[jparker80]

Going to give an honest fishing report here. Woke up super early to beat the heat and the sun at Harris. Put in about 0400. Full moon, blue moon to be exact and the water was still with a slight haze on the surface. Made our way down towards the small bridge at the end of the lake and threw a black spinnerbait about 5 feet from the shore in 5-12 feet of water where the fish were stacking all over the fish finder. First cast was SLAMMED. A solid 2.5lbr. Was the same way for a good hour before the bite slowed down and the sun started working it's way up. Caught about 10 bass today. 4 of which were all 2-3lbs and VERY healthy fish. Had a blast until it went from a cool 70 to 82 in a matter of minutes. Water temps were around 86-90 and use a very slow retrieve. Also missed a monster on a black buzzbait. Honestly scared the life out of me when it struck causing me to set the hook too soon. My friend and I estimated the fished to be at least 7lbs by it's head alone. Oh well. Still an amazing morning. Happy Fishing everyone!

PS: Sorry for the bad quality of the photos, tried to take them quickly in the dark to keep the fish from being out too long.

 

[spidey]

I had good luck bank fishing but when sun came up bite died for me. Wish I had gotten out sooner myself.

 

[mikeski]

I hit Hollimans at 6am. The wind was almost calm and out of the NE. Sun had not quite come up. Maybe 10 trailers in the lot.

My bite started slow. Caught a couple small cats and a few perch that were to big for bait. I spied some surface feeding a couple times. To far to paddle for and the frenzy finished quickly. Then they popped up in casting distance so I tossed out my grub. hahahaha. That's what I had in my hand. And hooked up. But that one spit out my grub. I was using the UL. I put a jerk bait on my light rod and set it up for easy grab. A few min later they came up again. I tossed it in the middle of the boil and I was hooked up again. This time for good. A nice 3.25 pounder. Great fight. Jumped once.

I also caught bait and put out a perch. I had two hits. One I fought and never saw. The other spit out the bait when it felt me tighten up good. All of a sudden I see the bobber pop up about 75 yards out. The line came back clean so I have to guess they were not cats.

All in all a good day on the lake.

Mike

 

[mfive]

All in all a good day on the lake.

Mike

I mean this with all sincerity, you are killing nice fish every time you hold them like that. Please educate yourself on how to properly hand a largemouth bass. Here's a start: http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/how-not-hold-hawg

 

[lewisfishing]

That is a broad statement...especially since you don't know how long it was in any position and whether any real stress was on the fish. A photo is an instant in time...fish and hands and every living thing moves constantly.

This discussion leads to thread closures, so this is my warning on this. If it is a legal bass, he may have even kept it to eat, which is fine.

We will not tolerate accusations on this site.

Thanks.

I mean this with all sincerity, you are killing nice fish every time you hold them like that. Please educate yourself on how to properly hand a largemouth bass. Here's a start: http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/how-not-hold-hawg

 

[fuquay fisherman]

Lewisfishing, I think you are filling the role of referee instead of moderator tonight. Should have wore your zebra stripes to the computer.

Mfive, there is a way to speak to a mistake that is much more effective. It is seasoned with grace and served on a platter of humility. A sample would be...
"Great fish, you really got into them. I recently read this article (add link) that addressed the way we handle fish when practicing catch and release and it really has me rethinking my own fish handling practices. If you get a chance to read it I would love to know your thoughts."

Calling people out and insinuating ignorance in need of education detracts from your message and purpose. I read the article and have been trying to employ better practices for handling fish I'm not keeping such as not bringing them out of the water unless absolutely necessary. I get your desire in the post but the presentation is found wanting. I hope the rebuke doesn't drive you away from the site cause there are a ton of great guys on here.

- James -

 

[Nat's Dad]

Perfect post. Wisdom shows in bunches.

 

[mikeski]

Actually I too think I have been killing it at Harris. I only take what I can eat then. I never take a bass. Only white perch, cats and crappie can be found on my stringer.

All my fish receive the best of care if they are going back. As for this fish. I was attempting to hold it's belly up with my other fingers so I did not put full weight on it's jaw. And it was up like that for the time it took to line up the shot and shoot. It's tough to take pictures in a kayak by yourself. Some fish belong on the digital stringer.

As for the comment. I have been online since online was running at 9600 baud. I understand forums and their lack of expression, body language and tone with the addition of not proof reading what they write. I also understand that not all people use honey to get a point across. I found early on it's much more fun to respond to flames calmly and ignore the flame totally. In most cases they have copied management. In many cases they were attempting to cover their butt with me. My response usually makes them look like an idiot when I can cover my butt and do not bite.

In this case I don't think it was a flame. I believe as fuquay fisherman stated. There are much better ways to say things. And this could have been written in a way to make me want to check out the info and not think you are smacking me around in the digital space.

mike

 

[jimsnores]

You can take a punch, Mike.

I find it somewhat ironic that the linked article (which I thought was a good one) was to Bassmasters, because I still see TV anglers hold bass much worse than you held yours all the time. I hope the TV guys do begin to put more emphasis on fish handling.

As for me, I am sure I don't kill many fish.......not because I am an expert at handling, I just don't catch that many.

 

[SurfRider]

I was going to come in with a reply to mfive with something about educating oneself on manners and condescension but I think it's been said well enough and more politely than my initial response.

Some nice fish Jparker and Mike, always pays to have something ready to throw at a surfacing school this time of year!

 

[jparker80]

I was going to come in with a reply to mfive with something about educating oneself on manners and condescension but I think it's been said well enough and more politely than my initial response.

Some nice fish Jparker and Mike, always pays to have something ready to throw at a surfacing school this time of year!

Hey thanks man! I always feel a need to help a fishermen out as well, Dog Days of summer can be rough on all of us! Hopefully it starts picking up soon, I'm looking for a PR this year

 

[EvBlue]

I'm pretty sure every bass that Jimmy Huston kissed swam off to die a horrible death.

 

[Bassmaster3363]

I'm pretty sure every bass that Jimmy Huston kissed swam off to die a horrible death.

The kiss of Death lol

 

[mfive]

That is a broad statement...especially since you don't know how long it was in any position and whether any real stress was on the fish. A photo is an instant in time...fish and hands and every living thing moves constantly.

This discussion leads to thread closures, so this is my warning on this. If it is a legal bass, he may have even kept it to eat, which is fine.

We will not tolerate accusations on this site.

Thanks.

Calm down, cowboy! Perhaps I have should have used smileys. ;-)

I think everyone here could step back and read my post with a positive vibe and connotation. I did not mean it to be offensive, or smug, but I can completely see how it would be taken that way when you're reading text on a screen. For that, I apologize; I should have been more sensitive to how tone isn't portrayed easily via text. For everyone who responded and lashed out... shame on you, you're just as bad as I was.

Here's why I feel that even if you keep the fish legally, handling them in a manner that is conducive to their health (albeit before slicing down the spine to filet the fish! ha!) is important, especially when it's being photographed and posted publicly on the internet... We live in a time where, unfortunately, people love to shame fishing and hunting. I see it all over the place. We need to set a strong example of our commitment to the wild game that we love to hunt and fish for. People will latch onto anything, and a picture like this on the internet is no different to some of them than the pictures of the dentist from colorado that shot the lion in Africa. We need to be sensitive in order to keep a positive light on what we love to do. I hope that makes sense.

 

[quest4reds]

Nice work jparker80!! Gettin up earlier than the fish it would appear. How much more time did you spend on the water after the bite slowed down?

 

[jparker80]

Nice work jparker80!! Gettin up earlier than the fish it would appear. How much more time did you spend on the water after the bite slowed down?

Honestly about 2 hours, definition of insanity at that point. Trying the same thing over and over and getting the same result. Plus I was getting hungry. Still a great morning!!

 

[quest4reds]

I have been online since online was running at 9600 baud.
mike

Is that 9600 baud street or ave? Is that where Al Gore invented it?

 

[mikeski]

Is that 9600 baud street or ave? Is that where Al Gore invented it?

Hahahaha, ya.....

mike