I hit the Columbia for a solo trip on Saturday the 11th. The wind forecast for Saturday was worse than Sunday but there was supposed to be a longer period of cloud cover in the morning. I figured it was worth the extra effort of fishing in the 20-24mph wind to have a better chance at a big bass.

Even though I got to the water well before daybreak, the wind was already blowing pretty good. I was expecting that though so I was ready for those conditions. I started the day throwing topwater but could not generate a sniff. So I quickly switched over to the S-waver because it has been doing a great job lately. Within a few casts I had a good-sized bass hit it right at the kayak but the hooks did not catch.

A few casts later I caught my first bass of the day, just a little guy but its always good to get the skunk off quickly! I fished the S-waver for a while and had a lot of follows that just would not commit. It was frustrating to see a decent sized bass right behind it at the kayak and then either swim away or take a half-hearted swipe at it. After a bit I put down the S-waver for a bit and picked up the Vision 110 +1.  That produced a couple more small fish. I thought that maybe the big fish were just out deeper so I picked up my wobblehead.

That produced a better fish (2+lbs) but I could not get a second bite. I then fished my way up to a little island without getting another bite on anything I was throwing. I decided to pick the S-waver back up and quickly caught a 2 and quarter pounder but could not get a second bite.

I was feeling a bit frustrated at this. I thought I would be catching a ton with some giants mixed in but that was not the case up to that point. After flailing around with the S-waver for a bit I picked up the 110 +1 again. I am not sure if the bite just turned on or if that was just suddenly the right bait but on my second cast I caught a beautiful 20.5" 3lb 12oz bass. Still pretty skinny from the spawn but a good fish.

On the next cast, lightning struck again. This time it was a 19" 3lb bass.

As I fished my way further upstream I mostly kept that 110 +1 in my hand. I occasionally would hit a shallower spot with the S-waver but that 110 +1 was getting it done! I caught nice fish here and there mixed in with my fair share of dinks. All the bass wanted that 110 +1.

The bass were being super aggressive. I made one cast and as my jerkbait tumbled in the wind the line caught in the trebles. As I quickly reeled it spinning across the surface a bass came up and smashed it. I jerked it out of the mouth of that fish and flew through the air about 5'. As it landed another bass smashed it and I ended up landing that one. I love when they are just being greedy like that!!

After getting reasonably far upstream the sun came out and the wind picked up a bit more. I decided to head back downstream past the launch and fish that water so that I would have the wind assist on the way home. That's always nice at the end of a long day.

As I made my way downstream I came to the little island where I had caught the 20.5" and 19" (and a handful of other decent fish). I decided it was worth a cast or two. On about my 3rd cast I felt a bass smash that jerkbait. This time it was an 18.5" 2lb 15oz bass. That spot was pretty amazing!!

As the day progressed I mostly fished the 110 +1 jerkbait and they kept biting it. I did briefly throw a 4" paddle tail swim bait and (MinnowZ) caught some fish on that including an 18.5" 3lb 3oz beauty. The cool thing about that fish is that a couple of casts earlier I caught a small bass and as I was reeling it in I saw a good-sized bass try to grab the swimbait hanging out of its mouth. I am pretty sure that was the 18.5"er I caught.

Later in the day I did have a stretch of bad luck just to remind me that even the best days have their moments. I made a cast with the jerkbait and hooked a good-sized bass. I had it most of the way to the kayak when the lure came flying out and went about 15' in the air. When it landed I saw 2 bass come up and smash it. I hooked one of them and then lost that one at the kayak.

I quickly cast back out and hooked a big one! I had this one about 1/2 way back when it came up and made a big jump and tossed that jerkbait back to me. So I lost 3 bass on two casts. Two of them were pretty big but the third one was in the giant territory.

I could not complain too much since I had done well landing the big girls up to that point. It was an awesome day of fishing until tragedy struck right at the end of the day. I snagged up my 110 +1. I think it was in some old gill netting or something in a rock pile. I spent a good 1/2 hour trying to free that thing and broke my telescoping lure retriever in the process. It was just impossible in the current, waves and wind to get that lure back.

I felt pretty sad losing that magic bait. I think the river gods thought I was having too much of an advantage over the bass and decided to take that lure away. I have to say that I did order another in that color while still out on the river.

After that I headed back to the ramp I stopped and fished a couple of spots and picked up a few more bass including a pretty decent one to end the day.

Overall, even with the loss of that lure, it was a pretty awesome day. I ended up with 41 bass with the best 5 going 15lb 7oz and 94.25" (20.5, 19, 18.5, 18.5, 17.75). I probably caught about 25 of the bass on that 110 +1, maybe 10 on the swim bait a handful on the S-waver and one on a drop shot.

So when do the big bass bite?  The answer my friend is blowing in the wind!

Here a are a couple more pics and the video.

After decades of chasing them, the pictures tell the story. In the majority of my big fish pics, it's either dark or I'm bundled up for the cold.

1 hour ago, T-Billy said:

After decades of chasing them, the pictures tell the story. In the majority of my big fish pics, it's either dark or I'm bundled up for the cold.

I do like it when we get the morning clouds for a few hours. I picked Saturday over Sunday because the morning clouds were supposed to last longer.

I know I look bundled up but the morning temp was 65 and the high was near 80. That 25mph wind blowing across the 67 degree water makes those air temps feel pretty chilly.

I am amazed that you launch AND catch bass in a 25 mph wind. So impressive. And your bag is impressive too. Lastly, I love your trip report title. You concoct the best titles at Bass Resource.