I fished my pond this morning from five to eight, catching 26, which brings my 2026 total to 1,295. My July goal has been to reach 1,300 by the end of the month, so I'll make that.

All but one bass were caught on a wacky worm hooked on a jig. My Senkos were green pumpkin and junebug, all with chartreuse tips. A bass broke one of my jigs, so it's not only my Gamakmatsu EWG hooks that break. This jig:

I only fished curly-leaved Pond Weed and I found the bass more on the edges than deep in the weed beds. As always, I caught a lot of 17 to 18+-inch bass. I feel dialed into the bass at my pond. As I've shared in other threads, July is my toughest month, but catching so many fine fish in three hours is maple syrup sweet. Here are some of them:

I think the reason my hooks snap is simply the stress of so many strong fish pulling. I've been replacing my EWGs after a week of use and I think I'll start doing the same with my jigs.

Here's my last bass. I told myself I'd catch one more and put it on the board:

Here's a pretty pic for @pdxfisher!

#Bagstrulyaremybag

Looks like your left thumb really appreciates the tough gloves. Won't be long till you'll need another pair. I know gloves are on my Maine ck list for next year!

2 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

I know gloves are on my Maine ck list for next year!

Smart. You might remember that I only wear one, leaving my other hand free for fine motor tasks. Bob, I was thinking about you this morning as I fished. You remember how we pounded shorelines, the little rivers, and the rocky flats. If we did that now, we'd only catch bitsy bass. The bigger bass are off-shore.

Katie, nice catches. You are killing it this year (like always). I’m only up to 169 bass catches total for this year. 🤣 Hoping I can reach 300.

Hate you’re still dealing with the broken hooks. I love Gamakatsu but would have the occasional bent points or broken hooks myself. I saw somebody suggested in your other thread on the topic that Gamakatsu superline hooks might be your solution. I love the superline hooks myself. Much more stout and the added hook weight helps me cast weightless soft plastics better, especially flukes.

@Swamp Girl You are having a great year Katie!

"A bass broke one of my jigs, so it's not only my Gamakmatsu EWG hooks that break."

Are you using braid? I use braid and superline hooks and I have broke a treble hook (not superline hook).

I don't understand why your hooks are breaking? Braid will do it. With braid and regular hooks I have bent them but never broke one.

14 minutes ago, wdp said:

I saw somebody suggested in your other thread on the topic that Gamakatsu superline hooks might be your solution. I love the superline hooks myself. Much more stout and the added hook weight helps me cast weightless soft plastics better, especially flukes.

I bought some of the superline hooks, but don't like how thick they are because they punch a bigger hole in the bass. I really liked the jigs I was using because I hooked the majority of the bass in the upper mouth. And I skin-hooked many of them. No holes! I'm thinking of using the 5/0 and up EWG hooks less and less because they leave bigger holes.

4 minutes ago, Lottabass said:

I don't understand why your hooks are breaking? Braid will do it.

Yep, braid is part of my problem and I'm using only braid, but it's the bass bending my hooks and me using the pliers to bend them back that's weakening them. I just need to toss them after a trip or two and use new ones.

6 minutes ago, Lottabass said:

You are having a great year Katie!

Thanks, Al! I'm shooting for 2100.

19 minutes ago, wdp said:

I’m only up to 169 bass catches total for this year.

If you were fishing my pond too, we'd be neck and neck! This would be you and me in early November:

3 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

I fished my pond this morning from five to eight, catching 26, which brings my 2026 total to 1,295. My July goal has been to reach 1,300 by the end of the month, so I'll make that.

All but one bass were caught on a wacky worm hooked on a jig. My Senkos were green pumpkin and junebug, all with chartreuse tips. A bass broke one of my jigs, so it's not only my Gamakmatsu EWG hooks that break. This jig:

I only fished curly-leaved Pond Weed and I found the bass more on the edges than deep in the weed beds. As always, I caught a lot of 17 to 18+-inch bass. I feel dialed into the bass at my pond. As I've shared in other threads, July is my toughest month, but catching so many fine fish in three hours is maple syrup sweet. Here are some of them:

I think the reason my hooks snap is simply the stress of so many strong fish pulling. I've been replacing my EWGs after a week of use and I think I'll start doing the same with my jigs.

Here's my last bass. I told myself I'd catch one more and put it on the board:

Here's a pretty pic for @pdxfisher!

#Bagstrulyaremybag

I knew when I got a text at 3:10 AM Central time that you were itching to go to Katie's pond! I just had to get to work to see what you caught! 😆

Sorry about that, Bob. I thought I was writing to a grandmother who talked to me yesterday about taking her eight-year old grandson fishing. So, I proposed Thursday at eight. I was surprised that the grandmother was up at three-ish, not realizing it was you!

I keep forgetting your ponds are technically lakes most other places lol

I too have regular ewg gama's bend and occasionally break (braid and heavier mono). The plus side is when they bend out to the side it doesn't take much effort for a hookset. More of a sweep set. The key is to retire them before they break. I tried the superline ewg's and didn't like them.

somehow double posted, probably operator error so deleted

If you were fishing my pond too, we'd be neck and neck! This would be you and me in early November:

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

🤣 You’re kind to say that, but I’m sure you’d lap me if we were fishing together on your pond.

I’m just curious if you ever experience your bass getting “smart” to some of the lure presentations? I noticed it in my neighborhood pond about 10 yrs ago when I fished it a lot (3-5 times a week). Every yr I’d have to kinda switch up baits & presentations to get ‘em biting again. Especially if I’d caught em well on hard baits the previous season.

3 minutes ago, Kev-mo said:

I tried the superline ewg's and didn't like them.

Yep, me too.

3 minutes ago, wdp said:

I’m just curious if you ever experience your bass getting “smart” to some of the lure presentations?

Oh, yeah, I'm continually changing what I'm casting. However, in a year or two, I'll circle back to my former favorites.

5 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Yep, braid is part of my problem and I'm using only braid, but it's the bass bending my hooks and me using the pliers to bend them back that's weakening them. I just need to toss them after a trip or two and use new ones.

Braid isn't the problem, having the drag too tight for the hooks you're using is part of it, and you've figured out the other part. Every time a hook gets bent, it's being work hardened. That makes it brittle. I'll bend a hook back ONCE, then it gets pitched. If I know I have a fair shot at a big fish, I won't even bend it back once. Hooks are cheap. The sting of a lost big'n lasts a long time.

40 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

having the drag too tight for the hooks you're using is part of it

I agree, Tim. However, I know that if I loosen my drags, the bass will bolt for the lily pads and free themselves. Even with my drags tight, the stronger ones go on several runs.

Time for some stronger hooks then. Don't worry about the slightly bigger holes. That's a negligible difference.

5 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Oh, yeah, I'm continually changing what I'm casting. However, in a year or two, I'll circle back to my former favorites.

Same for me, but soft plastics didn’t seem to “wear off” as fast, so to speak.

Hate that the superline hooks didn’t work for you. I use em a lot with 30 lb braid & don’t seem to have any issues.

Another Gamakatsu hook you might try is the red EWG hooks. I use them a lot with the Zoom floating foam frogs. Using my same baitcaster type set up & 30 lb braid I’ve had no issues with them. They are thinner like the normal Gamakatsu hooks but I’ve never had one break or the point bend like the others. I use ‘em bc they work well with this particular frog, the superline are too thick for it. And I’ve hauled some decent fish out thick stuff with those hooks. I might have one occasionally bend out, that’s usually when it’s been used & abused a while. Then I just toss it & get a new hook. Sure hope you get the issue resolved soon. It’s a bummer when you lose faith in your fishing system, set up & gear. 🥴

Sounds like you are just fishing for bass that are too big

Great report and pics! Thanks for throwing in a scenery pic for me!

...or maybe you need to change your username from swamp_girl to the_beast