So, I'm in the boat today, cranking a Wiggle Wart parallel to a contour line on the bottom, where the depth drops from about 6 fow to 8 fow. I make another cast, crank down to depth, and start the retrieve. The rod mushes up like I've plowed into a bunch of grass, then the "grass" is moving sideways, then the "grass" starts a run and is peeling drag. I see the line coming up, and THEN, out of the water in a great tailwalk is a big honkin' largemouth bass! Mouth open, gills flared, head shaking, then back in the water. She makes another jump, then I finally get her close to the boat. THEN, she takes off again and makes a run under the boat to the opposite side. I stick the rod straight down into the water and watch the rod bend under the boat. I'm thinking real quick - am I anchored? No. Good - she can't wrap around the anchor line. All I have to do is keep her away from the trolling motor. Get her back to the left/port side of the boat - rod still sticking almost straight down. Get the net ready, and carefully bring the rod tip up and guide the (tired) fish into the net and into the boat.

24 inches / 7.65 pounds.

A little Wiggle Wart for brunch?



Her nickname must be "Chunk"...



Time to say goodbye - see you again soon (I hope)...



Tackle was a St. Croix Legend Extreme 7'2" Medium-Moderate rod, Calais 100A, 10lb YZ-US line. That rod is a true moderate action rod, almost a noodle rod. This was a FUN fish to catch on that rod...

NOW, looking at the features on the left gill plate, and comparing to some other photos, I believe this is the SAME bass that I caught on June 29th. This catch was within 100 yards of the June 29 catch. She weighed 7.41 pounds back then. Yeah baby - catch-and-release in action!! The story of the first catch is here: Went For A Boatride - Powered By A Grub Eatin' 7.4 LMB

Niiiiiice

Awesome man! That's a nice fish! I love the warts!

Crankbait bite must be on. ....we got into them pretty good on cranks last weekend too!

Congrats!

Choked it backwards! Awesome!

Congrats ~ That is an Awesome Bass ~ !

 

Sounds like a heck of a battle too; no Doubt she put both you & that 10 lb line to the test.

 

I'm a bad judge when it comes to the  "Is This Same Fish ? "  deal.

 

But it totally could be.

 

A-Jay

Awesome catch !!

If it's the same fish, you only get half credit. That's the rules. Sorry.

I'm just kidding. Great fish. Great pics as well. I need to get a measuring board like that one. Looks like a great board for taking pics that accurately show the length while keeping the fish relatively calm and comfortable.

Sweet bass & pictures. And I'm loving that rod. Super sweet.

 

 

Goose I think you are right about it being the same bass. Look closely at the sharp V shape on the gill plate. Visible on both posts.

She ate that crank just about perfect, not to deep, like sometimes they do. Nice Fish, Nice Story..

GREAT FISH!!!!! And not very skinny for summertime!

Thanks guys - a nice day for me.  This is what makes catching 10" dinks day after day worthwhile........eventually you get on the quality fish...

 

 

Congrats ~ That is an Awesome Bass ~ !

 

Sounds like a heck of a battle too; no Doubt she put both you & that 10 lb line to the test.

 

I'm a bad judge when it comes to the  "Is This Same Fish ? "  deal.

 

But it totally could be.

 

A-Jay

 

Thanks A-Jay!   Yeah - that 10lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra-Soft is working fairly well. Perhaps not the best line, but it works well enough.  Good thing, since I have a THREE YEAR supply still left....

 

If it's the same fish, you only get half credit. That's the rules. Sorry.

I'm just kidding. Great fish. Great pics as well. I need to get a measuring board like that one. Looks like a great board for taking pics that accurately show the length while keeping the fish relatively calm and comfortable.

 

It's called a "Hawg Trough" (Google it).  I bought it after catching this fish the first time. Back on June 29, the bump board I had in the boat only measured to 21 inches and the fish kept sliding off.  This Hawg Trough works very well at cradling the fish and it measures to 30 inches.

 

Sweet bass & pictures. And I'm loving that rod. Super sweet.

 

 

Goose I think you are right about it being the same bass. Look closely at the sharp V shape on the gill plate. Visible on both posts.

 

Yeah - that medium-moderate rod is almost too soft but I fish mostly open water so it works well......................except when you're trying to horse the fish out from the wrong side of the boat...

 

V - hmmmm, I think I will call her Victoria...

 

GREAT FISH!!!!! And not very skinny for summertime!

 

Indeed - she actually looked like a fat pre-spawn fish.

Sweeeeet!

Fantastic fish. Congrats in landing it....twice. Maybe on your third time it'll be over 8lbs. Give it a couple of months to fatten up.

Nice fish, nice pics and a GREAT story!

 

 

 

Thanks again to all.

 

Hit another lake this morning but nothing over 13".................the Lake Gods figure I got my share yesterday I guess! 

 

Fantastic fish. Congrats in landing it....twice. Maybe on your third time it'll be over 8lbs. Give it a couple of months to fatten up.

 

I know where she lives...

Wow, nice fish Goose. And a good story to go with it!