Fished for about 40 min. and was only a 1/2 hr late getting home. Fished a couple different colors and styles of Robo Zippers w/ not much happening. I finally stuck one about 25 min. into my stay, but it popped off when it jumped. Worked around to my other favorite area for a couple bites. On the last cast I got hammered and managed to get it in. It was about 3#. I think it was the same one I got the other night, but I'm not sure. Unfortunately, I'll probably know next time. I forgot my pliers in the car. The hook was waaay back and I just couldn't get it out. So, I bit the line as close as possible. I really feel bad about, but at least it wasn't buried. It was just too far in for me to get my fingers on it and back it out. Damn. I tried to do it all quick, sure hope it makes it.

I talked to a freind who used to fish the same 2 ponds years ago. But, he stopped because people weren't C and R'ing. Looks like they're bouncing back though. How long does it take for a LM to hit 12"? Are they as slow as Calicos?

Loving this fresh stuff,
Amish Ed
Amish Ed

Ed,
I'm pretty sure calicos are slower to grow than largemouth. I think it's about an inch a year on L-mouth or so. Don't hold me to that though, cause I don't think it takes 11 years for a fish to reach 12 inches. Maybe closer to 2"/year??? Relatively fast I'd imagine, it probably takes 5 years or so for a bass to get 12 inches. It probably depends on food availability too. A tip on hook removal, if you don't have any pliers, what you can do is cut the line, and then push the hook forward, all the way out, so that you don't have to pull the barb out, just push it forward, over the eye, and since you cut the line, it's out. Also, when they swallow it and you can just see it in the swallowing mechanism thing, you can turn the hook so that the eye is poking out of it's gills (carefully) and then stick your finger under it's gill plate and push up on the hook (be sure not to gouge any red though...). Sometimes nothin seems to work, and it's better just to get the fish back in the water. I think you're having way too much fun with these FRESHWATER bass...
-Brian

Way too much fun. Not! Hopefully Sunday I can hit em again. I think they need a break from me for a day or 2. They seem to bite better when I haven't been the night before. But, that might just be a fluke thing. I better research that theory more.

The hook thing though, that I don't want to research more. It was just in this weird position. With pliers it would have been easy. I couldn't get my fat fingers in and still be able to push the hook around. Had to make the call, and figured the sooner in the water the better. I can always get it out later. Heh Heh Heh After 3 1/2 yrs working on boats I usually do well w/ these things. But, I usually have pliers too. Just another lesson learned. Though admittedly, I'd rather the fish didn't learn anything. Let it get smart when I do, because right now I love dumb fish.

Amish Ed

Ed,
Give black spinnerbaits a try at night. They're really easy to fish, and super productive most of the time. Black spinnerbaits are the classic night fishing bait. Make sure it's got a nice single colorado blade on it. Ya just do a straight wind, vary up the speed, the fish at the trailer park seem to like it REALLY slow (that's called slow rolling a spinnerbait...).
-Brian

On the Black spinnerbait there are 2 ways to Slow-roll the 1 you wan't with a black bait at night invovles holding your rod as high as is comfy and winding at a slow STEADY pace so the blade bulges but doesn't break the surface.
You might also try a black Jitterbug crawled across the surface just fast enough to Burble.
The other way to slow roll is typically done during the day and involves crawling a spinnerbait across the bottom at a speed just fast enough to make the blade(s) turn. Try White/silver if there are Shad in the pond, Yellow/gold if there are shiners, Yellow/blue/gold if only bluegill/sunfish, and Black or Brown if there are Crawdads. If a straight wind doesn't get it during the day try a fast jump about every 10-20ft. Good Luck

Tight lines,
Wade

Wade,
I've never heard of "bulging" a spinnerbait called slow rolling. New to me. I've always heard it called "bulging", "high sticking", "holding the rod in the air so the blades make a bulge on the water..." I've always thought of slow rolling as a slow wind, keeping the bait deep.
-Brian

A rose by any other name...
Wait a second, this is fishin' NOT poetry!
It seems you hear different things called different things everywhere you go.
2 buddies of mine call it "Surfacing" especially if the blades break the surface about every 5 to 10 feet to simulate scattering shad. The old Geezer(with all due respect and then some)that calls it slow rolling, says the slower the better at night, hence surface SLOW rolling.

Tight lines,
Wade