@WaskaCrank12 the white spots on the tail are dead giveaways with walleyes.  If you didn't see those, my guess is that isn't what they were.

Evening fishing was almost a bust - got one to keep from skunking, but it barely made a scorable weight

1/16oz tungsten shakey with a GP Magic Trick Worm

@gim - it was hard to tell - rain, wind, waves and I was wearing amber colored sunglasses due to the conditions -- I did just chat with one of my neighbors, he is a Muskie fisherman, and he said it might have been catfish -- he said there are Flathead Catfish and Bullhead Catfish in the lake -- I am also going to ask at the local DNR office when I get a chance

On 6/28/2025 at 10:23 AM, WaskaCrank12 said:

@gim - it was hard to tell - rain, wind, waves and I was wearing amber colored sunglasses due to the conditions -- I did just chat with one of my neighbors, he is a Muskie fisherman, and he said it might have been catfish -- he said there are Flathead Catfish and Bullhead Catfish in the lake -- I am also going to ask at the local DNR office when I get a chance

 

Sure they weren't carp / suckers?  They like to jump during a spawn.

I went with my Father this morning for about 4.5 hours and did pretty good. They are definitely in a full summer pattern now. Most fish were relating to thicker weeds or under docks once the sun rose higher. Biggest one was about a 4 pounder. Water temp was 74.5 degrees.

 

 

 

 

You had sun down there this morning? I got rained on terrible and forgot my rain gear at home. Caught a couple little ones before I got absolutely drenched. 

47 minutes ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

You had sun down there this morning? I got rained on terrible and forgot my rain gear at home. Caught a couple little ones before I got absolutely drenched. 

A brief period of rain came through around 5-6 am. After that it was full sun. I didn’t start fishing until about 7.

@Standard - they could have been Carp/Largemouth Buffalo - the conditions at the time (rain/wind/waves) made it tricky to identify them (it was in an area that is 18 to 22 feet deep) - I will say I have seen some large (probably 30 plus inch Carp/Largemouth Buffalo) jumping/blow-ups in about 8 to 12 feet of water (so they might be doing that as part of their spawn as you mentioned, I took it as fish chasing/feeding on other fish as the reason for the jumping/blow-ups, yet it might just be part of their spawning ritual ?) - they seem to be swimming in groups, some suspending about 2/3 feet under the water sunning themselves - do Carp/Largemouth Buffalo hunt other fish ?

I did get out yesterday (Wednesday) and caught 17/15/15/13/14 inch LM in 10 to 16 feet of water - the 17 inch was thick and looked very healthy, I had my scale (just a cheap luggage scale) but could not find the clip so I was not able to weight it - water temp is around 73 - might get out today (Thursday) yet there is a chance for some strong storms later today so I will have to see (it's not overly hot today, about 87, yet the humidity level is very high, so ripe for a thunder storm)

Anybody fish the lakes near Chetek Wisconsin? Heading there in a couple of weeks. 

I had my best largemouth outing of the season this morning.  Started around 7am and quit at 11am.  I caught 23 largemouth and 2 pike.  17 of the bass were at least 15+ inches.  At one point I caught 7 in 7 casts.  I had a bunch jump off too.

 

These fish are looking very healthy and gaining weight rapidly after the spawn.  I weighed the pair of 19 inchers and they were both over 4 pounds.

 

I taloned in about 7 feet of water and just casted a Neko rigged stick bait or a jig worm along the deep weed edge.  I tried some more aggressive presentations too, but could not get bit on them.  Water temp was 79 degrees.

 

 

The wind was whipping - so I went to a smaller lake - yet the wind made it tough there as well - I was about to go in when I saw a small cove area that looked fairly well sheltered - it was shallow ( 2 to 2.5 feet deep) and lots of vegetation - I had to go with a topwater lure - I threw a frog and got three bites, yet all three shook loose (first time I have ever thrown a frog, learned some lessons and that I may need to bend the hooks up a bit) - so I knew there was at least one fish willing to bite a lure - I then threw a Megabass Baby Pop X topwater lure - threw it many times and nothing bit - then this 17 inch LMB blasted it and fought like crazy (jumping/diving) - it looked pretty thick so after measuring it I put it in the net and dunked it back in the water for a bit and then took it back out and was surprised at what the scale read - and then quickly got it back in the water - I do my best to get them in the boat and back in the water in a timely manner - if it seems like it will take a while (hooks buried deep, having difficulty getting the hooks out) I will put it in the net and dunk it in the water for a bit before trying again (today I had to cut the back treble off of a lure because it was in the jaw bone of the fish and I didn't want to break the fishes jaw trying to get it out) - I keep pike in the net and just get the hooks out and dump them back in the water

 

 

Weekend was hot and hazy. Wife and I did ok 2 different lakes. All in the slop using Texas rigs with craw or swim baits. For some reason assuming all the rain have not had a good Ned bite or weedline bite. NICE fish pics on here.

I went up to NW Wisconsin to check some spots out and do an overnight on the river.  Nice days, didn't catch much but had the craziest moment of my fishing career on Sunday while floating back downstream to the ramp..

 

I was coming up on what looked like a decent hole to anchor upstream of and swing a few flies through.  I did just that, and in the middle of a retrieve heard a few paddlers behind me.  I paused with the fly about halfway back to the kayak, turned around to see 2 canoes upstream and then felt a <thunk> on the line.  Seems the pause triggered a little 14-15" smallie to hit.  Got him up to the side of the kayak and then *wham* a silver torpedo broadsides it from upstream.

 

All of the sudden I'm fighting a high 30" to low 40" musky.. on a 7wt glass fly rod with a 12lb fluoro tippet.  I really didn't want to break it off, mainly because I didn't want this fish to ingest the fly along with the smallie.  But I couldn't budge this fish, he was sitting right beside the kayak probably really confused why this smallmouth was trying to pull him towards the surface.  

 

Suddenly the smallie broke free of those teeth, and I tried to get him up to the surface and in my net.  Mr. Ski did not agree with that, and proceeded to launch himself and the smallmouth out of the water while grabbing hold of that poor bass again.  After those acrobatics he decided to head downstream and there wasn't much I could do to stop him.  That rod was doubled over, and with the drag being set pretty light I had to palm the reel to slow it down.  The fish ended up probably 10-15 yards downstream and, again, just sat there.  I held on for dear life, and eventually the smallie came free.  I reeled in as fast as I could, skipping that bass across the surface with the musky charging behind.  This thing was aggressive!  I got the smallie in the net, beat up but still alive.  Removed the hook, snapped a quick pic and released...

 

And then I saw a flash of silver.  Not sure if that musky left with a full belly, but I switched to my casting rod and hucked a glide bait around for a while with no success.  One of the few times I really wish I had my go-pro with me.  

 

 

@Standard = wow ! that is an adventure !! Whew, that smallie was having a bad day - but you did your best to help it !

Speaking of things that are a first time experienced -- Today I looked at the weather reports and it looked like rain/storms for part of the day - then a 4 to 5 hour break - then storms again - so I figured I would go out during the window of time the weather report said 8% chance of precip/storms (and the radar indicated an open area with storms going well south of us) - I dunk the boat in, get to a spot, get everything ready, load up the rod to cast and BOOM ! BOOM ! - big thunder - the lure was in the air - the lure landed in the water and bang, fish on - and I see 6 boats running hard across the lake to get to the dock - so I reeled the fish in, did a quick measure (17 inch LMB) and put him back in the water - then BOOM ! again more thunder - so I fired up the engine and joined the line at the dock to get out before the storms hit - I think it was a sign from above --- you get your one fish, now go and get off the lake - literally - 1 cast (and it seemed that immediately when the lure hit the water the fish grabbed it) 1 fish and off the water - crazy (but a good decision to get off as strong storms have rolled in)

The weed line bite is still going but the numbers weren’t quite as good as in recent memory. Quality is still very good though. I caught my second 20 inch largie of the season. It weighed over 5 pounds. All 15 of the bass were caught on various plastics. Water temp was 76 degrees.

 

This pattern has been going for about a month now and has produced both quantity and quality for this guy each time.

 

 

@gim

- Nice fish ! My PB's are LMB 18.5, SMB 18 --- my next goal is to catch one (or more !) in the 19 plus class (and ideally 5lb +) like you have --- not sure how many LMB/SMB of that size class are cruising around in my local waters (Alexandria/Glenwood area) so I might have to travel a bit to find them --- I am only in my third season of fishing and am learning by the minute --- I need to increase my ability/confidence/knowledge to the point where I can catch fish like that --- I have been catching a fair number of 15/16 inch LMB and recently caught two 17 inch SMB (on small plastics/bug type baits) --- In my first year I caught about 30 fish total, last year about 65, this year I am over 100 total --- so I am figuring a few things out (and learning from people like you and others in the Bass Resource community) --- I will look to focus on the weed lines and deeper on my next trip out (looks like lots of thunder storms this week so I don't know when I will get out next) 

4 minutes ago, WaskaCrank12 said:

looks like lots of thunder storms this week so I don't know when I will get out next

 

Yes, it does look like an active week here.  Safety is priority number one.

On 7/12/2025 at 2:44 PM, gim said:

I had my best largemouth outing of the season this morning.  Started around 7am and quit at 11am.  I caught 23 largemouth and 2 pike.  17 of the bass were at least 15+ inches.  At one point I caught 7 in 7 casts.  I had a bunch jump off too.

 

These fish are looking very healthy and gaining weight rapidly after the spawn.  I weighed the pair of 19 inchers and they were both over 4 pounds.

 

 

That's one heck of a morning, especially in the Midwest.

 

It was high wind here yesterday (Monday) - big lake had white caps - so I went over to the closest smaller lake that has some shelter from southern winds - water temp was about 74 - lots of thick vegetation which made some parts of the lake inaccessible - caught a few 12 to 14 inch LMB in open water areas (12/15 feet) - then nothing for a long time - I saw a blow up near a tall weed line so I cast in that direction - caught a 16" LMB --- cast again caught a 15" LMB --- then 2 casts later caught an 18" LMB --- all within about a 10 yard, 2/3 foot deep area --- then nothing for the rest of the time I was out --- all three were healthy and strong fighters, the 18" was husky (I will try and post a pick, I have to find out @gim secret to getting his bass to be still on the measuring board for his pictures --- these fish, specifically the 18" were going bonkers jumping/jiving/fighting, so I had to keep one hand on them to try and take the pics, otherwise they were going nuts trying to get back in the water !)   

24 minutes ago, WaskaCrank12 said:

I have to find out @gim secret to getting his bass to be still on the measuring board for his pictures

 

It can be tough.  A specific board like a hawg trough helps because its concave and the fish tends to lay in there nicely.  I selected a white one with black numbers for contrast - it's very obvious how big the fish is.  I'm in a work fishing contest every year and we are required to submit a length photo for evidence.  Works great for fish like crappies and bass.

 

The real challenge occurs on a bigger fish like a sizable northern pike or a muskie.  I have a folding rapala board to 60 inches I use for that, but they don't lay in there like the bass do on my smaller white/black board.  The sheer size of the fish is what makes it difficult.

On 7/22/2025 at 10:32 AM, gim said:

 

It can be tough.  A specific board like a hawg trough helps because its concave and the fish tends to lay in there nicely.  I selected a white one with black numbers for contrast - it's very obvious how big the fish is.  I'm in a work fishing contest every year and we are required to submit a length photo for evidence.  Works great for fish like crappies and bass.

 

The real challenge occurs on a bigger fish like a sizable northern pike or a muskie.  I have a folding rapala board to 60 inches I use for that, but they don't lay in there like the bass do on my smaller white/black board.  The sheer size of the fish is what makes it difficult.

One like this works well:  https://muskyfool.com/products/60-fat-boy-muskie-bumper?_pos=5&_sid=1d84b843a&_ss=r

 

...but I use this: https://www.muskyshop.com/collections/tools/products/tools-measuring-60-floating-musky-measure

 

...because I don't care if I'm off a little.

21 hours ago, Further North said:

One like this works well:  https://muskyfool.com/products/60-fat-boy-muskie-bumper?_pos=5&_sid=1d84b843a&_ss=r

 

I've considered that one.

 

It takes up a lot of space though, and I don't really have a place to store it when not in use.

 

This is the one I use.  It folds up nicely and I can store it in a compartment.

 

https://www.rapala.com/us_en/60-magnum-folding-ruler?srsltid=AfmBOorjz1TL7AyTaPrbjqklW5BvtYliqJU7Tp1jpvUa9ka9mMolcgbU

I have a board like this 32" Limited Edition FISHOPS Ketch X Board Bundle - it is nice - yet when the fish are flapping/flopping/jumping/wiggling/generally going nuts - I have found it hard to get the best pics (not that nice pics are needed) - @gim fish seem calm and posing for pics on his measuring board

I splash water on the board before putting the fish on it (I just have an old Gatorade bottle filled with water right next to the measuring board) to cool it and help the fish - but often they still go nuts trying to get out of the boat - maybe I need to tire them out a bit more before getting them in the boat ! 

On 7/20/2025 at 2:55 PM, gim said:

The weed line bite is still going but the numbers weren’t quite as good as in recent memory. Quality is still very good though. I caught my second 20 inch largie of the season. It weighed over 5 pounds. All 15 of the bass were caught on various plastics. Water temp was 76 degrees.

 

This pattern has been going for about a month now and has produced both quantity and quality for this guy each time.

 

 

 

Way to fish, Gim!

3 hours ago, gim said:

I've considered that one.

 

It takes up a lot of space though, and I don't really have a place to store it when not in use.

Yep.  It'd be in the way in either of my boats too - mine (I won it at the Treelands Musky Fly Tournament) stays in my garage.  I'll give it away at some point...

 

 

3 hours ago, gim said:

This is the one I use.  It folds up nicely and I can store it in a compartment.

 

https://www.rapala.com/us_en/60-magnum-folding-ruler?srsltid=AfmBOorjz1TL7AyTaPrbjqklW5BvtYliqJU7Tp1jpvUa9ka9mMolcgbU

I wound up with three of those somehow.  I gave two to one friend, one to another, after I got the floating measuring stick from The Musky Shop.  I like it because it fits anywhere and I can drop it in the water alongside a fish to get a close measurement if I want.