Open Water fishing

Probably 2 lb's

Small bait - small bass

In Minnesota fishing for panfish is our only option on most water in March.  When you fish for panfish you catch little bass.  Although the bass on the left was a nice surprise, nice and chunky.  It was really fun to be on the water again in the float tube.  I am itching to get out there again, but am even more excited for my April trip to Lake Fork Texas to finally get after some Florida strain bass!  I splurged and purchased a Quantum PT tour high-speed baitcaster, and GLoomis GL2 jig and worm rod.  Can't wait to cast it on Lake Fork!

Smallmouth making my arms sore!

 There were a lot of fish caught today.  Seriously, I think that there may have been 80 plus fish caught in a few hours.  Probably 3 fish that around 16", many fish over 19"!  A sixty degree day in November with the fish biting like that, tough to top.  Winter is coming...  

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Biggest of the day Tall, Fat  20" and then some

Wisconsin River Fishing

19 er

This chunky football was caught in Wisconsin this past Sunday trolling for Walleyes.  It seemed every Smallie I caught, (maybe 7 in all)  was just laying on the bottom.  I did have one Wally on, but he came off at the surface.  I have been looking forward to some pumpkin-seed crusted Walleye too, but no such luck this time.

Lucky 13?

 A hoard of smallies moved in today.  My arm was actually getting tired...  I thought that I had a twenty incher on numerous times, with the plump piggies I was hauling in today.  Now that might seem a little silly, but the pictures I took, that was probably a third of the fish I caught!  I actually finished the afternoon on a streak.  I am not sure whether it was 12 or 13 consecutive fish on back to back casts.  During the streak, I believe only 2 fish were under 17", with one of the fish only going about 16". And, the streak started with four fish at 18" or better.  The largest fish was a little over 19".  Wow!

MN Muddy Smallies

 18"

Chunky 18"

nice fish

I love going to the Mississippi this time of year.  The fish are getting ready to hunker down for the cold season, and it is pretty fun when they get hungry.  I caught around 10 fish today, and each of them felt like great fish.  My drag got a nice workout today, I didn't lose too many.  Even though I have had a lot better outings on the river, I still felt pretty good about these bronzebacks.   

Chunker

nice one

 WIDE - 19"+

Two nice October bass in the float tube!

20 3/4 with the mouth closed.  Longest of the season for me!

19 incher

19" - big head

I got out during the rain tonight, and when it stopped, I caught a couple of tanks!  It was getting dark by the time I got back to the landing.  I'm decided to fish slow, although I didn't have any bites, and I was thinking I should have been throwing some type of frog on top.  I missed several fish, and I think I stuck them, so I never got a second chance.  I caught a pike inbetween the two bass.  The second bass was ripping out drag, and it actually spun me around in the float tube.  The head was gigantic!  I was hoping that it would go 21", but it would be short of that with the mouth closed.  It is hard to tell in the picture, but the tail actually starts to go up the side of the basket.  It was getting dark out, and it is tough to take great pics in the tube with my phone.  I wore my waders in the float tube this time, and it definitely takes a little more effort to paddle with the waders on.  With the two quality fish, it was worth the trip this time. : )

Long Bass - 20 3/4

Slow Smallies, Less Largies

 I hooked this 18 incher in the bottom jaw. It was a nice fish, but when I brought it in and saw that it was hooked in the bottom jaw I recognized a pattern.  On days that are less productive on the river, it seems that my hook sets are happening in the bottom jaw.  I don't know what this means, but I am open to any interpretation on this.  I also tried out the float tube, and struck out on largemouth, it was hot, and a new big bass lake that I have heard mixed reports on.