It has been a windy year on the coast of Maine and whereas I can catch fish on a windy day, I spend less time fishing and more time paddling to correct my boat's position. The forecast for this morning was 0 mph for the first two hours and low single digits for the next two hours, so I launched expecting to catch a lot of bass and I did, landing 43 in four hours. I also hooked and lost two on a buzzbait, but a T-rigged blue craw was my workhorse and I caught fish deep, casting at cover, and in the shallow swampy parts of my pond. I had such fun and enjoyed the singing loons and the wheeling ospreys. It was 46 degrees when I launched and today's high will only be 56 degrees.

I rarely recommend lures simply because I don't know lures like you guys do, but if you haven't tried a Zoom Z Craw, it's a winner. I'm been using craws like Yamamoto and Crush City's, which came in stiff, expensive packaging, and they're good lures, but the Zoom Z Craw is cheaper and I don't have to fiddle with the extra packaging. Best of all, it's sturdy and the bass really like it.

Some of my morning's bass:

This one might be the longest. She was caught in about a foot of water. They haven't spawned yet, so what was she doing so shallow?

I've caught 408 bass in 2026.

If you keep posting, one day you’re going to be surrounded by a horde of out-of-staters looking for your canoe lol.

I really like Strike King Rage Craws, but yeah, a bag of baits is easier and takes up less space than the clamshell packaging.

13 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

If you keep posting, one day you’re going to be surrounded by a horde of out-of-staters looking for your canoe lol.

Brian, I fish two ponds now, my pond and my pal's pond. Last fall, I was talking to a guy who has a house on my pal's pond and he said he'd caught three bass all summer, my point being that you can fish a bassy body of water and still not catch bass.

To point, I expected to catch bass on my pond's south shore this morning, but they weren't there. And they weren't in the river. And they weren't in the back of the bay. I found some in the middle and most on the northwest shore, but only because I kept looking. Fishing is a game of hide and seek.

It’s funny you mention the Zoom Z Craw’s. I just bought some along with the Jr’s. Also got some Zoom Split Tail Trailer‘s and some Zoom Ol' Monster Worm - 10-1/2''.

Going to use with spinnerbaits, chatter baits and swim jigs. Going to T-RIG the Ol Monsters along with the Z Craws as well

I’m excited to try my new Owner Weighted Beast with TwistLOCK Hooks - 4/0 - 1/8 oz. for my Megabass Magdraft Freestyle Swimbait - Ghost Shad Solid - 5".

My plan for this year is going to be fishing for weight. I want some biguns, don’t care about length. I want some 5 lb plus.

Someone in our Bass Resource family, sorry can’t remember who(might have been multiple people actually), said that if you want bigger fish, you need some bigger baits. I’m going to be limited on how much bigger I can go because of my rod weight limits(3/4oz max) but I will try some.

@Swamp Girl you and I will continue with some of the same stuff. Under-spin jigs and now the plastics. I also see in your picture that you are representing St Croix rods with your BASSX. I’m proud of you. 😉 St Croix is having a CAD(Customer Appreciation Day) on June 20th I believe. I was thinking about driving up to it, not sure yet. They will have free food(Johnsonville brats will be representing at this event). I wanted to get some merchandise.

Hope that doesn’t sound silly but I like to be a brand ambassador when it comes to certain products. For me, I love St Croix rods.

@Swamp Girl Fishing is a game of hide and seek.

Love this game and I want to win!! 🏆

51 minutes ago, FLYING HIGH said:

I want some biguns, don’t care about length. I want some 5 lb plus.

I caught a six, a five, and three fours about a week ago in an hour and a half at a spot where I'd never caught a big bass and I returned to that spot two times since and didn't even see a single, big bass. Bass are forever on the move. Good luck in your game of hide and seek!

Great report! The Zoom Z-craw is my wobblehead goto! I have one rigged up year round!

Great minds thinking alike

@Swamp Girl " I rarely recommend lures simply because I don't know lures like you guys do, but if you haven't tried a Zoom Z Craw, it's a winner."

I second that Katie. Trig, bladed jig and swim jig trailer, and jig trailer. I got all 3 sizes. Cheap and effective!

On 5/24/2026 at 9:34 AM, BrianMDTX said:

If you keep posting, one day you’re going to be surrounded by a horde of out-of-staters looking for your canoe lol.

I really like Strike King Rage Craws, but yeah, a bag of baits is easier and takes up less space than the clamshell packaging.

She's already got an out-of-stater that will be surrounding her canoe Sunday! And I know where it is!

Wow, 43 bass. Thanks for the report. I caught 10 a couple week ago and thought I was doing great.

8 minutes ago, Alex from GA said:

Wow, 43 bass. Thanks for the report. I caught 10 a couple week ago and thought I was doing great.

Apples and oranges, Alex. NLMB are more aggressive than Florida bass.

On 5/26/2026 at 10:39 AM, Alex from GA said:

Wow, 43 bass. Thanks for the report. I caught 10 a couple week ago and thought I was doing great.

10 is great for mere mortals Alex. Swampy is from a galaxy far away! 👽 She's working on 500 for the year so far. I'm working on five, but I'm not jealous........😞 Honest I'm not.....🤢

8 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

10 is great for mere mortals Alex. Swampy is from a galaxy far away! 👽 She's working on 500 for the year so far. I'm working on five, but I'm not jealous........😞 Honest I'm not.....🤢

I'll soon have your back, Bob. Literally your back, as you'll be in the bow and I'll point you at bass. Monday and Tuesday mornings should be calm, but I've got some touristy stuff and good grub planned too.

On 5/24/2026 at 9:25 AM, Swamp Girl said:

This one might be the longest. She was caught in about a foot of water. They haven't spawned yet, so what was she doing so shallow?

I know I know! Swimming and eating

Nice fish, report, and pictures as always

Bought my first pack of Z Craw color 420 California on impulse, probably about 10 years ago. I now have a full box of Z Craws and Z Craw Jr.; I also have accumulated a box of Ultravibe Speed Craws and the Magnum size. Bass Resource should buy stock in ZOOM.