F is for Fishing

Went down to the Canal and tried out a few more of the crankbaits in my tackle box.

You can't win 'em all.

I've been getting better at using these small shad rap crankbaits, but I snapped off the black and gold one I've been using- luckily I had a backup in a rainbow trout pattern to keep going with.

First cast of the day at a somewhat secret spot that I had some good luck with last year...

I wanted to try a deeper diving small crankbait so I tried a size 4 UL Shad Rap. Just when I was getting ready to give up on it, this happened...

Had a short window of opportunity to get out to the canal right before nightfall, and hit a big pickerel on a little crankbait.

I got a pickerel on the canal during lunch, so I came back after work for another go with the mini-crankbait.

Caught one on a mini rebel craw pattern crankbait. Hit came on the pause right at the bank.

First day of spring on the local canal- was actually targeting two small bass I saw in the shallows when this guy came up and snatched it.

My first time trying a Googan Mini Klutch Lipless Crankbait in the Craw pattern. I don't usually fish lipless cranks because I worry too much about snagging and losing the lure, but I liked the action and the flash this one had while it lasted!

Throwing some grubs and micro crankbaits on the canal in early march. Water is high and cloudy with temps in the low 40s despite it being one of the warmer days this week, but the bite is starting to wake up for the spring already.

Made my first catch of 2023 on a chilly, early march afternoon by slow rolling a curly tailed grub in the local canal.

I've been having decent luck with the jerkbait this month, so I may as well keep going with it...

I don't really remember the last time I used a floating jerkbait- and I've never caught anything bigger than a bluegill on one, so it was about time I gave the old "twitch twitch pause" routine another shot.

I had a few minutes between running errands, and I had to drive past a local pond, so naturally, I stopped to make a few casts...

I clearly have a problem- I keep revisiting the pond that's loaded with baby largemouth bass that appeared to have displaced all the bluegill that I used to catch there. Yeah they're tiny, but it's fun to run over there and catch a few.

It was a really nice warm early november afternoon, so I grabbed my lighter gear to check in on the young largemouth bass that have taken over a nearby pond.

Found a pond I've never been to before in my area, so I tied on some moving baits to see if there was anything worth fishing for.

This fall, the spinnerbait has been the most reliable thing I've thrown when targeting bass. Find this catch on fishbrain at https://fishbrain.com/posts/6YoLc7jv

The nearest pond in my immediate neighborhood has been loaded with juvenile bass lately- and while I suspect there are a few larger bass lurking in there somewhere, I have not yet found them. Today I went out with a light rod running an inline spinner, and a medium rod with a drop shot- but I only got interest from the little ones on the spinner. One of these days I'll hit a bigger bass there- and from how these little ones have been eating, eventually one may grow up to be a monster

Another lunch break at the pond, where bagged two half pound largemouth bass on a white and chartreuse spinner, and picked up some litter along the way.

Sometimes, the fishing outing you need is just a walk to the local pond with a light rod, and a rooster tail, and whatever bites is fun. Even better if you get to bring your kid along too! See these catches on fishbrain at: https://fishbrain.com/posts/VkIDLhsq https://fishbrain.com/posts/xlbuQqh7 https://fishbrain.com/posts/knW1fP4u https://fishbrain.com/posts/lRhUyITb https://fishbrain.com/posts/j6DxCOKD

Hit a nice Bass on topwater at a local pond. I caught the big blowup on camera right at the bank, almost directly in front of me. It was such a surprise that my hands were shaking from the adrenaline. The lure was an Ozark Trail 3.5 inch prop bait- the walmart version of the whopper plopper. See this catch on Fishbrain at https://fishbrain.com/posts/TLRGIFsg

Had some time to stop by the local pond today, and caught three different species (and clumsily dropped them all). Includes a random wildlife sighting too. Fishbrain links for the catches in this video: https://fishbrain.com/posts/BPGLI5s8 https://fishbrain.com/posts/T2jLWbp- https://fishbrain.com/posts/Hl6CYpd6

My local pond usually only has panfish, but lately I've seen a bunch of small bass, so I decided to try both a big lure and a little lure to see if there are any pond monsters lurking in there. Fins this catch on Fishbrain at https://fishbrain.com/posts/YF5ICQ5W