On 2/6/2023 at 7:24 PM, Aaron_H said:

I'm hoping I can pull out another great year anchored by the jerkbait, so I'll go with that. 1/2 oz H2O Ultimate Jerk Shad in Crackle is what I'm hoping to get my biggest this year on (and fingers crossed for some more DDs this year, too). Bite really picked up around this time last year so we'll see.

 

Lipless and chatterbait are also strong contenders for big fish of the year.

 

There's still time left in the year for me, no freeze down here, but so far I was pretty wrong. Wacky rigged white senko is my biggest of 2023 so far at 7lb 2oz.

 

I do like how optimistic I was for the prespawn before the Year of the Humble Pie™ wore me down. 😂

2023 Season is over for me.

Did not catch the biggest brown bass of the year on the Mini Max as I had predicted.

If I run this one again next spring,

very good chance I'll be selecting a different bait.

See ya next year.

A-Jay

So far 7 lb 2 ounce Largemouth Wacky Worm 

I caught my two biggest LMB about 20 minutes apart. Caught them both on an OL Monster Worm. 

 

Caught several SMB this year but nothing very big so I have no idea which one would have been the biggest.

 

Also caught several Spotted Bass this year which is unusual for me. Caught the biggest one on a Magnum Finesse Worm.

Biggest this year (to date) was a 6lb, picked up at Canyon Lake on a 6XD in “Citrus Shad”. 

#3.86 river smallie on a 5" green pumpkin black flake senko with spinning tackle and a

#3.3 river smallie on a tiny 1.25" lg fly pattern I came up with this spring.

 

My biggest this year came on a wacky rig, 5" Yama Senko in Green Pumpkin/Black Flake.

Biggest bass this year was 5.4, caught with a Chrome Yo Zuri Rattlin Vibe

My prediction was spinnerbait. Turned out to be a jig. No big surprise there. 
5lb 2oz 

I can feel my biggest bast is going to be on a DRT Tiny Klash...

Too late for me - had I saw the thread back in Feb, I’d have guessed a jig & I’d have been wrong. Ended up being the same spinnerbait for my 2 biggest of the year so far 5-5 prespawner in March & a 6-12 just last week. Both LMB. Hopefully not done for the year just yet. 🙏

 

3" white / silver paddle tail on 1/4" jig head.

I read through all the replies and can’t find mine. The answer would have been dead wrong, but still. I would have said spinnerbait , and the correct answer was a purple worm. 

8.4

Page 1 of Florida handbook 

Gambler Burner Worm in you guessed it:

Black/blue

Dunno how I missed this thread last Feb. Too late to call my shot now, but a bait similar to your pick got it done for me @A-Jay, with both the brown and green bass.

My homebrew chatterbait, with a Do-It molds 3.5 Ripper trailer in green pumpkin.

5.85# LM

5.67# SM

 

14 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Dunno how I missed this thread last Feb. Too late to call my shot now, but a bait similar to your pick got it done for me @A-Jay, with both the brown and green bass.

My homebrew chatterbait, with a Do-It molds 3.5 Ripper trailer in green pumpkin.

5.85# LM

5.67# SM

 

Very Nice Sir !

Always fun when we get'm on one of our own creations #madbaitmaster  

I'll do a "2nd Annual Call Your Shot" thread next spring 

and I'll tag you @T-Billy

 

A-Jay

Biggest I caught this year measured 24in. I wish I had a picture. I caught it on a 5in Senko.

 

It has been a good year. No matter if I caught 20+ bass or I got blanked, it was still better than being at work.  

 

At least I got to see this on my last day before putting the kayak up for the year.

 

 

 

Keitech swimbait and a Ned rig. No idea what they weighed, both were just shy of 20”

 

4 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Dunno how I missed this thread last Feb. Too late to call my shot now, but a bait similar to your pick got it done for me @A-Jay, with both the brown and green bass.

My homebrew chatterbait, with a Do-It molds 3.5 Ripper trailer in green pumpkin.

5.85# LM

5.67# SM

 

How do you attach the blade direct to the eye?

Boy, you guys catch big fish!

On 11/2/2023 at 10:56 PM, A-Jay said:

2023 Season is over for me.

Come on over to Cape Cod.  I'll be there with my Ranger the first week of December.  You and @Saltysmalljaws can show me how to catch big smallies.  There are two waters on the Cape that 'I love to hate' if you know what I mean.  

 

Though we don't have quite the 'big' smallies you have out there.  

 

As far as big fish of the season, I'm not done yet.  I've not broken 5 pounds this year but caught a few more 4's on jerkbaits in waters I usually struggle at.  Other than that, it's been a pretty 'regular' year for me.

5 hours ago, JNorman said:

How do you attach the blade direct to the eye?

I open the eye just enough to slide the blade in with a 1/16" nail set punch, then close it with a set of pliers. Mustad, VMC and Victory hooks all work well. Gamas are tempered too hard for this. I've had a couple break. 

I used to make them like that skimpy guys YT video shows, using a straight shank with a wire form for the eye, but I had a couple of those fail so I went to opening the hook eye. It's easier and much stronger.

I use a Do-It sparkie jig mold. It's designed for 60 degree hooks, but using 30 degree hooks allows for using a 5/0 in all the cavities.