We had amazing weather here yesterday in R.I. 73 degrees and bright sun. Went out for two hours with Tin and caught one short while fishing around docks. Tin caught 8 more after he dropped me off at the boat ramp....

Fast forward to today. 53 degrees, cloudy with a W/NW wind at 10-15. Rick and I figured what the heck, might as well give it a go. We headed down to "Mystery Lake Y" not to be confused with the infamous "Lake X" of Northern R.I.

After cranking with a Trap and a DT10 and 6, I switched rods to the one with a 1/4 oz Stanley Finesse jig tied on. Pitched it under an overhanging pine branch and whack.... first fish in the boat. Nothing to brag about, but it's the first piece of the puzzle.

Three casts later into the same spot.....

Now it's clicking, two fish in 5 minutes on the jig, within 5 feet of the bank. This place has very steep banks, 10' from shore and you're in 11' of water.

We motor around a bit and keep chucking and flipping visible cover. I pull another short out of a pine tree lay down, and then it shuts down for a while.

We decided to go deep, and try the jigs out in open water, seemed like the cover was shut down. We went out to the middle in 10' and Rick gets his first jig fish of the year! a nice 2lb 5oz keeper on a 3/8 oz Evo Jig!

The wind was starting to pick up and it started to look like rain, so we started heading back with the trolling motor on #2. We start pitching the shore again (a section we previously skipped). I toss my 1/4 oz finesse jig into a birch laydown, let it settle, then give it a hop. I feel it tick a branch, then thump.... I feel like I'm stuck in a thick piece of wood. Then I see the FLASH! Whoa fish on! I start reeling and it feels like maybe 2lbs, then all of a sudden it starts ripping drag like a Bluefish! I think the whole town heard me yelling "BIG BIG BIG BIG!!!"

She dives under the boat, and gets wrapped around one of Ricks rod tips. He grabs the Power Pro braid in his hands and starts pulling the line up to the boat while she's fighting! He gets it up to the surface and all hell breaks loose! We are yelling and screaming like two little kids. Rick did a number on his hands with the braid, this fish is getting in the boat no matter what! ;D

Oh man, what a sight. I knew it was the biggest fish of my life. We weighed and measured her. Then released here ASAP. The scale started at 7.85 then settled on 7.50. YEAH BABY!!! 23" long and had a craw sticking out of her gut!

You just never know what the day is gonna bring when you put the boat in the water!

Sounds like a great day! I particularly like that last picture.

Great story!

That is a great fish and good looking gal at that...strong colors.

That's awesome! And way to put in the extra effort, Rick! That's what I call a good fishin' partner.

I agree about the last picture as well, I've always had trouble trying to take pictures in a fish's mouth because of lighting and what not, but that one came out great!

Nice fish

WOW MATT!

What a killer east coast fish! That is awesome!

Thanx All! Forgot to mention that the water temp was 54* all day.  The jig was a 1/4 oz Stanley in green pumpkin and I had dipped the trailer in Spike It.  

awesome dude!

Atta boy Matty

Great report too!!

kudos to Rick,........ little boats, big fish, Top notch fishing partners,...welcome to RI

Nice fish

Sounds like a great day! I particularly like that last picture.

Love the last picture too. Nice fish!  

Congrats on your new pb, and having the wisdom to have a scale with you!!

Great fish and pics.

Great job.  And some really nice pics.

Beautiful fish Matt, awesome colors on her.  That's a toad for sure in my book.  Congrats on the new PB man!!  

Giggity giggity  8-)

Awesome story man. Congrats on your new PB! That's a great New England fish!

what a hawg!!  great job and congratulations big time!

That's a beauty, love those dark colored bass! Congrats! 8-)

nice fish matt!

awesome story and nice fish@@@!!!!!

She's a beauty, all right. Love it when they've just eaten like that. Illustrates why they're called hawgs.

By the way, I caught a five-and-a-half-pounder at a pond about a half hour north of you on Saturday, that unexpectedly warm day. The big girls are restless . . .

Ok, after staring at this picture for the past 9 hours it definatley looks photoshopped. And no one else is catching fish that size around here so it is really making me wonder. :-/

That fish is a gimmick like the rods you use. ;D

Ok, after staring at this picture for the past 9 hours it definatley looks photoshopped. And no one else is catching fish that size around here so it is really making me wonder. :-/

That fish is a gimmick like the rods you use. ;D

LMAO!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I almost peed.

I told you the Mac was good at editing!  

Congratulations to you for your new PB.

The bass has beautiful colors too.. and that mouth shot is sweet!

That craw seems to habe a bit of problem.... :

Got to love that Cartoon program ;D