It happened a couple weeks ago, but I have been busy with work and family so I am only just now getting a chance to get the picture and story up.

 

It started out a day mostly like any other, this particular day I launched the boat and headed to a shelf about midway down lake that I have seen boats parked on many times, although I have not fished it for more than a passing cast or two.  I was sitting in about 15ft of water, maybe 100yds off the bank, casting parallel to the bank/shelf that goes from 10 to 20ft deep, throwing a drop shot with a live shad I had caught earlier that morning.  I have been so frustrated from about mid summer on, catching one or two in an outing, that I decided to catch some live bait, just to give it a go. 

 

I have been trying to focus on fishing deep all this year, but to be honest, like clockwork on every trip, after a couple hours of frustration, I would head to shallower points and coves and would catch one or two, just to keep my spirits up.

 

So there I was, myself and my neighbor on my boat, and another boat with 2 guys 50ft away, sitting on this shelf when I feel a "whump".  I slowly real into the weight of the fish, I am using a VMC swingshot (I think its called a swingshot) dropshot hook, the one that swivels and has line ties on both top and bottom.  I feel several strong head shakes and figure it is a decent sized fish.

 

Tackle is a 7ft Ethos Nano, with a Shimano Nexave.  A fairly inexpensive combo, but one I really like for its sensitivity to price point. 20lb power pro with an 8lb Pline CXX.

 

I keep fighting the fish for what seems like 10 minutes, probably more like 2, but she didn't seem to want to come up.  She pulls drag a few times.  This lake has a good catfish population and I got to figuring that was what was on the other end.  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I got a chance to see her head and back, a Bass!  I didn't have the net at the ready since I was figuring I was into a catfish and it wouldn't break my heart if it shook off.  That was a mistake!

 

My co angler asked if I wanted the net, I calmly said "yes" (:)),  I got her netted and picked her out of the net, it was the biggest bass I have ever caught by several pounds from the look of it.  I got her into the livewell and tried to shake off my jitters.  I asked the guy in the boat beside me if he had a scale.  He did, thankfully!  I have never caught anything big enough to where I would want a scale, but I will be buying one now for sure!

 

7.4 lbs, undeniably my new personal best.  After a couple pictures, including one of the scale, I released her and she swam right off.  I knew she was big, but I think I was in shock or something because until I got a better look at the pictures of me holding her, later on that day after coming home, I wasn't fully appreciating the size of the fish as I held her.  And I definitely didn't long-arm her for the pictures :).

 

After a tough year on the water, dropping a cylinder and rebuilding my outboard myself, this was a delightful way to close out the season.  I thank everyone on here for putting up with my noob questions over the years!

 

Tight lines BR.

Beautiful fish!!

Congratulations!

 

 

 

Mike

Very nice fish

Great Bass ~ 

Congrats on the new Personal Best

They are Always a Beautiful Thing.

And so is Karma . . . 

A-Jay

A fine way to end the season indeed!

Congrats! Enjoy the high!

Super nice fish and congratulations, not only on the PB, but on your perseverance!

Nice!!  What a great way to end the season!

Awesome fish and if I read that correctly you caught this on a shad you had caught earlier using a drop shot set up.  In my book, that makes it an even better catch. Congrats

Congrats!  Big bass are marvelous creatures, they seem to be something entirely different than the little bucks along the bank.

Great fish and story. 

Awesome fish, congrats! 

Congratulations. Awesome fish. Too bad you caught it on live bait so it doesn't count.???

Nice Hawg ?

Great fish and loved the story of how it all happened. Congrats!

Wow. Congrats. Gorgeous fish. Great story too!

Nice going. That is a hawg!

Congrats on the PB!

Congrats! That's a nice fish!

Nice job my friend.  Glad you stuck a hawg after a difficult summer.  Congrats!

 

Great fish.....next year will bring better luck and more Bass like that one.

Very nice write up and a giant released for someone else to possibly catch!!

Great job!!

Nice fish, I love to fish this time of the year.

Beast! Really sweet end to summer  !!

PB's are always sweet. Congrats.