Epic pickerel & bass day off

[buzzbaiter]

Had the day off and with both warm air and warm water, the fish were super active. Fish were slashing baitfish all day. I could see the bass & pickerel clearing the water chasing them. I pocketed the buzzbait after so-so success and used a 2" surface popper. They crushed it. Many times hitting it before I could even twitch it. I even harpooned myself, sinking two hooks of a treble in my index finger. Barbs pinched down so easy removal. Trust me you SHOULD do this. Save yourself pain, blood and maybe a doctor visit. Anyhow finished with over 150 pickerel and 31 bass. Even got a few big sunnies. Below are pics of 27 of the bass. I didn't want to quit but my almost 50 year old back and tennis elbow forced me too. I need to start casting left handed soon. Only saw one boat all day(8 hrs) on a large public lake. Wish I could work weekends and fish during the week all the time.




https://goo.gl/photos/YpcvXR8gmFJpHrXB9

[Eskimo]

Barbs pinched down so easy removal. Trust me you SHOULD do this. Save yourself pain, blood and maybe a doctor visit....Wish I could work weekends and fish during the week all the time.


Looks like an epic day.
It took me a while to trust that the bass won't throw the lure, but I'm beginning to mash down all the barbs of my hooks.
I especially mash down the barbs when I fish in water Hybrid Stripers are stocked. Those fish are so aggressive, I don't think the bait ever touches the front of their mouths. Being able to quickly slide out the hook while causing minimal damage has probably lowered my post-release mortality.

Unfortunately I'm working both week days and weekend this week. I'm glad to have the money, but being deprived of outdoor time really sucks.


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[River Renegade]

Great pics & nice bass & panfish also, gotta love a mixed bag day :)

[buzzbaiter]

Looks like an epic day.
It took me a while to trust that the bass won't throw the lure, but I'm beginning to mash down all the barbs of my hooks.


Yes it takes some guts. You'll lose fish - mostly the larger ones - but better for you and the fish. Being a pike and pickerel enthusiast, I just found it much easier unhooking them with barbs down given their razor teeth.


Unfortunately I'm working both week days and weekend this week. I'm glad to have the money, but being deprived of outdoor time really sucks.
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I worked the last two sundays when the weather was windy/chilly. I got time and a half for it and so now I can but more lures :)