I had a great setup. A key to a gate on a privately owned reservoir full of bass up to 8 lbs. range. Then the owner sold and moved to be near their children and grandchildren. So that was the end of that. The biggest bass I caught for 2 years was about 3 lbs. Then I searched the county tax map and discovered that I know two other landowners on the lake-it's a very small town. I got in touch with one through social media and she said "Sure" and brought me a key to her gate!

 

The road going in is clay and kind of rough and no one has used it in a while. It's a chore to get in and out, but worthwhile. The place has changed a bit in a couple of years. There's a guy with Air BnB cabins and campsites who has cleared out all the bass cover on his shoreline. I caught maybe 12 on my first visit back and missed at least 5 bites. On the second trip I took my buddy and we got a couple of hawgs. It was overcast with threat of showers, perfect topwater conditions. We caught a total of probably 15 bass and a crappie (on the CC Spot). Most bass came on the 110 size Whopper Plopper. I got my big bass on a T rigged black/blue Yum Dinger, just pitching it to wood. She wrapped around a log on the bottom and I had to just keep pressure on let her work herself free. She finally did and after a very good fight I grabbed her. The superline EWG hook just fell out. It weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. Definitely in my top 5 or 6 bass. A bonus: my buddy caught a 7-12 on the Whopper Plopper right at the end of the trip. It was a monster blowup. I got video of him landing his big bass, but the file is too large to attach here.

 

A total success in terms of numbers and size. Of course, I'm already scheming my next visit. 

Very nice!

@the reel ess  Great story and beautiful bass!

Now that's a pond...and a couple beautiful bass!

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Now that's a pond...and a couple beautiful bass!

It's about 30 acres and is the backup drinking water reservoir for our town. So it's clean. It also has bluegill, shellcrackers (redear), crappie and catfish. I caught a crappie last night.

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

It's about 30 acres and is the backup drinking water reservoir for our town. So it's clean. It also has bluegill, shellcrackers (redear), crappie and catfish. I caught a crappie last night.

 

Can you upload your buddy's bass to YouTube and link to it? I'd love to see that blow-up!

Right on! That's my kind of place.

15 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Can you upload your buddy's bass to YouTube and link to it? I'd love to see that blow-up!

I only got him fighting and landing it. When I saw it was big I tried to quickly get cell video of it. Characteristically for me, I fumbled a few seconds.

9 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I only got him fighting and landing it. When I saw it was big I tried to quickly get cell video of it. Characteristically for me, I fumbled a few seconds.

 

Ahh, thanks. You know I was hoping for video of the blow-up. I love watching big bass crush surface lures. It sounds like a bowling ball dropped in the water. 

 

Again, those are two, great bass and congrats again!

Awesome fish!!

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Ahh, thanks. You know I was hoping for video of the blow-up. I love watching big bass crush surface lures. It sounds like a bowling ball dropped in the water. 

 

Again, those are two, great bass and congrats again!

So do I! Sometimes I'll just watch blowups on YouTube when I can't get out. I'm a topwater fiend. There's no better way to get a bass bite IMO. And they were really on the Plopper bite Sunday.

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

Sometimes I'll just watch blowups on YouTube when I can't get out.

 

Me too.

 

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

I'll just watch blowups on YouTube when I can't get out. I'm a topwater fiend.

 

Me too again.

 

I had a 70-bass on a popper morning last fall. 

 

And a lot of my biggest bag ever was on the surface, also last fall:

 

 

Both trips were at the bog I fished yesterday morning. It can be an easy bog to fish and it an be a hard bog to fish. Yesterday morning, I chatted with three other boats and they'd caught one bass between them. I only caught seven, but one of them was this:

 

 

She was only 19", but with that belly, I'm guessing she topped five pounds. I know it doesn't look like a bog in the photo above, but in two weeks, all that open water will be weeds. 

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Me too.

 

 

Me too again.

 

I had a 70-bass on a popper morning last fall. 

 

And a lot of my biggest bag ever was on the surface, also last fall:

 

 

Both trips were at the bog I fished yesterday morning. It can be an easy bog to fish and it an be a hard bog to fish. Yesterday morning, I chatted with three other boats and they'd caught one bass between them. I only caught seven, but one of them was this:

 

 

She was only 19", but with that belly, I'm guessing she topped five pounds. I know it doesn't look like a bog in the photo above, but in two weeks, all that open water will be weeds. 

I'll never complain about "only" catching 7. Honestly, it only takes one good fish to make my day. I was looking back through my fishing log to try to see where this bass ranks in my all time. I saw the biggest topwater fish ever for me was 7.93

 lbs. on a Plopper. Later that same day I returned to the same spot and caught one over 5 lbs. 

12 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I'll never complain about "only" catching 7.

 

Well, you know I'm spoiled and have been most of my life. I've fished fertile water in many places. Plus, I have a knack for catching fish. Not everyone has it. You can watch shows and read articles and still not have it. I have good hunches, partly from decades of catching thousands of fish and partly from my wiring. 

13 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Well, you know I'm spoiled and have been most of my life. I've fished fertile water in many places. Plus, I have a knack for catching fish. Not everyone has it. You can watch shows and read articles and still not have it. I have good hunches, partly from decades of catching thousands of fish and partly from my wiring. 

I fish places that are easier and places that are harder. Most local smaller public waters are badly pressured. Usually numbers and size don't come in the same day at this place. I've had days where all I caught was one good bass. On my birthday one year I caught two over 6 lbs and that was all. Who can complain about that? This place doesn't always give up numbers. But it has the potential to make my day every day. I'm 54 now. It's more about the quantity than the quality. Until I can't buy a bite in the summer. Then I start downsizing to just catch something, anything. 🤣

34 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

It's more about the quantity than the quality.

 

I think most Bass Resourcers feel that way. I'm the oddball as I enjoy them all. 

 

35 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

On my birthday one year I caught two over 6 lbs and that was all. Who can complain about that?

 

Not me! I've only done that once in life, i.e. two six-pounders on the same day.

On 5/26/2025 at 9:47 AM, the reel ess said:

 I got in touch with one through social media and she said "Sure" and brought me a key to her gate!

 

 

If I were you, I would let her know how much fun you had plus a million thanks.

 

That and ask her if there's things you can do to help her.

 

30 acre private pond?

 

Jeepers creepers that's a score!

19 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

If I were you, I would let her know how much fun you had plus a million thanks.

 

That and ask her if there's things you can do to help her.

 

30 acre private pond?

 

Jeepers creepers that's a score!

I gave her the fishing report. I definitely owe her a few favors.

 

It was flooded way back in the 60's I believe by the Army Corps of Engineers to be one of two town water reservoirs. There are a total of 9 landowners surrounding it. It's big enough to be like a lake with various patterns working, but small enough that you know you dragged your lure by some fish. It's a special place. I missed it like a dear friend the couple of years I couldn't go.

Great looking bass!

31 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

That and ask her if there's things you can do to help her.

 

I have two landowners that let me cross their property to reach water. I show them my gratitude in various ways: cookies, cashews, wine, fudge, etc.

 

One of the men whom I've given permission to use my land was there last night when I fished. He offered to use his leafblower to keep my path clear of leaves. I declined because I'm not fancy, but I did remind him to that I'd love a tent platform. He said he'd be building me one (He's a carpenter.). So, give thanks in whatever way works for you.

Best take that lady some peach cobbler or pie. 

I remember your post when you lost access. I was feeling for you big time.