rig.   I've had times where the Flashback Mini with the Armor Shad destroys them as well.    They usually have a magic button, but some days you just can't really find the perfect one, or even one at all.   I had a couple days IIrc last winter where they wouldn't eat anything, not a single fish.    

@AlabamaSpothunter Wolfpacks of pigs bro.

 

Makes a lot of sense because bass are sight feeders and I think that the single easiest thing for them to really quickly evaluate is the profile of a bait when reacting to it.

Just another great video!  Congrats and only a little bit of jealousy

 

scott

@AlabamaSpothunter That big one at the beginning hurt us all brother. I've got to hand it to you for sticking with it and having an incredible day when it was all over!

 

@AlabamaSpothunter

THANK YOU very much for the detailed response.

I really appreciate it.

I am also a huge fan of that Keitech Super Round Tungsten Jighead - 

Been using it for several different applications for a while.

Enjoy the sun.

A-Jay

 

@AlabamaSpothunter gotta love the sound of that Certate's drag. 

18 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

The worst best day you could have, before the sun was even up I lost a 5+ and an irreplaceable swimbait literally inches from the net. 

 A few years ago, my brother got a standard, bone, 6" Bullshad, then sent it out to a hot-at-the-moment bait painter. He waited a very long time in the queue, and was thrilled showing it to me on the tailgate of his truck as we suited up in our waders. This lake is snaggy, so he'd spooled up with straight 65lb braid just to be "safe". I was standing right next to him when he said "Watch this. This bait really flies", and he swung for the fences. It certainly did fly. My brother's a long 6'4" and his rod was 9', so the knot didn't stand a chance against the strain of the backlash, so off it went into the troposphere on the very first cast. The funny part is that it was dark, cold, and windy, so with my wool hat pulled down over my ears and my hood up I really couldn't hear much. In support, I enthusiastically cried out "WoW, that thing really went out there!" My brother said nothing and made no sound, which I thought was odd. I looked over at him for a reply only to find his head hung low, arms to his sides, the rod tip in the water, and his chin on his chest.

 

It happens eventually, one way or another. The lake giveth, and the lake taketh away. Sorry for your lost bait. I lit a candle for it.😢

 

Great vid though. Congrats on yet another awesome day, bro!👊 

35 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

I lit a candle for it.😢

 

19 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Baits like his TSG are worthy of a eulogy. "He was a wonderful bait. Everybody loved him".😁

I'm prewriting Alex's fishing report for today:

 

Pretty good day. Best bass was 7.1 Also caught a 5.7 and three four-pounders. 26.1-pound bag. For some weird reason, all the top pros are following my boat and watching me with binoculars. Don't know why. 

 

Anyway, this a short report because I'm posting from my cell phone. I'm afraid to land because what appears to be big name tackle makers, like Shimano and Daiwa, are waiting at the boat ramp and waving what appear to be checks. Buncha weirdos. Strange day.  

17 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I'm prewriting Alex's fishing report for today:

 

Pretty good day. Best bass was 7.1 Also caught a 5.7 and three four-pounders. 26.1-pound bag. For some weird reason, all the top pros are following my boat and watching me with binoculars. 

 

I'm betting that little slice of heaven lake doesn't show up on many basshead's radar. 

And is kept very much on the down low.

But I can Totally Relate

#lakemenderlex

A-Jay

 

3 hours ago, PhishLI said:

 A few years ago, my brother got a standard, bone, 6" Bullshad, then sent it out to a hot-at-the-moment bait painter. He waited a very long time in the queue, and was thrilled showing it to me on the tailgate of his truck as we suited up in our waders. This lake is snaggy, so he'd spooled up with straight 65lb braid just to be "safe". I was standing right next to him when he said "Watch this. This bait really flies", and he swung for the fences. It certainly did fly. My brother's a long 6'4" and his rod was 9', so the knot didn't stand a chance against the strain of the backlash, so off it went into the troposphere on the very first cast. The funny part is that it was dark, cold, and windy, so with my wool hat pulled down over my ears and my hood up I really couldn't hear much. In support, I enthusiastically cried out "WoW, that thing really went out there!" My brother said nothing and made no sound, which I thought was odd. I looked over at him for a reply only to find his head hung low, arms to his sides, the rod tip in the water, and his chin on his chest.

 

It happens eventually, one way or another. The lake giveth, and the lake taketh away. Sorry for your lost bait. I lit a candle for it.😢

 

Great vid though. Congrats on yet another awesome day, bro!👊 

We call that a donation to the fishing Gods. It can certainly give you a sickening feeling depending on the bait.

@GreenPig ….and the amount of money spent on one bait or customization. I’m certainly not casting any stones with that comment either. Stupid bait monkey. 😖

 

@PhishLI I’ve been known to get in a bit of a hurry when changing lures & open a brand new spinnerbait, get the trailer all slid onto the hook nice & straight, make sure it looks good, take a gander at the blades & swivel to make sure they’re in proper working order & when finally done, toss the lure into the water & at the exact moment I let it go I realize I didn’t even tie it onto my freaking line. Bye, nice meeting you for a couple of minutes Mr. Booyah. 😞

A bit too windy for finesse today so I stuck with baits that I could maintain contact with. Caught five over a couple of hours in two ponds. Work has kept me off the water lately but have managed twenty or so keepers since the first of the month. Two more March-like days before a return to winter (though not as cold as last month).

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I'm betting that little slice of heaven lake doesn't show up on many basshead's radar. 

 

I'm guessing you're right because the shoreline is so developed. However, I think few bassheads could go out and average 35 fish and 23-pound bags at his honey hole. Alex is a bass whisperer. 

2 hours ago, RipzLipz said:

@GreenPig ….and the amount of money spent on one bait or customization. I’m certainly not casting any stones with that comment either. Stupid bait monkey. 😖

 

@PhishLI I’ve been known to get in a bit of a hurry when changing lures & open a brand new spinnerbait, get the trailer all slid onto the hook nice & straight, make sure it looks good, take a gander at the blades & swivel to make sure they’re in proper working order & when finally done, toss the lure into the water & at the exact moment I let it go I realize I didn’t even tie it onto my freaking line. Bye, nice meeting you for a couple of minutes Mr. Booyah. 😞

 That would be the best thing I ever did with a spinnerbait 

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

 That would be the best thing I ever did with a spinnerbait 

That won’t change until you put down the tri….tri….tri…..3 sided thing where the round handle goes on the spinning rod & stick to it. You’re in TN - your handles are supposed to be full round cork with rings or electrical tape for God’s sake!

Got back out there after the cold snap here in Ohio. Slow rolling a spinnerbait right down a laydown and caught him about 6’ off the bank. Took about 4 casts, had another but my line broke off in the laydown. Probably should have retied, but I’ll take it for the first fish of the year. 3lbs 12oz!

 

@ak6388  Way to get on the board for the year brother!   Looking like a lock that you'll be changing that PB in your avatar 😎

 

I really am humbled and floored by the love and support I receive here!   In a world where everything seemingly tries to tear you down especially on the internet, the amazing group of humans in this thread is extraordinary in my experience.    I sincerely appreciate it guys and gal!    

 

Today was simply wild, I somehow managed to exceed Katie's lofty prediction.  I caught 45 Bass + 5 Crappie.......28lb bag with a 7.6, 6.12, and 5 weighed.   I think I must have caught another 8 in that 4-5lb range, and the rest were mostly 2-4lb fish. 

 

From my catches, but vastly more from my eyes, I had no clue that such big fish schooled in such great numbers, I really can't say how many fish I saw that were over 4lbs blow up, so many in that 5-6lb range one of which in the video you'll see me first see, then catch it.    The biggest I saw sure looked to be 8-9lbs.   

 

The most ironic/frustrating thing is when these fish are schooling as heavy as I've ever seen, it's insane how picky they are.   I've tried so many different things over the last two days especially.   The Jackall Drift Fry catches 95% of these fish, but the 6th Sense Crush 75x got the 7.6 big fish and a few others.   It has to be the best big fish flatside crank made. 

 

Went back to the Keitech Jighead to see if that small little weedguard on the Deps Midst jighead was screwing with the hookup ratio, and to my surprise I think it was.   Got scared of my low running stash of the Drift Fry Deadly bait color so I switched to another color, low and behold it made no noticeable difference.   

 

8hrs fishing, 5hrs to produce a video of it lol 😴

 

 

 

 

7.6

 

6.12 

 

2.8 Crappie.....these things blow my mind, they're the size of a dinner plate

 

 

 

Might as well follow up all those big bass with some dinks, eh???

 

got my wife’s kayak out on the river again after work. Got a few crappie (I thought they were nice ones until I logged onto BR), lots of tiny LM, one SM, and a yellow bass. Right when I got started a bald eagle was flying over a busy highway where I launched. Then once I got out to the main channel it was still flying around and landed on a mud flat right next to a big stump and just stood there. All the ducks and seagulls were flying around nervously while it was standing there