1 hour ago, Alex from GA said:

Actually yes, the ICBMs were headquarters from Malmstrom AFB but I wasn't involved.  I was with an air refueling squadron.

 

Were you air crew or ground crew?

They wanted the jig today. 54 degree water

2 hours ago, GreenPig said:

They wanted the jig today. 54 degree water

You sir post some of the most beautiful pictures on this site and I for one appreciate and hope you continue to do so 👊🏻

Got a beautiful 3 .6 this morning.

Went out for a sub-optimum conditions trip because we had to celebrate Pops' 81st birthday on the water. Cool but sunny afternoon with a high in the mid-40's and water temp 55-56*. Slow rolled underspin was the ticket again.

Pops with his first fish of the day.

Always love seeing bald eagles and amazed at the size of their nests.

@NorcalBassin Happy birthday to Pops! 81 yrs old, and still catching fish. What a blessing!

Pretty good way to start the year @tander . Congrats on a couple good ones.

Good job getting Pops out on his birthday @NorcalBassin . I hope I'm blessed to still be out there at 81. I love seeing the eagles too. Never saw one in OH until 2010 or so. They're pretty common now.

@NorcalBassin Congratulations and Happy Birthday to both you and Pops🎂🎉

Some pics from the weekend ………

Saturday was raining all morning and 60 degrees but got better by evening, hit a highland reservoir in a kayak my buddy is letting me borrow while he is gone for 6 months. Even found a spring clogged with mud and leaves that I set free

Got home sopping wet so I started a fire

Sunday was sunny and cold sunny and windy, maybe 35 degrees. Got a sauger and a catfish

Exactly one bite yesterday. Short hopping blade bait in 30 foot of water. 7.6#

7.6????????????

@Choporoz That sir is a fine fish.

8 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Exactly one bite yesterday. Short hopping blade bait in 30 foot of water. 7.6#

Yeah buddy!!!

On 1/14/2026 at 6:21 AM, Choporoz said:

Exactly one bite yesterday. Short hopping blade bait in 30 foot of water. 7.6#

That fish would solve my otter problem!

First time out for 2026. Cold snap came in a day earlier, wind was brutal yesterday but almost nonexistent today with bluebird skies. Figured bite would be tough but I've been itching to get out so I made the trek back over to Orlando to hit one of my honey holes.

Fished for just about 6 hours from noon until dark and only managed 5, bite was definitely tough but not completely shut down. Was able to make it happen on the lipless.

First fish was 2.20lb on a silent lipless

Switched over to a rattling lipless to see if it was too much or if I could call in fish from further away since the water was dirtier than I expected.

Next fish was a very healthy 4.54lb

Casting back into the same spot, it's deeper water with a ledge that I know often holds bait, so I figured the more stable water temps and structure might be holding more fish. Paid off a few casts later with a 3.70lb that was FAT. If she makes it a few more years she will be a great fish.

Both of them absolutely murdered the lipless on the pause while yo yoing it around that ledge. The 3lber had it T-boned pretty good.

Last couple right before dark were dinks on the green pumpkin bladed jig. Surprised nothing on the fire craw bladed jig, and not one sniff on the jerkbait today either, which was disappointing.

Still a good day, and my father managed to get out for a few hours with me as well, which was the cherry on top.

We should still have another 6-8 weeks of solid prespawn/spawn fishing so I'm crossing my fingers hard that I'll be able to get out more for it this year.

Not the giants I was hoping for, but I'll take a 4.5lber any day and it's a decent start to the 2026.

Aaron, it's so good to see your happy face again and your fine bass!

27 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

Aaron, it's so good to see your happy face again and your fine bass!

Thank you! It felt good to be out there and getting into some decent fish, my number of trips last year was dismal. I need to start trying to hunt some spots local to me, unfortunately I can't drive back to Orlando every time I want to fish.

Couldn't pass up a trip with 70* winter weather temps but the fish didn't get the memo how awesome this is as they're swimming around in 56* water.

Pops unfortunately got skunked but we still had a great time.

Underspin was the ticket again for a few 2# spots

Been throwing a 2.8" fat keitech for many years but the mayor has been killing it lately.

10 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

I need to start trying to hunt some spots local to me

You whisper to bass. You and @N Florida Mike Mike catch such big bass FROM SHORE. You'll find some local hot spots.

9 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

Been throwing a 2.8" fat keitech for many years but the mayor has been killing it lately.

I rotate between the Mayor, Keitechs, and Zakos. However, I'm tossing the four-inchish models.

Spent several hours in the kayak today, fun times. Slowish fishing but caught a variety , LM, SM, Spot or meanmouth, and a crappie. Got one on a worm and the rest on a zoom tiny fluke on 1-16 oz jighead

Great pics and a lot of fish for the dead-of-winter! I didn't know you had water that clear.

We have some places that stay pretty clear, mostly the highland tributary reservoirs

Went back out this morning for a bit, was much colder. Had some trouble with rod eyelets freezing up but eventually the sun popped out and helped. Got 2 fish, one nice 18 incher that fought like crazy pulling lots of drag with 4 lb test and flemsy pole

Should have know I would get something, lucky loons were swimming around the dock this morning

On 1/14/2026 at 6:21 AM, Choporoz said:

Exactly one bite yesterday. Short hopping blade bait in 30 foot of water. 7.6#

Well...you caught the right one. That's perfect!

Our stretch of beautiful 70* days with mostly uncooperative fish continues! Threw big swimbaits and speed cranked for a couple hours without a hit or follower, so went George Costanza style and did the opposite of what I thought I'd be doing to catch fish when I got to the lake... a Ned.

Light rod with 4# line fighting angry spotted bass is a really good time.