Tied my PB with this 12lb 8oz giant!  A fight I won't soon forget...

 

I've been focused on trophy hunting and the big bait game for over 10 years now.  This fish represents countless hours on the road and water!

 

She was a perfect specimen.  Healthy, fat and not a blemish on her.  A custom F5 swimbait rod paired with a Conquest 400MD spooled with 25lb InvizX brought her to the net.  I'm not disclosing exact bait or location at this time.  Unfortunately I've been burnt in the past and I'm not repeating that mistake.

 

God is GOOD! ☝🏻🙏🏻

 

12lb 8oz | 26¼" × 21"

Wow!  Congratulations!

Wow, what an oinker. Congratulations!

Way to go Ranger!

     Gorgeous Fish!!! Absolutely beautiful BASS! 

Fishingmickey

Holy Cow. What a beast. Congrats 

Beautiful beast, congrats!

 

scott

That is one nice fish

What a great start to the year!  Well done! 🔥 🔥 🔥 

Outstanding! She's beautiful. 

You're kinda slackin' bro.  Took you 6 weeks or a calendar year between PB's.  I mean congrats, I guess.  Not jealous of your 1 gizzard shy of a 'teener; at all.  Nope, not at all.  Or even a trip up north to land a giant smallie.  I prefer work and frozen lids on the water to whatever you're doing.  Whatever.

 

scott

GREAT CATCH RANGER!!

 

Beautiful fish congrats.

That bass is huge, congrats!

Boom! Congrats

What a beautiful BEAST!!! Congrats on your hard earned catch!!!

Hawg!!!

Congrats on the bass and I encourage you again to celebrate your fellow bassheads as we celebrate your big bass. 

Mercy !

Great fish 👍

Absolute beast!!

That supports the success of FFS trophy hunting. Congratulations.

that's a chunk.  Almost 'square' by the measurements.

 

is it a KY fish (guessing from your profile data)?  if so, that's an 85+ on the state by state thread...  Just sayin...

That's fantastic!

 

But I have to ask - how many times did you weight it looking for that one more ounce?

18 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

that's a chunk.  Almost 'square' by the measurements.

 

is it a KY fish (guessing from your profile data)?  if so, that's an 85+ on the state by state thread...  Just sayin...

Thanks.  No, not a KY fish.

7 hours ago, Kayak Koz said:

That's fantastic!

 

But I have to ask - how many times did you weight it looking for that one more ounce?

Ha!  A few times...

Nice fish. While I understand not sharing location or specific bait based on people's bad behavior in the past, you've clearly learned a lot about fishing big baits for big fish. I think a lot of us (certainly me) would love to hear about what you've learned about the approach along the way. 

7 hours ago, txchaser said:

Nice fish. While I understand not sharing location or specific bait based on people's bad behavior in the past, you've clearly learned a lot about fishing big baits for big fish. I think a lot of us (certainly me) would love to hear about what you've learned about the approach along the way. 

 

Persistence, preparation and timing are probably the biggest take aways I have over the years.  Continuing to grind when your mind is telling you to quit (I've been to the point mentally many times where I'm about to pull the plug and put it on the trailer and that's the exact moment I'll get bit!).  Making sure your gear is 100%, net at the ready and re-tying baits often throughout the day (I've learned this one the hard way by casting off expensive baits).  Hitting prime structure and/or cover multiple times.  Catching the big ones "slipping" during a feeding frenzy.  Having the mindset of quality over quantity..... I'd much rather catch one giant than the 100 dinks "MLF style" by beating the banks with a bladed jig or shaking a minnow.

 

In a nutshell those are some things I've done/noticed over the years.  Nothing new...  No secret bait, no private waters, no live bait, no guides, just putting the time in on the water.  Also, putting forth the effort needed along with some old fashioned grit and determination.

 

Last, but definitely not least is once the giants hit the net, giving thanks to God for the bite and opportunity to enjoy His creation!!!