253caster

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March 27 at 11:26am the stars aligned and I got her… Wasn’t planning on fishing that morning, but the day prior my boss wanted to trade me vacation weeks so I asked for the rest of the week off as part of the deal and he agreed to it. So I hurry to the lake the next morning, anxious as the conditions are about as ripe as they get this time of year. I arrive at an empty parking/launch facility and rush to get my boat in the water and head over towards my first spot. Three casts in I am running a soft bait parallel to the bank and watch an easy 4-5 pounce on it and pin it to the bank. I set the hook and broke it off. Tie up another soft bait and throw out downhill. I get thumped again only to have that fish run me in to grass and come off and it blew the nose out of the bait so it was virtually destroyed. Rather than spend the time to retie another, I grabbed my glide bait set up and fire it out there. Somewhere near the edge of the same grass bed I got thumped again and lean into it. BIG one. Got her in the net and decided to well her up and run her to the other side of the lake in hopes a bigger fish would move up in her place later in the morning. Heading in to the area I wanted to release the fish at, I started fishing my way in and the glide bait gets thumped again… I see a pale beast of a fish trying to turn and dig but I kept her coming toward me and bounce her off the net as I try and get it under her. She turned and made a strong run, but I got her turned back around and scooped her up. I screamed and shouted a few times in celebration as I knew what I was looking at. It was obvious she had several inches on the fish I had in the livewell. I rush to the shoreline to try and take shelter from the wind and waves and weigh the fish. I let the smaller one go after a few quick pics and a weight so I could focus on giving the bigger one lots of time to rest between photos and measurements. She went 24.2” x 18.7” weighed 10lbs 12oz and shatters my old PB by over a pound. Public waters predator. A true unicorn of a Northern Strain bass. She bit right as the baro bottomed out and after taking my time with her the bite window closed up and I didn’t get bit again the rest of the day. Before releasing her I called my friend Brandon and he just happened to be leaving work early so he shot to the lake to see her and be there for the release. We had always talked about him being there for this fish, and they way it worked out he basically was. On the way home it all hit me. All of the hours dedicated to grind. All of the money spent in the pursuit. All of the failures and mistakes made along the way. All of the time with friends and my family that I selfishly sacrificed for this fish... It all came together and my quest to hit double digits is over. Of course I gotta shout out Brock from Hiroshima Customs for producing the tools that made it all possible and for the customer service over the years keeping baits in rotation that were critical to my success. The bait I caught her on(8.5 hiro) has earned retirement for the years of abuse I’ve put it through. It’s bounced off more hard surfaces than a resin bait should withstand. It hung my wife’s PB as well so it’ll go on the wall, possibly with a replica mount of the fish. A cast to catch, weighing and release video will go up on YT after the spring bite is over. Thanks for taking the time to read.

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https://hiroshimacustoms.com/collections/all

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I cut mine open and added some lead tape to the harness to get it to stay down. Worked fine

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I needed to see this post on this dreadful Monday morning… Thank you OP

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Posture is extremely important not just while fishing but at all times. As someone who has had a “slouching” posture most of my life and workin manual labor jobs, I began having real bad back issues in the lumbar region in my mid 20s. Pay attention to how you are standing on the boat and how you are sitting in the car or at home. Are you keeping your foot on the pedal for extended periods while fishing? Even if you have it recessed, it’s still a bit elevated and standing like that for long periods will absolutely effect your spine alignment and cause all sorts of issues. I started seeing a chiro two years ago and it has been life saving. I don’t throw my back out anymore and my mobility has returned to normal. One visit a month is usually enough to keep me tuned up and in shape. Might be worth looking in to if the problem persists. Also be aware of tendinitis in the hands and arms. Stretching is always good.

Congrats on the dub!

Any updates SU?

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Looks like I pulled a @Mossypumpkinand forgot the same letter…

What a GRIND… Haven't fished this hard this many consecutive days probably ever… Wish I could say I’ve been banging on em, but bites have been VERY hard to come by… averaging 1-3 bites a day… Day Three I missed connections on some fish that absolutely would have had me in the running, but I didn’t fish as clean as I could have and blew it… ended up with a 2+,3+ and a 4.1 that evening on the last lake of the day. Yesterday morning scraped up a 21”er that didn’t even go 5 somehow(4.9) before having to cut the day short to go pick up the kiddo… Ended up sleeping an hour and a half last night before dragging myself out of bed to get back after it… Spent the first two hours crawling baits DEAD slow to no avail, so started changing up retrieves and got a massive swirl… within the hour had another 3ish immediately followed by a 6.7 that choked the Countdown Billrilla. Same length as yesterdays fish with over 2.5lbs more packed onto her frame… Gonna give it one final go this evening and possibly tonight. Regardless, it’s been a blast revisiting some old haunts and grinding my ass off… Always grateful to participate in the Battle! IMG_3800.mov

Lots of green in an around the boat first two days, but unfortunately I’m not talking about bass… Gonna have to search for not-so-greener pastures today IMG_3740.mov

I’m sure it’s obvious, but IN for the record.

Let’s go! Taking the week off this time and the wife already knows she won’t be seeing me much that week… Good luck to all participants