Since retiring Mrs Mike and I full time in a motor home and currently we're on the east coast of Florida. 

We got a new neighbor last March who lives in Canada but spends the winters down here. 

He bought a 18ft skiff and wanted to go bass fishing for the first time. 

Since Stick Marsh was only 30 min from us we made a plan to go.

As we were driving around I saw an area I wanted to try but there were 2 boats too close to it so we kept going as I don't like crowding someone off a spot, but I kept an eye on them. 

They were both throwing sq bill's but after not catching anything for 45 min they left.

I told my neighbor that I have a hunch about that area and wanted to try it out for a few minutes. 

 

I set him up with a wacky rig and myself with a Fat Max ribbon tail rigged on 14# Sniper with a 3/16 tungsten weight as I immediately found that we were over a submerged grass flat in 7 fow. 

 

It must have been fairly heavy as I kept getting hung up so I tighten the drag a bit and made a few long casts keeping an eye on him as he kept reeling too fast. 

 

After about 1/2 doz casts, working that worm through the grass it just felt different. 

I set the hook and just knew I had something special. 

She started to come up but no matter what I did she jumped clean out of water and my heart rate went up. 

All I remember about that was my boater let out a groan and said "What do I do?? What do I do??" I yelled "reel your line in and stay where you are"!!

 

When she got within 5 ft of us she went straight down and dived under the boat. 

I thought the rod was gonna break but then I remembered I tightened the drag earlier and didn't back it off!

As soon as I did she came straight up and jumped again!

 

I said get the net! but he didn't have one!!

He leaned over the side and said "I'll get it". 

I said in as calm a voice as I could "NO! Leave her."

Anyway, I lipped her in and as I was pulling her up, she kept coming out.!!

 

She was 11.34 and the prettiest fish I ever saw. 

He grabbed his camera as I left mine in the truck, but before I let her go I kissed her on the head, thanked her, wished her well and she was gone. 

 

He said he would send me the pictures but 2 days later he left for Canada again. 

It took 2 weeks to track him down and when I did he said he would send them. 

Anyway, finally after 2 months of unanswered calls and sincere begging he finally did. 

 

This is the best picture but doesn't do her justice. 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

Nice Fla Bass

 

Great Bass ~ 

Congrats

A-Jay

Nice bass! Congratulations @Mike L! ?

That is a massive bass. Truly a trophy. 

You ever want to know what it feels like to be on the other end of a "Taken" movie? Take a picture of a bass fisherman's 10lbs+ catch then leave town... we will find you! 

 

Great story!! Great fish!! 

Congrats on a great Stick Marsh trophy Mike. 

Nice!!!  I’ve been making the 1,300 mile drive to the Stick Marsh the past couple years,  maybe next year I’ll get one like that beauty! 

Took my sunglasses off at that one. Mercy

Wowsers. A beauty, Mike! Congrats!

congrats 

Thanks Fellas!

It was a good day!

 

 

 

 

Mike

That is a good photo of a huge bass!

WOW! great fish. what a fight, bet it was fun.nice pic!

That is a beauty, nice going.

Wow! Nice fish! Congratulations!

Real Purdy fish!