2018 Aug 5 - A Fishing Tale

My all-time favorite lure

I have had some really good luck with this crawfish crankbait and I think this has to be my all time favorite lure now. I caught my largest trout on it (see 2016 May 15 -Splake Trout posting) and my largest smallmouth (See 2010 Fall - Wachusett Reservoir posting). But today I witnessed something I have never seen before.  I know this will sound like a tall tale and I do not have a picture to show you, but Frank is my witness.
We were fishing in the afternoon on this very hot day and fishing was kind of slow.  I was trying different lures but the fish just weren't biting.  So I wasn't in a big hurry with my casting and retrieving.  I threw my crawfish out and just paused a few seconds before reeling in.  As soon as I started reeling I immediately felt a fish tugging at my line, but something looked very odd with the action going on.  It wasn't until I got it close to the boat when I saw what was the matter.  I said to Frank, "You are not going to believe this!" as  I pulled my lure out of the water.  I had not 1, but 2  largemouth bass on the crankbait - one on each hook!!  I couldn't believe my eyes, this has never happened to me before.  I have to admit they were not very large, maybe 5-6 inches each.  But what are the odds?
Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera, so I guess you will have to take my word (and Frank's!) that it really did happen.

2018 June 24 - Fishing from my Dock

3 lb largemouth bass

I was standing on my dock and I could see this large bass hanging around close to shore.  I threw a floating lure and tried a spinning lure but the fish wouldn't go for either.  I then decided to put on a really large rubber crawfish and I threw it close to the bass and that did it! He gobbled it immediately and I pulled the fish in.  As I was removing my lure I noticed this fish had already escaped another fisherman.  I could not see a hook or lure, but the poor fish had broken the fishing line and had about 4 feet of line coming out of its throat and into the water.  I cut the line as close as I could deep inside its throat so I hope the fish feels better for that.

2018 June 15-17 My brother Beat Me in Fishing!

As mentioned in an earlier post (1950's - My Fishing Partner), my brother George and I have always competed in everything growing up, especially fishing!  This weekend was no exception.




I was all smiles as I started off strong using my wacky worm and landed some good sized bass. Here is a nice Small mouth bass.

Frank and George were fishing spinners, and not having the success I was having.  So they switched to wacky worms and sure enough that shut down my luck and the wacky worm stopped working!


Next, George pulled a 3 hook gold/black colored Rapela out of his tackle box, threw that out, and brought it in with a slow retrieve. 

Bam!! George found the right lure and the right technique and starting pulling in one fish after another!

I wasn't worried at first, just glad that someone was catching a lot of fish. Besides, Rapelas are not my favorite lures anymore after 2 infamous hooking accidents in the past. 





But after awhile, I started to get concerned (see the look on my face and the smug and happy look on George's face)

Was my brother going to out fish me?






Now I was the one switching lures! I put on a light green/silver 2 hook Rapela.  But whether it  was the wrong color, the wrong size or my technique - it just didn't work.
And George kept pulling in more bass. Honestly, there are just too many photos to post here, but here is one of George's smallies.

George's luck continued the next day, on another pond. Same lure, same technique. Here he is with a 2-1/2 lb smallie.









 
After the weekend ended, I went to the store.

So all I can say now is "Game on George - can't wait until next year!"

2018 June 14 - Fishing with my brother George

It didn't take long for my brother to land the first of his largemouth bass on this fishing excursion.












He also caught an exceptionally large bluegill!

2018 June 11-12 Maine Fishing Vacation

Esther with a 23" pickerel

Esther with a 3-1/4 lb Largemouth Bass

We are spending a whole week in Maine this time and we are having company in a couple of days. I just had to get out and test the waters so we know where to find the fish.  Here are a couple of the best fish I caught these two days.

2018 May 19 - The Bass are Biting and so are the Black Flies!

First trip of the season and the fishing is pretty good. Our favorite lake is nice and quiet and we caught a few nice bass.  I had to wear my bug suit though because it is also black fly season.  The suit works great and I am happy to report I had more bites from the bass than the black fly bites!

2017 Oct - Last Fishing Trip of the Season

I can't believe it is fall again and time to close up our camp on the lake.  We did have a beautiful weekend and the weather was more like September than October.  We were amazed at how good the fishing was. The warm weather definitely made the fish active again.

Frank with one of his largemouth bass

Esther with her bass

We also caught a few pickerel. 

I saved the best for last and Frank ended the season with a Bang, catching the biggest largemouth bass of the year!

Frank with a 3-1/2 lb largemouth bass