Hey guys, had a decent outing today catching two largemouth in a couple hours at a new secluded lake I had found on mapquest.  It's in a public community area and is NOT PRIVATE and totally surrounded by trees so you can't see it from the road.  Not too many know about it  ;D

Anyway I refer to it as Lake X.  Well here is the picture and the story -

I was at the dam area and I was fishing adjacent to the spillway and the shoreline structure (mostly rocks).  Water temperature was 52 degrees.  Slightly stained.  I was throwing the KVD Strike King Red Eye Shad on my crankbait rod.  After 4-5 casts I saw this big green and white blob surface as I pulled the bait to my feet out of the water.  I was so mad I pulled too quick.  He swam away.

I collected myself, caught my breathe and then started casting again.  I covered the shoreline left/right, out ahead of me searching for him.  Around the rocks, down the laydowns out there, everywhere.  Finally after about 12-13 casts I got him on and he fought pretty good for being hooked within 10 feet of the shore.    I was so excited as I'd been working on getting a 3lber since last year.  Weighed in on the Rapala Digi at 3' 0.  Finally got it.  I know it's not much but it was huge to me.  Now to break that 4lb threshold.  Hopefully soon.  got one trip to the Potomac and another to Lake Anna (Dike 3) late this month.  We shall see.  Guess I'll be throwing that Shad bait some more though  

         Great fish Jay, I wish I could have been there for that. One of the local tournament anglers that is sponsored by Mann's fishes that lake too, he's a pretty cool guy too.  So if you see him, tell him Rob said hi. I wish you guys had not bailed on your get together, Andrew knocked them out.

thats great man! new PB's are the BEST!

Great fish!  

Nice fish, everytime you do a new PB is special.

great congrats New PB rock

Congratulations.  Way to stick with it.  There's nothing like targetting that fish and getting the payoff.

Eddie

JC,

Congrats on the new PB! Next time you are throwing crankbaits or rattle traps keep a spinning rod handy with a Senko tied on. When a fish follows your bait but doesn't hit, throw the Senko out in front of him. You would be surprised at the number of fish that will hit the Senko after following a crankbait!

TPayne thanks for the tip.  I would have but my second reel was acting up today (jig/plastics pole), the anti-reverse didn't work.  But yea, I have caught a few at Mercer like that but still am practicing that 1-2 punch.  

Thanks for the comments guys, your right this fish felt great and I was real excited.  Now I'm ready to one up it and get some nice pbs like I see you guys showing off!  

Time to GO TO WORK!

Grats J!  good job! I must have missed this thread, better late than never! GJ!

Congratulations!

8-)