So here we are a few days in to April already.

And while there have been some notable catches so far (none by me sadly),

I have a feeling there's quite a bit more to come.

As the northern part of the nation begins to defrost and change from the hard to the soft water I prefer,

the brown bass action should pick up dramatically.

Best of luck to the people.

A-Jay

Going to be hard to beat @Bluebasser86 ’s spot, what was the winning number last year ?

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Going to be hard to beat @Bluebasser86 ’s spot, what was the winning number last year ?

Last year's results -

Just let me know if there's anything else I can do for you sir.

😁

A-Jay

On 4/5/2026 at 8:47 AM, A-Jay said:

So here we are a few days in to April already.

And while there have been some notable catches so far (none by me sadly),

I have a feeling there's quite a bit more to come.

As the northern part of the nation begins to defrost and change from the hard to the soft water I prefer,

the brown bass action should pick up dramatically.

Best of luck to the people.

A-Jay

It was 81 here yesterday. Spent 4 hours on the water. Biggest only went 4.6lbs. Quite the dink fest otherwise. I'll submit something when it is actually worth while.

22 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Last year's results -

Just let me know if there's anything else I can do for you sir.

😁

A-Jay

Your reply reminded me of this…… 😂

“Anything else I can do for ya Eddie? Maybe refill your eggnog? Take you out into the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead” -Clark W Griswold

But thanks anyway, definitely reaffirmed that Clayton has posted a tough score to beat

Well, I’m going to just squeak past @Pat Brown ’s fish. I had a morning to forget so when i got home and fixed the things that broke, I had to go test them. I went to the closest lake around which has some good fish in it, but is hard to fish because it grasses up from about now until ice in. The grass was nearly topped out in anything less than 3’ (and the deepest spot on the lake is 4.5’) so this is probably the last time I fish it this year. That said, it was the first 60 degree water I’ve seen this year so I glued the bladed jig rod to my hands and just started casting. At one point the blade stopped so I swung and thought I was snagged because nothing moved. Then the fish realized what was going on. After it rolled the first time I knew it was a good one and the second time I saw it I thought for sure I had my first Jersey 5#er. After I slipped the net under it and got it in the boat I was certain it was. The scale doesn’t lie though and she came in at a skinny 4-08. She had the head of a 6# fish and a mouth like a 5 gallon bucket. Nearly 21”. But she had no belly to her.

4.5# / 10.875# = 41.38%

Sea cucumber. Just don’t do it. I was at a work dinner in northern china so I had to try it. Just. Don’t.

@Joedodge heres the thread! First page has the formula for calculating your “score”. 😎😎😎

Here's my IL submission....

5.25 / 7.19 * 100 = 73.02

Lucky no one in my state certifies their big catches.

scott

@softwateronly you are making it tough for the rest of us brown bass zealots.

@Dwight Hottle I'm taking advantage of what I'm positive is an artificial state record. . There's no way people haven't caught bigger than 7lb 3 ounce out of this giant goby infested lake.

scott

I guess I'll get in on the largemouth side before it gets too far up there.

5.97/11.88x100=50.25

@Bluebasser86 - I knew when I saw you had posted here in the forums list that I was done for. What's crazy is that your fish and mine were basically the same length. I imagine the same size head on both as well. I so wish mine had been full up of bluegills and eggs.

Mine wasn't nearly as fat as the other fish I was catching. I'm pretty sure a lot of the bites I was getting was bedding fish that I couldn't see, and I'm guessing that one had already dropped her eggs. The other fish I was catching were crazy thick. I would have thought a fish that length would have been close to 7 from that lake.

The smaller fish were hanging off both sides of the board.

21 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Here's my IL submission....

5.25 / 7.19 * 100 = 73.02

Lucky no one in my state certifies their big catches.

scott

Good fish mk

21 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Here's my IL submission....

5.25 / 7.19 * 100 = 73.02

Lucky no one in my state certifies their big catches.

scott

Nice fish, I actually held the state record. Was weighed at our shop. They need to revoke the 15lb largemouth and start fresh...

14 hours ago, softwateronly said:

'm taking advantage of what I'm positive is an artificial state record. . There's no way people haven't caught bigger than 7lb 3 ounce out of this giant goby infested lake.

The state record here is only 8.0 pounds too which keeps me in the game.

And its a sketchy 8 pounds at that

Hold on to your hats ~

@Dwight Hottle is only a few days away from dropping some Brown Bass A-bombs on our collective heads.

Might not be pretty, especially if the weather holds out.

Good Luck Sir . . .

A-Jay

@A-Jay thanks for the motivation. I’m more excited to get up there than I have ever been. It will be a little nippy the forecast for Monday is high of 36 & low of 31. Stay tuned.

First trip today and I'm already dropping one here.

First fish of the year too.

A 5.73 lb corker.

5.73 / 9.98 gets me at 57.4

I not unhappy with that, especially as my first submission.

But I think I can improve.

That feels much better.

A-Jay

@A-Jay Doesn't count. No entry fee paid.

On 12/31/2025 at 7:14 AM, A-Jay said:

Now for the one time Entry Fee –

At the beginning of your first post/entry,

you must name the one food you’d never eat Again  (even ay gun point).

@Rockhopper here it is ^

6 minutes ago, gim said:

@Rockhopper here it is ^

I thought I already mentioned it -

It's scrapple—what is that, Chit?

My dogs won't eat it.

A-Jay

7 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I thought I already mentioned it -

It's scrapple—what is that, Chit?

My dogs won't eat it.

A-Jay

21 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

Geez.

The oversight committee here is pretty tough.

A-Jay

Well when the boss makes his first entry it’s hard to dispute it. Besides he did comply regarding his next entry. This contest isn’t over until the fat lady sings.

I mean, if you throw out that one, he’s just going to come back with a bigger one. So let’s be gracious, suck it up, and let him have it.

A-Jay- I’m predicting you to top out at 66% on smallies this year. That’s a 6.62. Well within the upper max of your annual catch rates. And I’m predicting Dwight to top you. The 8.5# denominator for a PA smallie means that a 5.6# fish will get you. I’m pretty confident Dwight can manage that a couple times over this year.

Then again by that logic, a 4.70 (4-11) here in NJ might get ME there. I’m rigged and ready for tomorrow…