The Baron Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 My son and I fished a private access lake Friday afternoon-evening, on invitation from a friend. My friend claimed the lake had plenty of 5-8# bass in it… but a 6# bass up here is a very rare catch and over 7# would be big news in the local fishing world. So I was excitedly optimistic, but skeptical. My friend fished in another boat with a buddy and not too long after we started fishing they had a big one on. We were only 50 yards apart and hearing “oh, yeah that’s a big one!”… “get the net”… “look at the size of the mouth!”… excited laughing… high-fives… Wes and I were riveted with anticipation for the monster to be revealed… then a fat 2.5# was hoisted high for us to see and “look at that one!” shouted to us. Right away I knew we likely had the only scale to ever grace these waters.🫢 All humour aside though, this little 8 acre oval provided good fishing and we caught several 1.5-2.5# fish which made me plenty happy after so many 1-3 fish outings. That said, the fishing was up and down through the day. This is a natural lake, fed and drained through a swamp/small creek on either end, the deepest hole being 15ft. the east end with most areas 6-10ft. The lake is rimmed with a fringe of lily pads, the bottom has submerged weeds everywhere… and bass seemingly everywhere we fished. I decided to start out by frogging the entire perimeter, with Wes throwing our go-to flashy swimmer with a paddletail as we slowly graphed most of the lake to get a feel for it. I only caught a few, but missed another half-dozen bites, a few of which looked like quality (3#+) fish. They just weren’t biting the frog well, but I was having fun. Based on my bites, I coached Wes to cast right at the edge of the pads and he started catching some, most almost immediately when his bait hit the water. After one round of the lake (about 2:30-3:30pm), the 4 of us had probably caught 20-ish fish, with a few over 2#. My friend and his buddy were seriously out fishing us, drinking beer and throwing “rubber worms” when I asked what they were using. They had one spinning rod each, so I was feeling a little stupid with 8 combos in the boat and not catching as many as them. I put the frog down and I started cycling through baits while Wes started throwing a wacky rigged senko. I threw a senko, Texas rigged 10” worm, flipped a beaver, a chatterbait, spinnerbait, whopper plopper… and we went through a painfully dry spell of probably 2 hours, even our buddy’s bite almost shut off. My buddy said this was the worst day of fishing they’d ever had, and I was was thinking yes of course because I’m here and I’m cursed this year.😖 But then he “mentioned” that one of the other owners on the lake (there are only three) had seven guys up fishing for the past week. So, 8 people fishing an 8 acre lake for 7 days straight. Adding at least 2 of those fishermen were on the water sunrise-dark every day.😒 That really burst my bubble, because I thought there were only 2 owners on the lake and only my buddy fished it occasionally. Oh well - I guess any lake you can drive to and launch a boat in ain’t gonna be untapped. I just didn’t expect the poor little lake would have been hammered by 600+ man hours of fishing the prior week. 😭 Anyway… our spirits slowly sank as the other boat enjoyed a beer fuelled dink fest. Then, I finally cracked the nut. Wes somehow got his line wrapped under the spool of his spinning reel and while I was fixing that a 1.5# grabbed his senko and I had to hand line it in. That was unrealized clue #1. I kept cycling baits with zero bites, then Wes blew up his bait caster and while he was trying to fix it a really good bass grabbed his paddletail off the bottom. Wes said “I’ve got one, what do I do!?” and I heard it jump, but didn’t see it. Wes went into panic mode saying it’s huge. I said just hand line it in, and there was a brief struggle then it was into the deeper weeds and gone (no hookset at all). Wes was frustrated, and now his line was a total mess so I said I’ll fix it. I didn’t realize his bait was still laying on the bottom and while I was trying to fix things another small bass grabbed his bait. That’s when the light bulb came on. I ended up cutting off a bunch of almost brand new FC Sniper (😩) then we were both back in the fight. I said the key is fish slow… like, deadstick slow. I tied on a weightless white fluke and we proceeded to cast onto/close to the pads and work very slowly back into the deeper water with 5-10 second pauses to let out bait sit. That was the ticket and we started catching ‘em. By now it was about 7pm and the evening bite started picking up for everyone. In the last half hour, I switched to a popper and got several bites by just casting it out and waiting 10 seconds, then if nothing grabbed it I’d give just a few twitches and long pause again. I only hooked half the fish that swirled on the popper, as the “bites” seemed very lazy. All in all, a good day. I do really look forward to trying again when the weather cools a bit - my fried still swears there’s much bigger bass in there. 23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bird Posted July 29 Super User Share Posted July 29 Slow this morning, only 3 on a wacky rig. Had a giant Snakehead rip a small bass off the hook right at the boat. Weather was hot and sunny, water temp 82*. This was the best fish. 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Swamp Girl Posted July 29 Super User Share Posted July 29 I fished this morning with a pal and didn't count the fish or take pics, but we caught at least 40 and he had a great time. Lots of 2.5 to 3.5-pounders at my pond. I take pride in putting a pal in the bow and putting him on bass. He caught the majority because I focused on positioning the canoe, but I caught the two biggest, both just shy of 18 inches. We're going again on Thursday morning. I'll get some pics then. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABrugs Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 I started bass fishing in 2020 and have been on the pursuit of catching one over 5#. Well, I was on vacation last week in northern Michigan and ended up accomplishing this goal… 2x! I caught my new PB, which is pictured below, of 5.24 and 20.5”. The following day, I caught another one over 5 at 5.15 and 21”. I caught both of these largemouth bass on a Zoom Trick Worm in ‘Candy Bug’ Texas-Rigged (1/4). ^ 5.24 | 20.5” 25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Swamp Girl Posted July 29 Super User Share Posted July 29 @ABrugs: Two over five beating your PB twice in one trip. Whoa! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluegillsTightlines Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 I lost two this morning in the 2 to 2.5 range, bummed me out. I considered giving it up but I decided to stick with it and 30 minutes later this big mamma struck and gave me an amazing airshow. She splashes me good upon release and gave my thumb a good munching. Did not have a scale with me, but got a girth and length. Length was 20.5 inches and girth was 13 inches. Using the estimator on this site with those data points, it estimated it at 5.35 lbs. I was stoked. That's my biggest one of the year and pushed my PB. Held her up like a WWE title belt at one point 😂 I lost two this morning in the 2 to 2.5 range, bummed me out. I considered giving it up but I decided to stick with it and 30 minutes later this big mamma struck and gave me an amazing airshow. She splashes me good upon release and gave my thumb a good munching. Did not have a scale with me, but got a girth and length. Length was 20.5 inches and girth was 13 inches. Using the estimator on this site with those data points, it estimated it at 5.35 lbs. I was stoked. That's my biggest one of the year and pushed my PB. Held her up like a WWE title belt at one point 😂 I lost two this morning in the 2 to 2.5 range, bummed me out. I considered giving it up but I decided to stick with it and 30 minutes later this big mamma struck and gave me an amazing airshow. She splashes me good upon release and gave my thumb a good munching. Did not have a scale with me, but got a girth and length. Length was 20.5 inches and girth was 13 inches. Using the estimator on this site with those data points, it estimated it at 5.35 lbs. I was stoked. That's my biggest one of the year and pushed my PB. Held her up like a WWE title belt at one point 😂 I lost two this morning in the 2 to 2.5 range, bummed me out. I considered giving it up but I decided to stick with it and 30 minutes later this big mamma struck and gave me an amazing airshow. She splashes me good upon release and gave my thumb a good munching. Did not have a scale with me, but got a girth and length. Length was 20.5 inches and girth was 13 inches. Using the estimator on this site with those data points, it estimated it at 5.35 lbs. I was stoked. That's my biggest one of the year and pushed my PB. Held her up like a WWE title belt at one point 😂 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User T-Billy Posted July 29 Super User Share Posted July 29 21 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said: This coming weekend around the new moon I think is going to be dynamite fishing here 1 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluegillsTightlines Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 1 hour ago, ABrugs said: I started bass fishing in 2020 and have been on the pursuit of catching one over 5#. Well, I was on vacation last week in northern Michigan and ended up accomplishing this goal… 2x! I caught my new PB, which is pictured below, of 5.24 and 20.5”. The following day, I caught another one over 5 at 5.15 and 21”. I caught both of these largemouth bass on a Zoom Trick Worm in ‘Candy Bug’ Texas-Rigged (1/4). ^ 5.24 | 20.5” Not only is that a nice big bass, but gorgeous too. Love that dark green she's got. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishlegs Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 On 7/28/2024 at 11:00 AM, TnRiver46 said: The tail on this one is massive compared to the length of the fish! I bet that beast was fun to catch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Swamp Girl Posted July 29 Super User Share Posted July 29 Three PBs in one day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluegillsTightlines Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 3 hours ago, Fishlegs said: The tail on this one is massive compared to the length of the fish! I bet that beast was fun to catch. That smallie is gorgeous!!! Long been home and cleaned up. But any time you see this after a day on the water, that is generally a good sign. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Swamp Girl Posted July 30 Super User Share Posted July 30 @BluegillsTightlines: I wear a glove on my left hand with rubberized fingers, leaving my right hand free for knot tying and other fine motor tasks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewJ Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 From this weekend at Whiskeytown Lake. Big one at 3.04 lbs 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Swamp Girl Posted July 30 Super User Share Posted July 30 ^Hunchbass of Notre Dame.^ 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewJ Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 3 hours ago, ol'crickety said: ^Hunchbass of Notre Dame.^ Yeaaaaa.....he a little messed up but still trucking along 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MIbassyaker Posted July 30 Super User Share Posted July 30 Return trip to "Lake 19". Last time I was here was April. Discovered a small crack in the hull of my main kayak, so until I get a chance to repair it I'm back on my old orange Tarpon 100. At the lake I found the curly-leaf pondweed fully died back, as hoped. Also found a whopping algae bloom and visibility of a foot or less, down from about 4-5 feet in spring. With no deep weedline to speak of, I just ran around the deeper edges of spatterdock with a double-colorado spinnerbait and t-rigged power worm. Both were occasionally effective. The fish were much paler than usual, despite being fairly shallow (4-6 feet), as befits the low-vis situation. Pair of 17"s: Pair of 18"s: Plus a few dinkosaurs. I just know there is a 6-pounder in this lake. One of these days... 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Brown Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 Just one on the speedworm right after the sunset near a seawall shadeline. Just keeping them honest - the bite has been rough. 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Swamp Girl Posted July 30 Super User Share Posted July 30 If you can't catch 'em, Pat, they can't be caught...at least, right now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CastingClinic Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Good day fishing the Passaic river. Got another two small pike on top of the three fish pictured. All came on a spinnerbait while a buddy of mine pitched a wacky rig and waded through about a dozen dinks before landing a solid 3.5lb largemouth. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fried Lemons Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Got on a couple on the 10” Carolina rigged worm. They were sitting on rock piles in 12’. The shallows are totally beat. At this point I just do a milk run of some offshore spots and call it a day. Best fish went 4lb 2oz. 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User A-Jay Posted August 1 Super User Share Posted August 1 Managed to slide out onto local Lake Menderchuck for a couple of hours before sunset. Surface water temp was 81. Officially the warmest water I've ever caught smallies in. Either way, still felt really good. Rage Bug on a swinghead - just saying. A-Jay 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluegillsTightlines Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 May be a couple weeks before I can get back out again due to the heat and humidity returning after a very nice and unusual 3 week reprieve from normal Alabama July. So if I indeed have to keep the lines dry for a bit, I am quite satisfied I managed to get a 5lber Monday morning. Supposed to have 110 degree heat indices for a week straight and I tend to get sick very easily if it's over 90 and can't find shade or AC. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted August 1 Global Moderator Share Posted August 1 Well Tuesday night is normally the night there is a weeknight kayak tournament that I like to get in on whenever I get off work on time. My assignment for the day had me driving 3 hours each way but I could start as early as I wanted so I could bust it and make it off work on time to get home and get to the lake before the 5:30 launch time. Not sure if anyone is aware of this but apparently the tournament directors weren't, it's hot in the summertime in Kansas. This is the hottest week of the summer so far with temps in the high 90's and heat indexes in the 110's. So a little after noon, they decided to cancel the tournament for the evening instead of just letting the people who don't mind the heat, come out and fish like several of us wanted to. I was more than a little irritated as now they've canceled tournaments for wind, rain, and heat, all of which should be judgement calls on the anglers IMO. Anyways, several of us on the page decided we were going fishing anyways and met at the lake at take off time and made an identifier for the night and braved the conditions. I set out to flip water willows and was a bit disappointed to find the lake had dropped and there wasn't water in the willows. I still managed to get a few bites, but they were super dinks, barely clearing the 8" minimum. I did get my 3 fish limit doing it though, and nobody else was doing it, or even on the same side of the small lake we were on, so I kept flipping. A little over an hour in, I was starting to have my doubts and considering joining the crowd in the one cove with docks in it, when I pitched into some willows and there was a bunch of movement. I thought maybe I spooked a carp because I didn't get bit, but the fish didn't move far, so I picked up and dropped the bait back in. The weeds shook again, so I popped my bait, and he finally found it. Normally a 15 incher is a solid fish at this lake, so I was real happy to see a 17.25" incher. I caught a few more, including a decent cull with a 14.50" fish and lost another fish that felt real solid. The sun was getting lower and the bank I wanted to fish in the dock cove had been shaded for a good period of time, so I decided to move to phase 2 of the game plan, hoping that they'd have moved up to the shade on that bank by now. I cruised across the lake and almost immediately caught a 15.50" fish off a dock ladder with my blue bladed jig. I felt pretty confident about my chances at this point but there was well over a hour left. I caught a couple more small ones before I got to one of my favorite docks. I lined up the right angle and skipped my bladed jig way under the walkway, and caught a dink. "That cast deserved a better fish", I thought out loud to myself and repeated the cast. I never even got the bait moving before a good fish boiled on it. I worked her out from the other side of the dock and netted another 17" fish. Breaking 50" in a 3 fish tournament is like breaking 90" in a 5 fish tournament, and I'd never done it before. Now I was 1/4" away with 45 minutes left in the night and needing a 15.75" fish to get there, not impossible, but not an easy task either. I kept on down the bank and was surprised to not catch anything down my favorite part of that bank that almost always produces. There's one overhanging tree that for some reason always seems to have catfish under it in the bend of that bank. I skipped my bladed jig under the tree and got hammered almost immediately and heard the "slap, slap, slap", of a rolling catfish on the surface before it came off, good riddance. I almost moved on but skipped a few more under the tree and finally a parting shot the the front of the walkway of the dock next to that tree. Shortly after I started the retrieve, a big boil hit the surface and a heavy fish was dragging my line under the dock. I was really struggling to control it, positive it was another catfish, when she jumped right under the motor of the pontoon that was tied to the dock, not a catfish. My line was visibly scarred from dragging along the underside of the metal pontoon, and then she dove into my trolling motor for just a second before coming free so I could scoop her in the net. I probably could have got another 1/4" out of her, but at 20", it's my biggest Tuesday night tournament fish and put me well over the 50" mark at 54.25" on the night. It would have been the second biggest total in a Tuesday night tournament ever but it won't could towards that since it wasn't an official tournament. There was 30 minutes left in the night when I caught that fish, and that would be the last fish I would catch. Second place for the night was 39.75". There was some really great video but I haven't put it all together yet. P.S. We didn't lose anyone to the heat and it was actually pretty comfortable with a good breeze most of the night until the sun got lower and it started to cool off anyways. 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted August 1 Super User Share Posted August 1 22 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said: So a little after noon, they decided to cancel the tournament for the evening 22 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said: it's my biggest Tuesday night tournament fish and put me well over the 50" mark at 54.25" Definitely turned a negative into a positive, Clayton...well done. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcatchDinks Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 This last week has been a bit slow. I haven't been able to make it out onto the water for any longer than an hour at a time, and haven't caught anything substantial. I did get jump scared by a raccoon who snuck up behind me, and stood up with his front paws on my leg like he was begging for snacks or something. I would have taken a picture, but I shouted because I was startled which in turn startled him, and he waddled away in disgust. 😆 Anyways, here are this week's dinks: 23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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