Summer-long Skunk at UC Pond ends with new PB

[logs22]

I live a short walk to a well known pond/park in Union County and have spent the past 4-5 months getting skunked by this place time and time again. I kept going back (i) because it was so close and (ii) catching a decent (or any LMB) in that lake had become somewhat of an obsession. Since May I probably fished there on 30 or more occassions, usually just for a half hour or so while I walked my dog or pushed my son around in the stroller. During all that time not only did I only catch one TINY dink, but that dink was my only bite. Suffice to say by September my frustration with this place had reached epic proportions. What made it worse was that I knew from other people on this board that there were in fact some bass to be had in this lake, I just couldn't seem to catch them.

Anyway, Sat. night after I put my son to bed I decided to try my luck at some night fishing at my nemesis/lake. I don't have much experience fishing at night so I didn't expect much but it was a nice night and the wife was already asleep so what the hell.

After a few casts I am preparing myself for another skunk, when I feel some weight on my line. It felt more like a snag than a fish, and to be honest it wasn't until I got the mystery object within 10 yards of shore and I saw a surface thrash in the dark that I realized it was a really big fish. I managed to get it ashore and to my surprise, found myself with a nice fat 18 3/4" LMB - a new PB for me. To say I was excited would be an understatement, not just because I just caught a new PB, but because I caught it in the place that has been driving me insane with frustration all summer.

Anyway, I know most of the guys on here wouldn't think twice about a 18-19" bass but it was pretty awesome for me. Lesson learned - persistance pays off.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Dude!!! That's a great UC Bass. Fish looks nice and healthy. Congrats on the PB!!!

[Andrushkin33]

That's one great looking bass no matter which way you slice it.

Congratulations on your PB and sticking with the plan time and time again.

Andre

[Chrisper4694]

I haven't seen many much bigger than that reported this year and i've been personally trying to nab a 21" plus this year with no success over 19.5" since ice fishing (20"). That is a very nice fish for sure, don't sell that short! congrats!

[phil]

nice fish, this is the mini crank i found floating in your other UC spot by the gym lol

[Esox Luciano]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

That is a very nice fish for sure, don't sell that short! congrats!

Ditto. Especially if it came from unappreciated water, that much more worthy in my eyes! Congrats on the new PB!!

Persistence definitely pays off.

[MudCat08]

That fish is big in my book!
Probably not many smaller fish around because those big ones are hunting/ eating them all!

[jimcnj]

That's great!
I've been trying to get that fish all summer, too!
Probably seen you a couple times. Bites on!

[logs22]

Originally Posted by jimcnj

That's great!
I've been trying to get that fish all summer, too!
Probably seen you a couple times. Bites on!

Jim - You ever fish there after dark? I have gone a few times now and sometimes spot some other headlamps around the lake. Hard for me to make it there during daylight and although park technically closed at night cops have walked right past me and not said a word. Was there last night and heard this strange sound like hitting two sticks together. Took out my flashlight and shined it towards woods and there were two big bucks battling it out with their antlers. really cool to watch and they didn't stop on my account.

BTW - that fish did not come from any of the spots identified in your largemouth treasure map. Send me a PM though if you want to add the spot where I hooked this one to it. Had another big one on line last night in same area but based on what I saw when it was thrashing close to shore I think it may have been a carp. Thought I saw some orange coloring just before the thing spit the hook.

Lake now lower than it was before all this rain, it had risen at least a couple feet after rain earlier in week but guess the town pulled the plug and drained in anticipation of hurricane. Not sure how they drain that lake though since the outlet dam has no gates that can be open and I am not aware of any other outlets.

[jimcnj]

I stay until it gets dark. Never stayed after dark with lights. Those guys might be after cats. Fortunately, they aren't total slobs like those at the other nearby lake. I'm sick of the the Vienna sausage tins they leave all over the place.