I hadn't caught a good bass since December, barely a 4 lb. caught deep on a deep blade bait. It's been a strange spawn and late spring and I had not been able to fish a morning in 2022 before today. I got out to my favorite reservoir just before sunrise, about 6:15; not another soul there. It started off very slow. I didn't get so much as a nibble for the first hour and a half. Then I got to a bank near deep water that has some laydowns and lots of overhanging limbs. I pitched my Trashmaster jig and Rage Bug over a single limb laying over into the water close to the edge. Started to retrieve and noticed the line moving toward deep water. I set the hook and it was on. I tried to fight the fish back and over the limb. Too big. So I thought to pin it against the limb and drag my kayak to it. As I was winching toward the bass, it broke the limb and I fought and landed it. It really wore itself out fighting the limb so the fight was pretty short. I'm thankful because you can see in the pic it's just skin-hooked with the jig. I took pics and weighed it. Knew it was pretty close to a PB. It weighed in at 7 lb. 13 oz. That's about 5 oz. below my PB. I just wish I could catch one of these 7+ fish just before spawn. This goes without saying, but it's still swimming. Finally, something to record in my "big fish log" for 2022. Of course, I'm content to catch one almost 8 lb. fish. But I also caught a couple more 2 pounders and a couple dinks as well as a bluegill and a warmouth.

Beautiful fish ?

Hope you catch another one.

Good job. That is a nice looking bass.

Excellent 

Good fish! I'm glad you were able to get that fish in. I have the worst luck with fish getting me wrapped on laydowns or logs.

5 hours ago, Basser2021 said:

Good fish! I'm glad you were able to get that fish in. I have the worst luck with fish getting me wrapped on laydowns or logs.

I find it easier from the kayak than I did from a boat. But if you don't get that jig in there to them there won't be any bite. I use 30# braid on the jig rod with the drag cinched down. Just pin them as tight as you can and go get 'em. I was pretty fortunate with this one.

Heck yeah man!!

Congrats! Always nice to swing into these bigger fish. Makes fishing for them all the more exciting. Just never know what's gonna be down there!