1 hour ago, gim said:

 

I think those are actually the replacements to the OGs.  If I remember correctly he lost the OGs at a dam or something.

 

These ones aren't as flashy.  They are more dull in color.

The OG, OG’s were actually red, white, and blue. Those bothered people pretty bad, so I set out find something more obvious, and ended up with the bright ones I blew out walking the dam of a lake. I have a new pair of those on standby for next season though.

 

21 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I tied on a Clutch Eco Glide and moved to a different slip. I was sitting in about 29' of water and dropped a cast perfectly in the back corner of the slip. Almost immediately when I started the retrieve, my bait got slammed! I had to work the fish carefully out from the slip but keep her up because of the metal crossbar that are always very sharp and sometimes have zebra mussles on them also, even my 20lb flouro would have been no match if she got to it. I kept her up and moving and slid the net under an absolute Kansas giant largemouth. At 21.50" long, it's one of my top 5 biggest kayak tournament bass ever and my biggest glide bait fish ever.

 

Got the Clutch last week and have around 3 outings with it.

 

So far no luck.

 

How much visibility do you like for glidebaits?

 

I bought the bone. Not sure if that was a good idea since the two lakes I've fished with it so far don't have any shad. They are mostly eating bluegills and crappies.

 

Nice going btw!

14 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Got the Clutch last week and have around 3 outings with it.

 

So far no luck.

 

How much visibility do you like for glidebaits?

 

I bought the bone. Not sure if that was a good idea since the two lakes I've fished with it so far don't have any shad. They are mostly eating bluegills and crappies.

 

Nice going btw!

As long as it isn’t chocolate milk, I’ll give them a shot. Shad live in all water colors and bass manage to find them without them changing color or wiggling harder to be easier to find, so bass can find a glide in dirty water. The big fish was in pretty dirty water, in the shade, and caught that glide almost immediately after it splashed down. Bone is my default color in every water color and condition.

Just now, Bluebasser86 said:

As long as it isn’t chocolate milk, I’ll give them a shot. 

 

Dang, I was hoping for a different answer. LOL

 

I was hoping for like 3 feet or more.

 

The few times I've tried it's been I'd say 6-12 inches. I was hoping it was just the lack of clarity and not the bait or how I was fishing it.

 

 

44 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Dang, I was hoping for a different answer. LOL

 

I was hoping for like 3 feet or more.

 

The few times I've tried it's been I'd say 6-12 inches. I was hoping it was just the lack of clarity and not the bait or how I was fishing it.

 

 

I prefer to have at least a couple feet of visibility, but it doesn’t stop them from eating it if the water is dirty.

On 9/8/2025 at 1:31 PM, T-Billy said:

Absolutely incredible picker. 

 

 

May he rest in peace.  One of NCs finest.  Glad to bring his music to others!

Remember that old tune by Canned Heat,  "Goin' up the Country"...well today I went up the jungle!  Caught 29 on froggy, the braid was singin'!!!

Biggest was 6# 2 oz on a jig!

@Lottabass:

 

I imagine a bass busting through that green mat and my heart flutters. Now I imagine a six-pounder busting through that green mat and my heart nearly stops! Way to go, Al! You're one of the best at Bass Resource. Like you, Al, I like to fish the water with the least people. If I were still young, I'd still be driving into northwestern Ontario to claim an entire lake, a lake so far down a logging road and so deep into the woods that no one else suffer inhaling mosquitoes under a portaged canoe to fish it. I'm just happy you have your big bass pond across that pasture and that you have the skill to land them. Your pond/bog has more obstacles than miniature golf. 

4 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

@Lottabass:

 

I imagine a bass busting through that green mat and my heart flutters. Now I imagine a six-pounder busting through that green mat and my heart nearly stops! Way to go, Al! You're one of the best at Bass Resource. Like you, Al, I like to fish the water with the least people. If I were still young, I'd still be driving into northwestern Ontario to claim an entire lake, a lake so far down a logging road and so deep into the woods that no one else suffer inhaling mosquitoes under a portaged canoe to fish it. I'm just happy you have your big bass pond across that pasture and that you have the skill to land them. Your pond/bog has more obstacles than miniature golf. 

Katie, thank you for your kind words!  When the frog bite is on my hands get to shakin' so bad I can't pick my nose!  Those Ontario lakes sound like heaven, never been to Canada but always wished I had.  Good lesson; I should have followed my dreams before it's too late!

59 minutes ago, Lottabass said:

Those Ontario lakes sound like heaven, never been to Canada but always wished I had.  Good lesson; I should have followed my dreams before it's too late!

 

My screen name is Swamp Girl, but I'm really a Northwoods Girl. I've spent months and months in the wilderness. You are right about following your dreams while you still can. You hear that, youngins??? Go fish wherever you dream of fishing while you can still reach those places. I always wanted to fish for Arctic Char in the rivers falling into the Arctic Ocean, but didn't simply because that's for rich people. Otherwise, I fished where I wanted to fish.

 

Say, Al, what boat do you use in your boggy pond? Do you tow it? What's the launching like? How often do those bass drive your hooks into one of those many trees? 

 

I love that your hands shake. Mine would too. I caught just one bass this year that was likely six pounds, but the big bass season is just getting started. 

@Swamp Girl

 

Say, Al, what boat do you use in your boggy pond? Do you tow it? What's the launching like? How often do those bass drive your hooks into one of those many trees? 

 

I use an 8 ft pond prowler (BPS).  Last year I had to get a trailer because I couldn't lift it into the back of the truck anymore.  I can launch off the bank anywhere there is room (I can't lift it but I can still drag it!).  My first boat was a canoe.  I got my drivers license, a '54 Buick, and an Alumacraft canoe, when I was 16.  I can't paddle due to arthritis but if I could that would be the best way to get into the jungle!

Only use braided line and heavy rods.  Had one big fish get into a tree and break off this year but have landed all the rest.  Set the hook and reel like hell!

Haven’t bass fished much as change is upon us here in MI and it’s on us fast! I did get a bass though while coho casting…

 

@JonB2, is that big league chew ??

Quick after work session with a front moving through, figured the change in the weather might shake things up a little.

Rat #1 on the dropshot

#2 felt like a good one but unfortunately just had a salad wad in the face

getting a little better

Last bite of the day. I stuck it out till sunset to see if there was any evening bite but no bass or striper activity.

I caught 11 at my pond this morning, giving me 1,167 for the year. All but one were caught on a T-rigged Bronco Bug or black Duo Realis Pencil walking bait. This was the oddball, caught on a blue T-rigged Burner Worm. She has such a nice build that I took two pics:

 

 

I just can't catch a 19" bass at my pond, but I catch a fair number of 18-inchers. I read that it can take 20 years for an lmb to reach 19" in Maine. I talked to another angler who said that he's fished my pond for 70 years and whereas he once caught a seven-pounder there 40 years ago, he hasn't caught even a four-pounder in more than ten years. Something must have happened to my pond ten years ago. There's plenty of food to grow 19" bass and bigger, as you can see in the bass above. I think I might see my first 19-incher at my pond in a couple years. I caught other well-fed bass, like this one:

 

 

More bass:

 

 

Pretty pic:

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Lottabass said:

Had one big fish get into a tree and break off this year but have landed all the rest.

 

That's top shelf angling, Al.

 

Your Prowler is a small boat for such big bass. They must take you for rides. 

Congratulations @Bluebasser86! That is WILD that bass was passing a crankbait.

14 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

Congratulations @Bluebasser86! That is WILD that bass was passing a crankbait.

It’s actually a tube jighead, but a bad day either way.

Been a while again but mostly been busy - but had some fun with @IcatchDinks on a boat with buzzbaits!

 

 

the backyard pond has continued to produce many little fat fish like this one:

 

 

The morning sky is perfect in the fall and this is the view I get sometimes from where I’m casting:

 

 

caught this nice fish in the creek next to my house on a free rig bubblegum trick worm and on the scale she was 4 lb 7 oz:

 

 

A little beat up looking but a nice fish.

 

I managed to get this tank to hit the Copper Red Baits Tsunami frog at about 4 am when I was unable to sleep and felt like walking the bank - she hit right at my feet and I could see her wake waddle right up to the frog in inches of rocky water - it was wild!  She didn’t go on the scale but she was bigger than the 4 lb 7 oz fish by a good bit!

 

Today was the first time I’ve fished since 8/17. Work this summer has been unreal. Finally had a week’s vacation this week plus last Th-Fr.  Left Thursday to fly back to Maryland and went to Ocean City with the family. Had a great time. Got back late Monday and took it easy yesterday so it was time to fish. I had plans to fish Lake Raven but the recent fishing report was not promising. Tried to decide where to go and my wife said “Just go to the pond up the street”.  That was a good call. 

Boated 10 bass. Smallest were two about 2 lbs. All the rest were 2.5-3.0 lbs. with the biggest at 4.37 lbs. Caught three (including the biggest) on a green pumpkin Zoom lizard TR, three on a green pumpkin Senko WR, and four on a white/chartreuse chatter bait with a green pumpkin Rage Menace trailer. I lost the same bass twice. Once when it hit the chatter bait right at the boat, and it hit it again but threw the hook. I resharpened the hook and caught the darned bass again! Three times is a charm! A chatter bait is not doing a thing until the sun is high. Must reflect more light off the blade as it’s fire in late morning-early afternoon. 
 

Today is the first time I can recall never retying a lure or changing a bait. What I started with is still rigged. Same lizard. Same Senko. Same Menace. 
 

12 hours ago, Lottabass said:

Only use braided line and heavy rods.  Had one big fish get into a tree and break off this year but have landed all the rest.  Set the hook and reel like hell!

I like the way you roll. 😉 #STRAIGHTBRAIDBRIGADE!!! 😂

Pat is living the good life: Can't sleep. Climbs out of bed. Catches a big girl in his backyard. Walks a few more yards and catches an even bigger bass.

 

Way to go, Brian!

17 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

That's top shelf angling, Al.

 

Your Prowler is a small boat for such big bass. They must take you for rides. 

Thank you, Katie!

Yes, a 2 pounder will pull this boat!

Hit up the Quinacassee river today that leads to the Saginaw bay.  I had all intentions of going out into The Bay but, the wind had other ideas.  Luckily there is still roughly a 1-1.5 worth of river to fish.  This has been the first time that i’ve been out in a month.  With school starting again my oldest is at school during the day and the twins are at day care.  So being it is my off day. I went fishing.  

 

It was kind of a slow day.   However, the first bass of the day was a nice 3.12 lbs fish.  I then caught a second bass smaller than the first.  I lost a bigger largemouth than the first one at the boat.  it may have went 3.5lbs.  I also caught a sheep head.  I caught all of these fish on a GP ned rig.  I caught a nice walleye spro little john DD. it was a weird bite.  the fish were just slurping it up. I’d go to pop the ned rig and a fish would be on. 

 

A tournament trail was up from indiana for their classic tournament.  I talked to the one guy at the mouth of the river. He seemed cool.  

 

All in all not a bad day.  back to work tommrow.  hoping to put a good push of fishing on before deer season and ice up.  Nov 15 is the firearm opener. So I still have roughly 2 months of fishing left up here. 

I went to a new-ish to me lake last night.  I fished it once, 3 years ago, in march, when the water was 43 degrees.  I didn’t get the appeal.  It is under 50 acres, the ramp is small (I didn’t realize you could launch a trailered boat there until I talked to someone a month ago), the lake is shallow (12’ max, mostly 4’ or less).  But I talked to a guy at another lake who fishes this lake occasionally and his buddy got a big one there this year (a number I won’t type here because you won’t believe me).  He was a legit guy and knew his stuff, so I believe him.  So knowing that there is at least one monster in less than 50 acres of 4’ water, I’m inclined to give it a try.  

 

The ramp is sketchy. It’s all gravel, uneven left to right, and uneven of an incline.  But there is a good dock and plenty of parking so I’ll manage.  Electric only of course.  And the cover is good, even ignoring the algal bloom and duckweed mat that was 40 yards from shore and 100 yards long.

 

I caught 4, lost 2 more, missed a couple more early that swiped at things but didn’t get them fully.  Once I slowed down my lures (downsizing weights to allow stuff to move slower) the hits were better.  A bladed jig evo and a buzzbait caught them all. My other ‘pond like lake’ about the same distance away has been poor and super busy lately.  This will take its place.  Next April will be fun here. 

 

 

 

 

Tonight I had a free evening (gym trainer is away, wife was at dinner) so made a quick trip to the big pond.  I only had about 2 hours and mostly it was a scouting mission to see if the fish were looking up yet.  They were not.  Bass were still deep.  So were the cats.  Also had a new lure to try that I was absolutely confident would catch fish after watching it in the pool.  Thanks @Swamp Girl.