Leaderboard

Hello, first real post here. I recently busted two big fish off in this area so I swapped my mono for heavy braid. This time I landed the fish. 38" 25lbs on a 3:16 rising son.

Yesterday I started my drive home from south Florida back to Pennsylvania, and after a few hours of driving I pulled into a rest stop somewhere east of Orlando. I saw a nice looking pond across the street and figured what the heck I’ll give it one last shot at catching a Florida bass, well on my 5th cast a monster comes up and destroys the sly gill 15feet away from me. After a quick fight I got her on the bank and knew right away she was around 6 and maybe my new pb! She went 6lbs 4oz, I was by myself so the pictures weren’t great but I’ll remember that fish for the rest of my life. Luck was on my side and I just happened to stop in the right place at the right time. I fished for another hour without any more bites or any follows, made it home safe and sound, I am certainly going to miss Florida but can’t wait to go back next year, in the meantime I’ll be back to throwing big baits in my home waters. Stay safe out there everyone and thanks for the read!

I've been living overseas for the past two years, but I have had a chance to come back to the states for some leave. First time back on the water throwing the 68 special and got the biggest one in my local pond. Best way to come back

Went out to the river and got some decent prespawn smallies on the Tiny Klash. The first one came up from about 8 feet and smashed it a couple feet from me while i was fishing next to a cliff. Had to do some searching due to closures but it definitely payed off!

I use the weed guards constantly, they turn my TK into a 4X4. Have not hung up once with them on

Hope you are all healthy and well. Here is a little video my Son helped me with. Hope this helps your wakebait game

Super long and skinny smallmouth on the Baby wake. Absolutely massacred it on the slow roll. Weighed 3.72 and was 22 inches plus. If only she was filled out. Would like to hear your guesses on how big she’d be if she was fat lol.

Traded some baits with some friends! My first HPH— not sure why I waited 7 years to get one but am excited to try it out! Thanks guys!

That’s a rough one Neill, luckily you got it on video. Let the neighbors know maybe someone will recognize him or also had stuff go missing. pretty sure those two baits would be over $1000 right? which makes it a felony just saying

Yeah just found out a little while ago, reporting it tomorrow.

Slow fishing, missed fish and dinks so far this year. Couldn’t buy a bite on jointed baits or glides. Resorted to ol’ faithful. Finally got something with a little size by a Jersey standards. Slow rolling a 6” Keitech. Couldn’t find my grippers so unfortunately I had to weigh her under the mouth... released safely. Hope everyone is safe and healthy.

Happened to me in the beginning too. 4 straight trips grinding for only one bite each trip. All 4 bites I had fish on, all broke the surface and spit the bait Fifth trip out, broke my pb. Just keep grinding man, persistence pays off. U replay it in your head too much and second guess yourself and your gear. I always position my body to get good hooksets. My body never is facing the bait. If i cast left, I face my body slightly right and hold my rod slightly left and do the opposite when I cast to my right. This way I feel I always get good penetration.

@Mkel83 amen dude. I've got three straight days in a row off starting tonight at 4pm so I'm going to have to find somewhere. I'm getting stir crazy here. Worst case scenario I'll fish the Passaic River and just hope I don't catch the clap.. LOL

Thanks for the kind words everyone, i doubt i'll get it back. Wouldn't be surprised if he threw it away once he saw it's not something he could sell. I'm going to report it but not keeping my expectations up. Taking this as a learning lesson

Keep those hooks sticky and don’t button down your drag.

Reading you say 30 seconds before you lost her.....tells me you were not grinding it in. Even on a long cast, if you are cranking it in it should take less than 30 seconds. That's a long time imo. Sometimes you do everything right and still lose them. All you can do is do your part. Get better with every hook up. And try to recognize what you do wrong and correct it on the next. Every fish is different.

Guy probably doesn't even know what a swimbait is hah...hopefully the baits find their way back to you

Are your hooks sharp? Are you getting a good hookset? People have different preferences, but I'm a "grind it in" kinda guy. I have a tatula 200hd. I lock down the drag. When I have a fish on I horse the fish in. Watching the line at the water, if it raises, the fish is going to jump (or try). Once I see it break the surface I'm adding extra pressure, trying not to let her jump or shake her head. Pulling the rod hard while cranking helps this. I always have my net ready so I can scoop her up as soon as possible. Playing with it or Changing directions with your rod (even tho you feel like you are keeping pressure) gives them a chance. It can be mesmerizing and fascinating to watch a bass surface, jump, mouth open ext. But when you get caught up watching you relax a bit. One stop of the reel or just a bit of slack is all they need to get free.

Are you cranking the fish in on a heavy drag? There is no finesse to fighting a swimbait fish. Rod down and straight in.

Sorry man, people suck

What a loser , hopefully they find him and you’re baits man.

Theives are the worst! Bummed for you man. Hopefully he gets a hook all the way through his hand when he opens it then gets arrested

530.5e PC. Mail theft. What a punk I’m sorry to hear that man

Got out today for the first time to hit smallmouth in New York. This one is the biggest one I got on a death-wish swimbait.

Fishing is not being banned. Seasonal openers/angling opportunities are on the table to be delayed/postponed/restricted until we get through this Covid-19 pandemic. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. Local communities that DEPEND upon the revenue generated from these openers/seasons/opportunities have requested CDFW take action because A) they are the only ones with authority to do so, B) communities do not want an influx of asymptomatic carriers infecting their communities more so than they already are C) remote communities do not have the medical resources available to deal with an influx of people that may become seriously ill while there to recreate, D) it has been proven that sub sections of society have not abided by the social distancing practices while recreating necessitating the progressively restrictive closures Statewide. The reality is, delaying/suspending/restricting angling seasons/opportunities in the short term, will increase their eventual and annual return in the long run. Sooner hopefully than much later if we don't keep the pandemic in check. This pandemic is bigger than any sense of entitlement regarding non-essential recreational opportunities and if people don't understand that, they are not paying attention.

Meanwhile Texas made hunting and fishing essential .... got to love commiefornia

UFO SS - Crappie repaint by TK at Tackle Kraft. TK is a great guy to deal with and his work is world class.

First run came out solid IMG_3640.MOV

Owner 41s or 56s

Owner hooks! I will let someone else start the hook debate! hit the bait makers up online.

Sorry man. I hate thieves man! Thankfully you have the Ring and got his face.

This quarantine ( kids home +owning an essential business) not much time to get out to the lake + watching YouTube been getting me itchin to fish...had a window of opportunity finally today and it happened!! 2nd cast out with a bbz1 trout floater and BOOM!!! Got em!!! Still learning the ropes but satisfied!! On to the next!!! Also the SU face mask was waiting for me when I got home. Shoutout to the SU guys for making these things!!

This is absolutely crazy. I don't think government is taking mental health into consideration whatsoever. I fully support and practice distancing, safety and not spreading the virus around. But some people, myself included are already having a difficult time as it is and NEED the mental break that fishing provides so long as it's done while social distancing. This would be a terrible mistake if it passes.

My personal opinion I wouldn’t run braid to leader. That is just asking for trouble and lost baits. I would stick with a good Fluorocarbon or Copoly but if you do go the braid route I would look into Sunline FX2 60-80lbs with a 25lbs Sunline FC100 shock leader.

Nice fish man!! And same! Watching these videos of guys catchin em has me wanting to get out more than ever haha

That's a pig

Thought I’d take some more pics of this. Painted by BB lures