2024 Catches of the Year

[thediscochef]

Idk if this thread has been started yet but I'd like to see everyone's best basses of 2024. This doesn't necessarily have to be LM or SM specific, just your most memorable and favorite catch of the year. Because ultimately the memory is what makes the catch, right?

 

I'll start.

I caught this one evening in late March, it was 7lbs 5oz on a bone choppo 75. Not even two months later, an EF3 tornado tore through my home lake and shut me down for a solid three months on this water body. The marina signs are still being held up by stacks of rubble. I digress. I was working the lure slowly, to a point where I could feel each turn of the prop in my hand. The fish hit super lightly, as if it just came straight up under the lure and just opened its mouth. It wasn't until I felt it pull and set the hook that "I Knew". It wasn't a particularly long fight, but on a medium light rod it felt like an absolute giant. Pulling it out of invasive milfoil with that light rod was a task. Of the 7lb fish I have caught, this one might be the most balanced and healthy specimen I've ever caught. It's for sure the biggest bass I've caught all year, but also the most memorable. My hand was cramping holding it for pics and weight. Time out of the water was maybe 60 second, but it's maybe the most memorable 60 seconds of the year.

 

Let's see em

 

[Swamp Girl]

I could post my PB, but instead, I'll post the girl below. I caught her on my third trip from the last. To reach her home, I drove a ridge line in the dark, down a gravel road, and then down a narrow, dangerous drive to launch beside a dam. I had to carry my canoe down a slippery slope to launch.

 

I then paddled down a gorge in creepy blackness, skirting fallen, spectral trees. That led to a long flat and I had to follow the old riverbed to find water deep enough to float my canoe. It was hard and several times I paddled onto a mud flat and I had to use my paddle as a pole to extricate myself.

 

A couple of miles of mis-directions later, I reached the widest and deepest part of the river and proceeded to catch 56 bass and two jumbo perch. I'd caught more bass in a morning in 2024 and I'd caught bigger bass too in 2024, but I'd never caught so many big bass as I did that morning, about a dozen in total and this gal was the thickest of them. I think I caught her on a big walking bait. Black and gold.

 

She has everything I love in a bass. My everything isn't much: just a big head followed by a big body. She didn't look beaten down by life, but thriving despite its myriad challenges, and I saw five of them: three bald eagles in a V cruising over her home and two ospreys too. I didn't weigh or measure her, but if you really need a number, here's one: A perfect 10.

 

 

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

Mine was early, January 7, 2024. Jigging a spoon in a current seam and all hell broke loose 

 

 

[Jigfishn10]

@Swamp Girl, what a write-up! That was quite a trek to reach your destination. And in the end it was all worth it! She was a 10. Congrats you deserved it. 
 

@thediscochef, oinkers for sure!

 

@TnRiver46 that there is a beautiful striper! 

[DogBone_384]

My biggest catch this year was a 4_8 LMB I pulled out of a tree in about 2' of water on December 3rd with a 3/8 oz @Siebert Outdoors jig in 40+ degree water.

 

It was a textbook catch.  Toss jig into tree, let cook, feel tick, set hook, and pull bass out of tree.

[Bankbeater]

I caught this PB out of a pond back in June.  It's rare around here for a crappie to get to this size in a 3 acre pond. 

[Dwight Hottle]

My two best for 2024. 

 

[A-Jay]

My bass catch of the year happened 24 April 2024.

I planned my trip to this lake specifically to do exactly what I did.

However, I've done that a few thousand times over the years, with varying levels of success. 

This Lake Menderchuck is a little over an hour away so I had plenty of time to contemplate a few different plans of attack before my arrival.

Once on scene, I was faced with pretty much exactly what I hoped for.

Some sun, a mostly stiff SW wind and water and air temps that bordered on perfect for the pre spawn bite I was hoping to get on.  No other boats (pretty common) and clear, clean water conditions.

  All of this indicated I would be going with Plan A - Jerkbaits in 8-10 feet. 

Didn't take too long to find the brown bass and for the next couple of hours I proceeded to have a really good day.  Multiple schools of 3-5 lb brown bass were up and feeding.  Then I got one over 6 lbs.  And now I'm really starting to think something special was happening.

A couple more big 5's on the scale and then . . . . .It happened.

 I had really zeroed in on what part of the edge the bass were using and it seemed like any errant casts or a bad boat position in that wind would not get any bites.

 So as I approached this one very promising little flat on an inside turn, I took my time, Taloned down in the right spot and made my cast.  About a 1/3 of the way back to the boat my 7 ft spinning rod loaded up.  And after just landing a solid six, I was pretty sure this was a bigger specimen.

I even said the old phrase I always say once I feel the weight of a big fish in the spring,

"Hope it's a Bass".  As often times the biggest mutants are not; walleye, trout, pike and even musky have been known to dupe me more than once.  But not this time.  Not knowing for sure what was stripping all that line off my reel, I took my time landing the fish, and I Mean I went SLOW.   Seemed to take forever to get the fish on the leader as she dogged me every inch of the way and stayed deep. Admittedly there were a few "Oh MY GOD" moments once this freak came busting to the surface boat side and I got my first looks at her.  #likeadream.

Eventually got her in the Frabil and once the scale finally confirmed it, I had landed the second 7 lb Brown bass of my life.  I was beyond excited and truly at a loss for words. 

No sooner was she on deck, she was swimming free back to the depths.

Clearly I am happy to have landed such an awesome fish, but truth be told, 

I am very proud of the 6 years of 'preparation' it took to even get a shot at it.  From keeping me, my rig & my tackle in prime shape to be ready when the moment came.  And then to execute successfully when the pressure was on.  All real confidence boosters moving forward.  Picking the right place, the right time and the right presentation can't be overlooked either. 

Here's the fish . . . 

And here's the video . . .

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

 

[T-Billy]

Best bass of the year was this pre-spawn 5.35#. She's a thick girl sport'n a tramp stamp. 😉

My most memorable catch was doubling up on muskie with a 34" and a tied for best of the year 46.5".

[king fisher]

I was only able to fish Presa Pocho a couple times this year.  I always like to fish this lake in late May, and early June before the rains come.  The lake is very low, at this time, and the bass are suspended in trees in 35 to 40 foot deep water.  The few sport fisherman that fish this lake don't fish it when the water is low, so except for the commercial netters, that stay away from the trees, I have the place to myself.

 

The second day I fished the lake, I arrived later than planned and immediately went to a tree where a couple weeks before I had a giant bass eat a 12 inch bass I caught on a worm right next to my kayak.  I had thought about nothing else but that bass for a couple weeks, hoping I would be able to get one more day on the lake before the rainy season.

 

By getting there late, I missed the usual morning bite, and was waiting for the afternoon winds to start the bite back up.  The bass bite in the strong afternoon winds, but the fishing sucks because of the difficulties of fishing in the strong afternoon winds.  I didn't get any strikes at any of the trees, and out of habit peddled my kayak over to a fence line, I fish when the water is higher.  I didn't expect to catch a bass of any size but at this point in the day I was just wanting to kick the skunk out of the boat.

 

On my first cast I actually made a perfect cast with a Junebug Zoom Ole Monster next to the fence post I wanted to fish.  One hop with the worm and this 10.2 pound bass hooked.  I was just able to  reverse my kayak and get her away from the barb wire, when she went airborne.  After the second jump, I noticed she was barely hooked.  I played her very light for a few minuets, and after one more jump next to the kayak I reached down and grabbed my only DD of the year by the lip.  After a quick measure, and a second or two on the scale, I released my biggest bass of 2024.  I had never caught a bass over a pound by that fence, and I was sure all of the decent bass were in deeper water, but I can never help but make a cast at a good looking piece of cover, and I'm glad I did.

 

The next best fish of the year for me was a Rooster fish I hooked while fishing on a friends boat.  He was going to take some friends of his fishing, that weren't experienced salt water fisherman.  He invited me to go along and help.  The bite was wide open, and it had been a long time since I had to work the deck on a wide open bite but I was managing well.  We were catching smaller rooster fish one after another, along with many large Jack Crevalle.  I had just put a new bait out, and was releasing a rooster fish on another line, when the big one hit.  The reel was in free spool with the clicker on, by the time I got to the rod, half the line was off the reel.  I grabbed the rod, slowly pushed the drag forward, setting the circle hook, and was pleasantly surprised to feel way more weight on the other end than I was expecting.  I handed the rod to one of the anglers, and we managed to land one of the biggest rooster fish any one on the boat had ever seen.

 

I wasn't able to go fishing much in 2024 but did manage to get a one exceptional bass, and a giant rooster fish.  I hope to fish more in 2025.

       

[A-Jay]

I'm coming back with another 'fish of the year.'

 

I was fishing Lake Menderchuck in Mid Sept, the day before the full moon.

And while I'm not a huge lunar fishing follower, I do like to note when there's a full or new moon as I've had some memorable catches 3 days before & after both deals.

 Anyway, I had got out on the water early looking for a topwater Brown bass bite on a big flat. 

Wind was up a bit so I threw a spinnerbait around for a while instead and landed a nice smallie.

  As the morning worn on, I had fished a couple of different baits, jerkbait, A-Rig and a vibrating jig, trying to generate another big bite.  The bottom here is a mix of isolated weeds and sandy bare spots.  Fish often hold close to the bottom at the edges of the weeds. 

  While targeting the inside turn on this one larger bare spot, I made the cast I wanted placing the a 1/2 oz vibrating jig right in the middle.  As the bait approached the closest weed edge, it 'slowed down'.  Initially I thought the lure was bogging down in the weeds. 

I was wrong.

Instead, there was the unmistakable surge of something big.  Didn't know what I had, just didn't expect it to be on long as I was feeling seriously under gunned. (15 lb Tatsu FC and no wire leader)  Finally identified it as a submarine size musky and the fight was on.  If I wanted to land it, and wasn't sure if I even could, I wasn't going to be able to pressure this fish much, so I didn't and it worked out.  She was a beast and I could hardly hold her.  Haven't had a fish in the Lund that I couldn't actually hold for a picture, I think ever.  But this was one of those.  Her release was mostly on her terms but she seemed to be swimming off OK. 

This is the kind of by-catch that always gets my attention and is a welcome distraction.

Here's the fish and the video 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[Pat Brown]

Yeah had the chance to hold one more really special fish on the day before Christmas Eve that definitely deserves to be added to this thread.

 

7.35 lbs and all of maybe 20".  Just a complete football - and potentially my ticket to the 2025 big bass bash for the tri city lakes!

 

My fourth submission this year but hey - I'll take winning December in NC with a 7.35.  That'll make me look scary to the competition - especially catching it out of a Jon boat fishing with my son 😉😉😉👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

 

 

Caught on a 1 oz @Siebert Outdoors grass jig in Patz Gizzard with a watermelon mag speed craw trailer in 1 FOW - 44° surface temps steady NE wind and bluebird skies - 3 pm.

 

 

Gotta love the ole jig.

[gim]

I actually don't even have a photo of my most memorable catch(es) of 2024.  It occured during a derby on September 30.  My partner and I had a limit of mostly dinks (12-15 inch largemouth) in the livewell but we had zero confidence that those fish would beat the other team for free lunch and beers afterwards.  It was 11am with an hour remaining and we pulled up to a spot I had found a couple days earlier.  My partner Jason said to me "We need to replace two of those dinks with a couple of 3 pounders to have a legit chance."  Within 10 minutes, that's exactly what happened.  I caught a pair of 3+ pounders less than 10 minutes apart with less than an hour remaining.  Those two fish catapulted us past our competition by less than a pound and we ended up winners.  After we won, Jason said to me "did that really just happen?"

 

I did catch a couple of second best PB largemouth this past season.  I have photos of those.  First one was in May, 20.5 inch prespawn that was 5.7 something pounds.  Second one was in October, 21 inches that weighed 5.9 something pounds.  Honestly after I caught the one in May I said to myself "highly unlikely I'll catch one that big the rest of the season."

 

 

 

 

[Blue Raider Bob]

23 minutes ago, gim said:

mostly dinks (12-15 inch

Dang Bro !

 

Since when is a 15" LM a Dink? I know I'm outclassed by the BR Crew, but a 15" Is a real smile maker in my boat! Kinda like leapyears  to me.....don't happen often. 🙂

[gim]

14 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Since when is a 15" LM a Dink?

 

In a tournament I think a 15 incher isn't going to do you much good.  Ok maybe in the Sabine River that's chocked full of em according to @Catt.

 

I guess its all relative.  I don't consider 12-15 inch largemouth much of a bass and I would certainly never take a photo of one either.  YMMV

[king fisher]

3 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Caught on a 1 oz @Siebert Outdoors grass jig in Patz Gizzard with a watermelon mag speed craw trailer in 1 FOW - 44° surface temps steady NE wind and bluebird skies - 3 pm.

Good job.  You broke all the rules.  Extremely shallow in cold water, bluebird sky and wind from the east.  So much for rules in bass fishing.

[T-Billy]

3 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Caught on a 1 oz @Siebert Outdoors grass jig in Patz Gizzard with a watermelon mag speed craw trailer in 1 FOW - 44° surface temps steady NE wind and bluebird skies - 3 pm.

 

Pitching shallow sun baked wood is my "go to" in those conditions, especially if I can get a few days of sunshine in a row. That deal will hold up all the way down to 38. Late morning through the afternoon is best.

[TLHSS]

Nothing like the other fish posted on this thread, but in context, I'm an ultralight bank fisherman, on a very small and shallow river, and retention ponds.  4 pound copolymer line.  Nothing heavier than 1/8 oz bait.

 

The best fishing for me this year was in July.  We had massive flooding in the area, which make some of the larger fish (at least for me) more active near the banks at the retention ponds where I fish.

 

First fish was caught on a bait I make that allows me to fish a Texas rigged wacky worm without a weedless hook.  Second fish was caught on a 3 inch slim senko on a weightless Texas rig.

 

 

 

[NETim]

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

Good job.  You broke all the rules.  Extremely shallow in cold water, bluebird sky and wind from the east.  So much for rules in bass fishing.

I have yet to find any fish that read the same books that I do.  😄

[N Florida Mike]

Got this fish in one of my church ponds. Can’t remember exactly but it was 23 .5 inches I think. Probably around 6 pounds. 

Never have coaxed another bite from the huge fish in there I’ve hooked several times. I may try again tomorrow…

[NETim]

My best pike this year from a late May trip to LOTW.  35” on a light spinning rod.  The fish was taken on an old wooden perch Lazy Ike.  I was feeling nostalgic that day.  
 

She/he was an exceptionally ornery pike.  

 

 

[Pat Brown]

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

Good job.  You broke all the rules.  Extremely shallow in cold water, bluebird sky and wind from the east.  So much for rules in bass fishing.

 

 

Big girls play by their own rules for SURE.

 

I ain't fishing for every bass in the lake or pond - I'm generally trophy hunting and you start to think differently when that's all you do.

 

1 OZ jig is also generally thought of us a hot water reaction speed thing and this one seemed to like the bait moving very fast in the cold!  

 

I am just gonna keep learning my own rules and tricks and probably ignore the rules from now on!

 

Been getting loads of action on the frog too - I predict at least one frog fish in January this year if weather keeps going how it is!  😎🎣😉👍🏼

1 hour ago, T-Billy said:

Pitching shallow sun baked wood is my "go to" in those conditions, especially if I can get a few days of sunshine in a row. That deal will hold up all the way down to 38. Late morning through the afternoon is best.

 

 

I'm really starting to like cold sunny days a LOT.  Seems to be the best days for shallow winter bass for sure.

[Swamp Girl]

On 12/27/2024 at 5:08 PM, Pat Brown said:

I ain't fishing for every bass in the lake or pond - I'm generally trophy hunting and you start to think differently when that's all you do.

 

Unlike me, as I am fishing for every bass in the pond!

[Pat Brown]

35 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Unlike me, as I am fishing for every bass in the pond!

 

I am too - I mean that's basically what I end up catching but I'm definitely not looking for lots of dinks or something.  I'm looking for a new PB hopefully every time I fish.  I'm not like only throwing big swimbaits or anything super anachronistic like that.  I enjoy hoping that I'm fishing for the biggest fish 😂

 

I DO think that systematically targeting tougher pieces of cover and main lake structure is more what I'm referring to.  You basically still end up mostly catching normal sized bass BUT you get less bites per year/per trip on average by a country mile - the trade off is your average size goes waaaaaay up because the other half of the time it's Nadine or one of her cousins.  😁😁😁

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, Pat Brown said:

 

I DO think that systematically targeting tougher pieces of cover and main lake structure is more what I'm referring to. 

 

I do systematically target tougher pieces of cover. You've see photos of the bogs I fish. Lacking electronics, I don't tackle lake structure systematically, but I do regularly fish open water and have a good memory for where I've caught bass and return to those spots. I also cast big lures, so I am hoping for Nadine and her sisters, but happy to catch their little cousins in the meantime. So, we're similar, as long as you're willing to ignore that I don't catch DDs like you do! 😉