KeepinItReelFishing

7-11! Awesome catch bro!! That's a fantastic fish for MA. Congrats!

Pretty wild. My second fish this year on the 8" Huddleston trout (this was a ROF 5 weedless) was within an ounce of my previous fish.....6-5 vs 6-6. Hoping to crack the 7lb threshold this fall, but either way....thank you Hudd! East Coast - NJ Swimbait'n! https://www.youtube.com/user/KeepinItReelFishing

Thanks Brian! I'm from NJ...how is RI treating you this year? It may seem crazy, but I don't do nets. I have a philosophical creed that I give fish a true sporting chance. We know they can't over power these heavy swimbait rods, but in my eyes I have to land the fish on my own merit....not a tool. That act can be the hardest and the moment where the fish can "win". I've lost fish here and they over the years due to this mantra, but out of admiration for these fish I want to truly meet these fish in battle and best them. There are few things we can eliminate in swimbait fishing....rods and line by default are both heavy duty due to the sheer weight of most lures....but I don't have to have a net and I "earn" that catch even more in my eyes by hopefully doing what I can to keep the fish down and then play them directly to the canoe and my hand as quick as possible. If I get beat....I acknowledge that defeat and respect the power of fish I pursue. (I also file off most of the barbs on my hooks) So much less damage to the fish when removing the hook.

Thanks Hunter! I figured I would post it up here as well.

Are you located somewhere other than California or in the south of the U.S. and want information on swimbait fishing more relevant to you? That is the main jist of this three part series I am making called "Swimbait Fishing the Northeast". In actuality it is not just for northeast anglers, but rather anyone who lives in those areas where bass just aren't as large as some parts of the west coast and the south and how, if at all, that should affect your approach. In this first episode I chronicle the gear I have chosen and why, observations about the technique, and show some quality fish being caught. Carl

Hey everyone. I've been fishing the deep spool Daiwa Tatula HD and its a great reel for anyone looking to keep the famiiar low profile form factor, but have the spool capacity needed for higher pound test line. This is the "Custom" version from Japan that adds some cosmetic bells and whistles. It's just a great all around reel for many swimbaiting applications. My reviews tend to be very detailed and rather long. If you are a gear junky and love such detail you are in luck. Conversely, if you are having trouble falling asleep you are also in luck! Thanks, Carl

Being this IS the underground....some of you may be crazy enough to even watch the whole thing! Carl

Hey Donny - Put in 8 hours yesterday.....only one strike on the Hudd Gill. I have found a decisive decline in strikes overall (from big fish as well as little fish) in the past 3 weeks, which I'm guessing correlates to the majority of fish reaching post spawn. I might recommend opening up your options. You may be one of only a handful using the big baits on the waters you fish, but heavily pressured waters are just that....pressured. I absolutely hate all the driving I do, but I get on google earth and scour the land to find places that seem off the beaten path and then go there....most of which are over an hour away.

Hey Donny - Yeah man....I've been doing pretty well...particularly great with the Mattlures 3 piece Hardgill in slow sink and the Jackall Gantarel. Keep an eye out for when those Gantarels become available again....I've got crazy confidence in that lure now. There is no question that I will get a bite / bites when using it. It is a crossover size, so I have gotten a couple high 4lb fish on it, and also 2's and 3's. The Hardgill just rocks, but they are rarely available from Mattlures and hard to find even used. For what its worth I have been doing better with my hardbaits than my softbaits. Most of the waters I fish are somewhat to heavily stained and while that 6lb 6oz fish I got came on a soft lure (8" Hudd), the bulk of what I have been catching has come via hardlures. Just so you don't feel frustrated I have had three trips now where I have not had a single bite (in 5 hours or more of fishing). It's just like you have probably read or heard....stick with it. I just got a 5lb 5oz on the Gantarel in a pond that I have fished for 3 years and never caught anything bigger than 3-1/2....so...just keep at it cause you never know.

Just wanted to say thanks to all the well wishers. Just got a 5lb 5oz as well. Pre spawn big fish action has been solid.

Those are a trio of the Huddleston bluegills.

A modest fish by the Underground's standards, but a solid catch for the northeast / NJ. This came on only my second trip out and just a few casts in with the Huddleston. I put the clip into a larger video detailing my decision to pursue large fish in 2015 via the swimbait technique. Oh....my very next trip I got a 4lbs 10oz and a 5lbs flat. It's a great start to the year.

Here is mine. There is nothing I don't love about this thing.

WELL DONE SIR!! I feel ya. NJ angler here and I'm stuck at 5lbs 8oz myself. Dying to break into the next numeric catagory (6 or better).

Hey everyone - Been in the swimbait fishing game for about a year and have amased quite a collection. I'm partial to the MS Slammer and just love using my 7" single joint in perch. Here is my review of it. Thanks! Carl