The weather forecast here for the next few days is setting up so that I may have a shot at getting out on some bigger water. 

It's the only realistic opportunity for me to even see a brown bass over 6 lb.

While there are plenty of places locally that are smaller lakes, and I can fish safely almost right into November.

A 5 lb fish is probably the best-case scenario there. 

Although it is clearly a lot of fun, it will not help me achieve my goals for this thread.

I'm thinking a marathon on Friday (the 3rd) is going to be where I hit it pretty hard.

Jerkbaits all day !

Here we go.

A-Jay

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

The weather forecast here for the next few days is setting up so that I may have a shot at getting out on some bigger water. 

It's the only realistic opportunity for me to even see a brown bass over 6 lb.

While there are plenty of places locally that are smaller lakes, and I can fish safely almost right into November.

A 5 lb fish is probably the best-case scenario there. 

Although it is clearly a lot of fun, it will not help me achieve my goals for this thread.

I'm thinking a marathon on Friday (the 3rd) is going to be where I hit it pretty hard.

Jerkbaits all day !

Here we go.

A-Jay

 

I recommend you go to Lake Menderchuck.  You always seem to do well there.

19 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I recommend you go to Lake Menderchuck.  You always seem to do well there.

Solid advice.

Thank you. 

😆

A-Jay

I have the week after next off and I intend to hit big water for brownies one day. Need the wind to cooperate.

 

Weather looks like it’s going to turn to more of a fall pattern next week too.

I have got the itch. Cant wait till Oct 21st when I hit the St Lawrence for 4 days. 

I've been hitting it hard the past two weeks, my version of that at least.

Including yesterday, it's been a bit frustrating, honestly. Water temps everywhere here look more like August than mid-October.  With almost a week of cold rain coming in and a couple of the better lakes turning over now, I'm going to wait for a last-minute chance at a Hail Mary.  Meanwhile, I'll finish winterizing everything except the boat.  Might be able to get into November, which would be unusual. 

A-Jay

Well it took me five days but I’m back on the board with an upgrade. 7lbs-6oz. That’s 7.375 divided by 9.0 times 100 equals 81.94 percent. I was fishing in New York waters Lake Ontario and the NY smallmouth record is 9-0 lbs. Caught on a 3/16 jig head with a Deps plastic minnow bait.  
 

Fantastic Smallmouth @Dwight Hottle !

That Brown Bass is a beast, and the pictures are top-notch.

I had a good feeling about this trip to NY.

Congratulations. 

#thelegend

A-Jay

@Dwight Hottle Certified tank commander!

 

scott

 

ps - i'm guessing sakamata shad, but just want to bait monkey you with my deathadder success on lake michigan; a 5" on a ballhead or scounger head was a big smallie magnet this spring.

 

Congrats @Dwight Hottle !  You catch bigger bass than I do in my dreams! I need to upgrade my dreams just to keep pace

I just got knocked down a rung.

 

That's ok though, I had the brown bass lead for months which is a moral victory for this guy

Hey @Dwight Hottle do you get to make fun of @A-Jay with a new entry?

 

We're waiting...

27 minutes ago, gim said:

I just got knocked down a rung.

 

That's ok though, I had the brown bass lead for months which is a moral victory for this guy

If it’s any moral victory, you had me beat for my first 4 days. Luckily, a 5th day opened up. The fish gods have spoken. I only had 4 days scheduled to fish when a fifth day opened up with a different guide. 

5 minutes ago, gim said:

Hey @Dwight Hottle do you get to make fun of @A-Jay with a new entry?

 

We're waiting...

Well I only had to insult him once per his rules but I’m sure another entry into the 7 lb club is insulting enough. But we respect each others accomplishments so it’s all good . A-Jay’s angling expertise speaks for itself self. 

Well done @Dwight Hottle!

What a fish!! Absolutely stunning. 

@softwateronly You guessed right.

Fixing to wrap this one up.

IAW the rules in the OP

 The contest runs from sunrise 01 March 2025 to sunset 30 November 2025.

I'm done for the season and have been for a while.

Figures I start this one up again and then have one of my worst big fish seasons in recent history. 

Either way, we're looking at a week or so before it's over.

Might be time for one of you motivated bassheads to pull out a Hail Mary Fish.

I'll be watching for the post, popcorn in hand.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

I have failed completely this season, never coming close enough to merit a post. Congratulations to the big ‘uns!
 

Looking forward to next year, although there is a week left!

Same here. This year marks the least amount of fishing I've done in the past 6 years. I can probably count on 2 hands the amount of times I was able to get out. Hopefully next year looks better!

If I ever catch one that would have a chance, it would be before March or after November 😂 

 

SMB love “winters” here 

On 11/24/2025 at 9:13 AM, TnRiver46 said:

If I ever catch one that would have a chance, it would be before March or after November 😂 

 

SMB love “winters” here 

 

I was just down on Melton chasing Muskies for a week, had never been in the Knoxville area all that much before, man, everywhere you look they are clear cutting entire mountains to build more subdivisions. Cool area, but hate to see it 10 years from now and do NOT get stuck in school traffic on the way to the boat ramp LOL 

@Goby, 😂! Cedar bluff rd I swear is a school zone from one end to the other, and it’s flashing yellow from 11 am to 5 pm. How many times can you leave school in one day??? 
 

any esox? There be some monster striper in there too 

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

@Goby, 😂! Cedar bluff rd I swear is a school zone from one end to the other, and it’s flashing yellow from 11 am to 5 pm. How many times can you leave school in one day??? 
 

any esox? There be some monster striper in there too 

 

In 6 days of fishing, sun up to sun down, I moved one Musky and it was tiny so I didn't let it eat the fly, was less than 2' long. 

 

It was my first time there, I fly fished the entire time, caught a couple decent Smallies on Musky flies, that was it. 

 

There was a lot of learning, for example, it took me two days to realize that when they ran water at night which they seemed to do each night I was there, the bottom half of the reservoir was full of very large floating logs everywhere, so it was slow going until you could get beyond all of that. From day three on, I launched up higher in the reservoir, was much better as long as you beat the school lines LOL 

 

It seemed to me the fish had moved off all that great looking wood on the shorelines and were out on secondary lies, had I maybe got a cloudy day, could have gotten a fish to come up for a fly, but they were not having it while I was there. Every day but one, was bright blue skies with zero wind, not a ripple on the surface. Got a great tan! LOL 

 

I went a long ways up the river too, cool stuff, I like to explore new places as much as I like the actual fishing part. 

 

I marked several very big marks, suspended 30' down on deep structure over 40' deep, assuming at least some of those were big Stripers along with some Muskies. 

 

When I go back next year, going to go to the bait shop I found and get some Live Gizzard Shad, try and get a giant Striper. 

44 minutes ago, Goby said:

 

I was just down on Melton chasing Muskies for a week, had never been in the Knoxville area all that much before, man, everywhere you look they are clear cutting entire mountains to build more subdivisions. Cool area, but hate to see it 10 years from now and do NOT get stuck in school traffic on the way to the boat ramp LOL 

 

38 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

@Goby, 😂! Cedar bluff rd I swear is a school zone from one end to the other, and it’s flashing yellow from 11 am to 5 pm. How many times can you leave school in one day??? 
 

any esox? There be some monster striper in there too 

 

14 minutes ago, Goby said:

 

In 6 days of fishing, sun up to sun down, I moved one Musky and it was tiny so I didn't let it eat the fly, was less than 2' long. 

 

It was my first time there, I fly fished the entire time, caught a couple decent Smallies on Musky flies, that was it. 

 

There was a lot of learning, for example, it took me two days to realize that when they ran water at night which they seemed to do each night I was there, the bottom half of the reservoir was full of very large floating logs everywhere, so it was slow going until you could get beyond all of that. From day three on, I launched up higher in the reservoir, was much better as long as you beat the school lines LOL 

 

It seemed to me the fish had moved off all that great looking wood on the shorelines and were out on secondary lies, had I maybe got a cloudy day, could have gotten a fish to come up for a fly, but they were not having it while I was there. Every day but one, was bright blue skies with zero wind, not a ripple on the surface. Got a great tan! LOL 

 

I went a long ways up the river too, cool stuff, I like to explore new places as much as I like the actual fishing part. 

 

I marked several very big marks, suspended 30' down on deep structure over 40' deep, assuming at least some of those were big Stripers along with some Muskies. 

 

When I go back next year, going to go to the bait shop I found and get some Live Gizzard Shad, try and get a giant Striper. 

Not a reports thread - Let's stay on topic in this one please. 

Time to take this somewhere else.

Thanks in Advance

A-Jay

Just like that the 2025 edition of State vs State is over.

Right off the bat I’d like to personally thank all the hammers for participating and insulting me.

Nicely Done.

 

And now for the Top Sticks in each category.

Starting out with the LMB ~

In early May, @Pat Brown landed a Full Grown NC Bass that actually tied his PB of 11-5 lbs.  

Great Timing !

11 lb 5 oz (11.3) ÷ 15 lb 14 oz (15.8) x 100 = 71.5

Congrats

 

Now the Spotted Bass winner.

@Logan S caught a 3-5 spotted bass during practice for a weekend tournament.  Fish was caught on April 10th. 

NC spotted bass state record = 6-5

3.3125/6.3125(*100) = 52.48

Congrats

 

And for the Top Smallmouth Bass entry and Overall Winner

Fishing in New York waters Lake Ontario @Dwight Hottle dropped

a 7 lb 6 oz Beast on the board in late October. The NY smallmouth record is 9-0.

That’s 7.375 divided by 9.0 times 100 equals 81.94 percent !

Congrats and Way to take us to school sir.

 

That was fun and if I remember, I may put this up again next year.

But before I cut out, I'd appreciate some feedback/improvements or perhaps modifications

you fine bassheads might have.  Certainly open to any and all comments.

Thanks again.

Until next year . . . .

A-Jay

(btw, I tried to add links to this posts and pictures of the fish

but the thread kept crashing so I gave up)