(stone cold steve austin voice) "if you love spring bassin', gimme a big heck yeah!" 

there ain't nothin' like it.  that magical time around the full moon in february and march when the bass start chewin'.  spring got off to a good start around here for me with the red rattletrap doing damage last week on points and just inside the mouths of coves.  lost one good one playing around with her beside the boat and just enjoying the fight (didn't matter, no one with me to take pics and she wasn't huge)  monday, pulling up to see another guy sitting on the spot i had been catchin' 'em on was a blessing in disguise.  I told my buddy, "well it looks like we gotta go find some more."  and we did, in the very back of the lake in about 2-3 ft of water keying on last years pad stems underwater.  We caught about 30 fat and sassy bass that day with a few in the 3-4 lb class.  hard to believe they are that shallow already because it hasn't been exactly warm around here.   i think it's because the water is stained from recent rains.  CJ and i intended to finish what I started with my other buddy the day before, but rain and battery issues cut the trip short after a few decent fish. 

didn't get to go back until today.  arrived at another lake to find more stained water.  checked the deep ditches and brushpiles just to make sure, but as i suspected, no dice.  time to go flippin' and pitchin'.  Got out the jig and homemade slither rig and caught a 4 in short order.  then a one pounder.  tried the spinnerbait and rattletrap for a while.  Nothing but dinks.  they wanted the slow stuff and who am i to argue?  back to the slither rig.  pitched 'er around some shallow brush on a bluff bank and there's that sweet heaviness when i lift the rod the first time.  hammer time!  when i stuck this fish, the war was on.  I knew instantly this was the biggest bite i had ever got on a short line and i instantly felt like the rod was under powered for the task at hand as she put her nose down and dove for deeper water and a nasty cluster of brush.  it was turn her or die trying.  fortunately the duckett was up to the task with me winching like a madman on the reel.  when i got her up and got a look, it was the old "Lord, please let me land this fish" prayer and thankfully He answered favorably.  9 lbs. and 1 oz. on the digi.  Found some crappie fisherman nearby who were kind enough to take a few pics before i released her. 

a few more small ones and then there's another good bite, this time on a swim jig in super skinny water.  This fish was probably in the 5-7 pound class and for some reason, she just pulled off shortly after i stuck her.  But i know her address now and Lord willin' i'm going back tomorrow. 

CJ i'm tellin' ya you gotta get down here if you can.  i think it's gonna bust wide open tomorrow.

 

Wow - great catch and re-cap.  There's them weird spots again...

That's a one Fine Nine Paul ~

Congrats

A-Jay

Glad to see your usual spring fling has started Paul. Keep then coming. 

Holy smokes! You da man Paul! After I read the story I felt like I was there and I'm being really nice to Nikki at this moment.

Way to go bud. Looks like it's time! That is a chunk!!!

"My PB: Between 0-1lbs"

Nice fish, great pic!

 

wow thats a beauty!

That's a nice one Paul.

Man that's a nice bass!

Sweet catch, Paul!

Great reading Paul. of landing that hawg snatchin' day you had on the water!

Great catch.  Congrats.

Gggggiant bass. Nice fish

that's a beauty of a fish!  the new "dottie" with that black spot!

I've been waiting for you to post your yearly spring hawgs, Paul.  That's a sweet one!

Very nice!

Whump! WTG, Paul.

I wonder how many kids lives you saved that might swim there by catching that thing!

Great catch!  I'm working on a 'BIG O-fer," this year so, I AM ENVIOUS!