I was hoping to post a bass report, but will have to settle with the multi species category.

Launched the yak at dark o'clock.  I fished crankbaits, jigs, and blades in likely places, to no avail.  After a couple of hours, I decided to head up around "perch jerker point."  This is where I ran into Noel and Guy pulling in some nice hoss Jacks.  I probably should have been doing the same, but I was hell bent for bass after spending so much time messing with trout.

I ate lunch, and headed to a spot that had been producing consistently up until a few days ago.  Its basically a relatively deep trench in a shallow, secluded cove.  By deep, I mean 13', surrounded by about 2' of flats.

Well, the bass had disappeared, but I did find my next boat in the back creek arm.  Its a fixer-upper, but looks pretty sweet.  I'll have to wait until higher water in spring to take delivery.

That'll buff out like new.

I also found a few spare tires, I believe these were placed here by DEC as "habitat improvement."  Not so sure about the rusted 55 gallon drum, though.  That's probably toxic waste.  At any rate, no Springfield bass in this cove.

After all that paddling, I decided to head down to the creek, and catch some pike.  I told Noel it was a "Sure Thing," to which he said to be careful.  There's pics below of pike I wouldn't normally photograph, but as proof of concept.  The creek has pike in it.

My poor Slim Shad is taking a beating.

Looks like this guy offended one of his larger brethren.  Pike are very cannibalistic.

I need to back up here.  On my way down to the creek, I decided to troll a DD22 and a 3/4 oz. Krokadile on long lines.  This has paid off in the past, and although its a slow pace, it certainly make the time spent "running and gunning" seem productive.  I've also learned some interesting things about lure running depths.  Not all is as it seems, but that's another post.

Once I wandered into 16 FOW, the Norman started ticking bottom, the spoon just dredged bottom, so I reeled that in.  As I approached, the water seemed "alive," I can't really describe it, but that's what it felt like to me.  I started to tons of big fish on the graph.  Really big fish.  And just like that, the rod with DD22 starts thumping.  I grab it, nothing.  OK.  So, I start casting.  Had something on again, and came off immediately.

At this point, it was becoming clear to me what was going on, but i decided to cast anyway.  And then I was hooked up.  With something big.

What the hell is it?

I knew what it was, and many of you probably know as well, but play along.

I believe I hooked the elusive, giant, three eyed Springfield Bass.

A look at its tail:

The battle went on and on, for about 15 minutes.

I did get the obligatory, blurry shot of the beast:

I've made several calls to tabloid news organizations, and they think this story is worth about $15.  I'm selling out.

Tail-hooked mud shark.

Did you know...(my obligatory DYK paragraph)...

A 4ft dogfish shark was found at the mouth of I-Bay back in the 80s. The oddest thing was that it was still alive. Best we could figure was someone carried it in from the salt, and dumped it.

I actually heard that, and chalked it up to urban myth.  I guess there's some truth to it.  I've seen a 2' Pacu (S. Am. characoid) dragged out of there as well.  I'm pretty sure the source was a local pet store, LOL.

No, it wasn't a mudshark, but it was tail hooked.....

Didn't see scales on the previous shot -the other obvious candidate.

You know, one of the things I've never understood about snagging is the lousy fight you get. Without hooking the front end -preferably the mouth -you've got no control and it's just a tug-of-war.

I've never foul hooked a fish before. I've caught several turtles that way though, and let me tell ya, turtles are some mean little cusses.

Didn't see scales on the previous shot -the other obvious candidate.

You know, one of the things I've never understood about snagging is the lousy fight you get. Without hooking the front end -preferably the mouth -you've got no control and it's just a tug-of-war.

Yes, very boring.  I could let it take drag, or thumb the spool, and let it drag me.  It showed no sign of tiring when I finally got my bait within reach of the pliers.  Once I realized I had a crap snagged in the butt, I had zero intention of bringing it in the boat.

As kids, we snagged suckers in 4 Mile Creek, near my house.  Kept us out of trouble, I suppose, but looking back, it wasn't all that difficult.

Rebel, eventually, you will foul hook a bass.  Especially if you fish crankbaits.  it happens.

... It showed no sign of tiring when I finally got my bait within reach of the pliers. ...

Exactly. Fish are weightless hydrofoils. All they have to pull with is the tail fin, with direction provided by body depth. Hook 'em in the front end and you've got some control.

Except for eels. They seem to be able to swim somewhat in both directions ;D.

ick...you foul-hooked a carp...unlucky.

Some nasty swirls there, could have been the record lol