New Birthday PB Bass!

cbruce41 said:

Nice fish, @Cam ...nice way to spend your b-day! Now you gotta do it again next year....right??

Click to expand...

CBower said:

Awesome! Congrats on new PB and thanks for the fun-to-read report. I have some wake baits, but just don't have confidence in them (yet).

Click to expand...

spidey said:

Love the story and congrats on PB! a seems like PB stories are the best and always unique. Mine was on a COLD January afternoon very overcast maybe 35 degrees out. I run a chatter bait from bank toward spot on bridge I am fishing and SLAM I feel big fish on. Lots of runs with drag screaming a few runs under the bridge and fish stayed on. Given how cold never came out of water but knew Inhad a good one on. Finally land the fish and I am thinking nice solid 8. Walk her over to my bag pull out the scale and says 9.25#. I look at the fish and not long but very Chunky but decide to weigh again not believing my eyes. Sure enough 9.25#. I,look around and not a single soul to take a good photo Amazing since folks are always walking aroudn The lake. I decide time to release so walk her back to the bank spot and get ready to release and hear someone finally come by. Guy took photo and I released her looked at photo and was the worse fish photo anyone ever took. Oh well.

Click to expand...

Cam said:

My goodness a 9+ pounder is ridiculous! I've seen videos of people catching double digit bass before but pretty sure none that I've seen have been in NC. Seems like Texas, Florida, and others hold some biggen's. That's an impressive PB though and unlucky on the phot op, or lack-there-of. At least you got one though.

Click to expand...

Cam said:

Sooooo, my birthday was last Saturday and I went out for a nice fishing trip to celebrate because ya know, why not? Weather was warm but water visibility was poor to say the least. Within about 10 minutes or so I caught my first fish on a Texas-rigged creature bait, the area I was fishing at was a little bit rocky so at first I didn't know if I was snagged or not. By the time I figured out I gave a lackluster hookset, and because of that after the third time she jumped she spit the hook. It felt/looked like a 4 pounder or so so of course I was pretty disappointed but knew it was user error. I missed one more in that area then ended up moving on to try a new spot.

After trying a couple presentations I switched over to a large wake bait that I've been trying to throw more based on a recommendation from Youtube crew "Tactical Bassin". I've had this particular one for years from 6th Sense and just haven't tossed it much and had little confidence in it. Wellll, that changed quickly because I was running it by a downed tree and SMASH! Wasn't exactly a topwater blowup but it got sucked in and immediately I knew it was a big fish. She took me behind a small branch and got caught up for a bit, luckily it was on my heaviest setup as far as line and rod went so I stayed patient, kept pressure, and rod tip down to avoid losing another. I felt as soon as she came off but then the real fight began. I was reeling in and hardly gaining any traction as I could feel the drag slipping. After a little more of a fight she made one hard run and just peeled line out like I've only ever felt once on a fish that I ended up losing. I get her close to the bank then start to figure out how I'm going to land her as in my head I've already made up my mind that I am NOT losing this fish. I get her to where her nose touches the bank, am trying to choke up on the rod to be able to grab her and POP - the hook flies right out. Luckily reflexes kicked in and I threw rod behind me and dove arms first into the shallow water and was able to get my arm behind her to hold her long enough to grab some lip. Adrenaline was pumping at this time and there was a little bit (lotta bit 😂) of celebratory shouting. Got her out for a quick photoshoot and weigh in before letting her back to her home.

I noticed after in photos it looks like she was bedding or recently had been based on bottom of her tail, her stomach wasn't super big and I'm not experienced enough to tell if she had already laid eggs or not so if someone knows I'd be interested in their opinion.

Long story short this one felt like a movie and was a pretty solid birthday present. Pic's attached for bragging rights and proof. 😂

Click to expand...

Sam in GA said:

You reminded me, not trying to brag but 43 years ago on my birthday, 8/4, I caught the biggest I ever caught and weighed; 8lb4oz. In the Tar River at Grimesland. 8' black Jake's worm, I kept and mounted it. I have caught and released 2 here in L. Sinclair, GA. that I think were bigger but I did not weigh them. Both on small crankbaits, in December. Thanks for reminding me as my fishing this year has been CRUMMY. Went to L Hartwell yesterday and got a limit of fresh air from ENE wind and only 1 bite. On a Lunker Lure. Just a bad day for even me.
Trying to PM but can't find how.

Click to expand...

Cam said:

My goodness a 9+ pounder is ridiculous! I've seen videos of people catching double digit bass before but pretty sure none that I've seen have been in NC. Seems like Texas, Florida, and others hold some biggen's. That's an impressive PB though and unlucky on the phot op, or lack-there-of. At least you got one though.

Click to expand...