My latest catch, fishing last night

 

@ol'crickety I hit a clear water lake that is the kowest I've seen ever, has these unusual algae blooms i think I've only seen once if ever before, and was dead calm last night. 

 

I didn't see any action at all, and I found 3 good bass with my headlamp... and when I brought my lure by them they spooked so fast they stirred up the bottom and disappeared from the cloud like a cartoon. 

 

Any thoughts on how the water's been in Maine lately?

@Jmurphy87: Murph, you know how In-Fisherman thinks a 6.5-pound northern bass is equivalent to a 10-pound southern bass? Well, I think a Murph fishing-crowded-lakes 3.32-pounder is equivalent to a 5-pound, lonesome-lake Maine bass.

 

@1984isNOW: If you're talking about water quality, it depends. The southern lakes have much more developed shorelines and therefore lower water quality. Up north, I assume that there are still lakes where you could safely, directly drink the water. If you're talking water temps, they're bath water warm. If you're wondering whether the bass are biting, yep. Always. 

 

 

I went this morning for a few hours.   It's cooler today, but I think I still have brain fog from the heat.  I gassed my truck and boat, decided which landing I was going to then turned onto the Interstate toward the other landing.   So....I cut through the country at the next exit to go to the landing I planned on going to........and managed to make a wrong turn in the middle of no where.   

 

When I finally made it to the landing there was a tournament there.  I just sit around until they launched and had their blast off.   I caught 7 Bass.  3 pairs of "micro Bass" and one "real" Bass.   I was finding schools of micro Bass on channel swings.  I know people say not to, but I will leave Bass to find Bass if the Bass I'm catching are 10 inches long.  First picture is one of the micro Bass.   I could have probably caught a bunch of them, but that's not what I was after.   I managed to catch one "real" Bass in a "ditch" between a point and an island.  I have some stuff I need to do here, so I decided to call it a day.   I'm not sure if I'm going back tonight around midnight, or early tomorrow morning.   

 

I have met @Woody B, so I estimate his "micro-bass" to be a five-pounder. His "real bass" is the world record. You have to understand that Woody is about ten-feet tall and weighs 900 pounds. Here are some clips of Woody when he was just 8:

 

3 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

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Slightly north of sebago, but it's a lakebwith practically no vegetation. Few areas with some grass, never seen a lily pad in here, and  water is at least 15ft clarity. Even the bottom wants for structure and contour. Few areas with Rick piles and boulders, but they're a hike and I'm not exactly sure without sunlight.

 

Like I said, I found 3 bass and I watched them see my lure get close and then they swam away as fast as possible, I know you frequent the unfrequented bog type water bodies, I imagine that makes enough of a difference. These clear water pressured bass get spooky, especially when. The water is in the condition it's in

 

There's a couple spots I bumped into on the map, I'll hit our chat up and ask if you know em.

Hit up a semi-local reservoir that is now back to capacity after being drawn down for dam repairs.

Totally different now than the last 2 years.

Tried hitting some of the shallower areas and coves where I've caught in the past but it wasn't happening.

Water clarity was about 10', here it's usually around 15' to 20'.

Went in search mode in deeper water and put on the drop shot.

Found fish in 25' to 35' foot of water and was able to land 12 fish, 5 Smallies, 4 Largemouths, 2 Bluegills and a Rock Bass.

3 of the Smallies were decent fish, rest were on the smaller side.

Just happened to be a brewery near the reservoir, had to stop and have a black lager................

 

 

22 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I have met @Woody B, so I estimate his "micro-bass" to be a five-pounder. 

My fish pics are about the same.  I’m 6’4” and XL leather gloves fit like spandex so all my mister fish look small. 😂🤫😂

32 minutes ago, The Baron said:

My fish pics are about the same.  I’m 6’4” and XL leather gloves fit like spandex so all my mister fish look small. 😂🤫😂

 

Oh, I know. I've been to Ontario. I've felt the Earth shake. I know that you was you just walking. In the states, we call you Mr. Geiger because we can count your footfalls with Geiger counters. 

I promise the 10 inchers are only 10 inches long.   I'm 5'10".  I'm old and fat now, but even when I was young and  "thin" I was "thick"   I'm built like a fire hydrant.  When I boxed, and kick boxed I fought at 175 pounds and didn't have an ounce of fat on me.  I weight 210 now.   

 

I had high hopes for catching a bunch of decent Bass today.  Whenever I think I'm going to do good I struggle.  It's cooler and it rained last night.   Not just Bass, but fish were scattered today.   There's a bunch of mayflies floating in the water, but no fish around them.  I'm pretty sure the water has been hotter than I've ever seen it.   It was 89.9 last week.  It's a couple degrees cooler now.  The fish (not just Bass) were scattered today, similar to right after the Fall turnover.  There's been no turnover with surface temps still at 86 degrees.  

 

I caught 3 today.   (all pictured)  First was a "micro Bass" skipping a dock.  The second was a decent 18 inch skinny Largemouth.   I caught it on a spinnerbait 20 feet deep on a rocky point.   The last....I'm calling a "crossover" Bass......right between a micro Bass and a "cookie cutter" on a spinnerbait at a channel swing.   

 

A kickboxer? Now I deeply regret ever joshing Woody.

 

On 7/20/2024 at 11:01 AM, ol'crickety said:

I have met @Woody B, so I estimate his "micro-bass" to be a five-pounder. His "real bass" is the world record. You have to understand that Woody is about ten-feet tall and weighs 900 pounds. Here are some clips of Woody when he was just 8:

 

Woody was shaving at 8? No way!

1 minute ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Woody was shaving at 8? No way!

 

Woody was shaving at 7 with a machete. 

 

Bob, post some pics of your three-pounders! 

49 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Woody was shaving at 7 with a machete. 

 

Bob, post some pics of your three-pounders! 

I didn't have a camera with me but they were a blast on the Whopper Plopper. I caught five Thursday with one three pounder and six Sunday with one just shy of three. This pond is so shallow and weed choked, that top water is the only way to fish. I can see the bottom in the middle from the bank, that said, it harbors fish. One of the smaller bass had a tail fin sticking out of it's throat and still hit the plopper. The two biggest now live in my pond. Top water can be terrifying. Once I was daydreaming and about to lift the plopper from the water when one stuck at bankside! That was a jolt! I cross a field that is covered with White Tails. There was a bachelor group of eight plus two moms and fawn nearby. Funny how the Bucks scatter and the Does hang around.

No scale...not a lot of belly, but good shoulders. 

 

   Few fish where I wanted them to be.... deep, relating to points... a number of 3+ all cruising 4-8', and fortunately chowing down in steady rain.  Went out at noon in downpour and the bite lasted as long as the rain; about four hours.  Slowed until the sun got low around 6:30 before it picked up again

@Choporoz: Great shoulders!

 

Quote

Once I was daydreaming and about to lift the plopper from the water when one stuck at bankside! That was a jolt! 

 

That's always jolts me too. I had a big one do that about a week back, but she thrashed free. 

Caught at Whiskeytown 7/21/24

 

 

12 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

@Choporoz: Great shoulders!

Yeah... she was a good looking fish and strong.  But, while some 22 1/4  would bump past 7, I don't think this was much over 6.  No scale in the kayak... no bump board on the boat... I may need to figure out why I am like that

A few bass from this weekend: 

 

 

 

 

That last one was a real nice size, and I watched a massive smallie at least twice his size chase him in. Didn't manage to catch the monster, but I'll be back. 

Been 2-1/2 weeks since I last got the boat out, but finally got a break in the heat and rain. Snatched this one off a brushpile this afternoon.

 

Private lake. First success with the Ol Monster. Been trying it a while here and there.

 

 

River bass was a fighter.

 

 

 

 

Moss covered pond is on the way, so I will hit it if I ain't tired after a trip to the river.

 

 

 

Private lake the next day.

 

The boy likes his hula popper... looks more like a 5 gallon bucket going across the water the way he pops it!

 

 

Couple days later, got skunked at the river but got one at the mossy pond with the Ol Monster. Building confidence. Crankin' stick will bring them in without any effort.

 

This one was at the heavily pressured city lake... in a spot that doesn't see quite as much pressure. Little guy got introduced to the boss.

The pier is still underwater, but I was able to get some good size fish out of roberts this evening. It's been just over two months since I caught a fish at this spot, just under two months since it was hit by a tornado. It feels good to be home.

 

Skinny Bass on a slow rolled red eye shad but still the biggest one I've caught since March. 

The Devil's ugliest 10lb sock on a crappie jig and 8lb test

Way to go, guys!

 

WAY TO GO, @thediscochef!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice one @thediscochef!  I know you've been waiting for that bite a long time and I'm so glad you got it.

 

Finally found a big one today:

 

 

Getting scummy with the big girls in the dark is my favorite way to beat the heat!  ♥️😎🎣

 

 

@Pat Brown scores too! Frog fish too, which is both the funnest and hardest way to catch a bass.

 

I had an absolutely normal trip this morning: 40 bass and a couple four-pounders, which makes me laugh because I just described my typical 2024 trip as just that. I got some cool photos and I'll post a separate trip report as soon as I warm up by drinking some chai tea and taking a hot shower. It rained on me much of the morning and my used Ebay raincoat does NOT keep my dry. 

1 minute ago, ol'crickety said:

@Pat Brown scores too! Frog fish too, which is both the funnest and hardest way to catch a bass.

 

I had an absolutely normal trip this morning: 40 bass and a couple four-pounders, which makes me laugh because I just described my typical 2024 trip as just that. I got some cool photos and I'll post a separate trip report as soon as I warm up by drinking some chai tea and taking a hot shower. It rained on me much of the morning and my used Ebay raincoat does NOT keep my dry. 

 

 

Looking forward to that report.

 

Not gonna lie, Crick - I haven't hardly caught a fish in months that wasn't on a frog.  A couple here and there on flukes or worms - but this year - I can't stop and I won't stop until they stop biting it 🐸🐸🐸😂😂😂

 

I mean would you?!?!