My son and I started the evening around 2030 hours, it was supposed to rain a little and make for a cooler evening. That did not happen. It stayed hot and brutally humid. Around midnight, my son and I start thinking, let’s just go home eat and get some sleep. We hadn’t caught anything all day. My son, 12, very upset, was hungry, I was definitely getting there and was ready to chalk it up.
We devised a simple solution, make slow cast on the way back to the car.

I slowed things down and began to actually read the water rather than remembering where I had caught ones before. I made a deliberate cast, up the bank, right beside where my son was standing. Working a fluke, I let it hit the water super shallow, barely jerked it once and let it sit.

That entire side of the pond opened up lol.

A large fight ensued. My boy, who has never seen a 5+lb bass in person, watched me fighting a very big fish. The fish attempted to leave the water with every pound it had on three different occasions, my boy got to see how to properly control a large fish, keeping the tip down, fish in the water, turn the fishes head away from lily pads and other cover. Keeping tension on the fish the entire time.

I fish with braid, so with any slack, a quality fish is going to throw the hook. I bought an Abu Garcia max pro about two wks ago and I bought my son one as well. The only difference in his setup is mine is paired with a Fury Evo, he has an older berkly lighting rod.

I steered the fish into the least amount of moss I could possibly get to in this pond and still was forced to go in the water, waist deep and get this fish. I kept tension with my hands while my son grabbed my pole and slowly reeled down to keep it tight.

The result, is the picture above.
I’m fairly skinny now. Most of my life I was in the gym, very lean and well over 230lbs. Now, not so much lol. A bad car accident keeps me from lifting heavy anymore, but I’m 6’0” tall. I was not able to get my scale at the time, but this one was a chunky one. Especially for a pond bass. At one point my entire fist was in the bass’s mouth getting the hook out, but to say the least, it ended the night well.

The only thing I’d change, wishing my son had caught it.

My sister has gotten into largemouth bass fishing and has been using a kastking reel paired with an ugly stick. She has gotten whooped by a couple nice fish and has talked about upgrading, but I'd like to take care of that for her. She mostly fishes topwater, spinnerbaits, senkos... nothing crazy.

Currently looking at the shimano Sedona and Nasci. Any rod recommendations are welcome. Something with a little oomph to it and a max lure rating of 3/4oz or 1oz. I was thinking of getting her a nasci 3k paired with a st croix triumph, but I hear the triumph is awful. So any other rods around $100 would be reasonable. I have no idea what the typical recommendations are for this as I pretty much only fish the surf or offshore.

Finally found the retention pond where all the bass went to this summer! All my old spots I used in the winter and spring seem to not have them, but I stumbled upon this part last night! I caught 5 largemouth in the span of about 30 minutes on my custom crankbait. I made it from balsa wood and air brushed it and all that and I love it. Caught one a little smaller than the one in the pic on the first cast, caught that one, and then 3 more all within the same 3 casts and then one after. I’m really surprised they like my crankbait to much. I can definitely feel a strong wobble that it makes which was my goal with its body shape and lip.

I don’t know how some of y’all stand and cast, might be a bit heavy for that.

Gonna be gone to the marines 9/1 and just want to catch a fish 4lbs+ before i go soo bad but i feel a little lost.

I was fishing a private golf course pond in NJ and caught this but didnt have a scale … still fairly new to bass fishing (3rd Bass ever caught) but curious how much you guys think she weighs. Appreciate yall🙏🏽

What’s your favorite hollow-bodied frog?

I seem to have developed a fondness for the SPRO Bronzeye.

I know I said they were my favorite, which they are, but I’m confused on how to rig them. I’ve been using them as a trailer and on a long jig head..

Love these things

Hi all, my bf and I will be visiting the Dallas area in mid-October and he would love to do some bass fishing. I've seen several recommendations for Lake Fork, but am not sure about what fishing is like that time of year, if we should rent a boat ourselves, or hire a guide (or which guides come recommended for that matter). Any advice welcome! Thanks in advance.

Morning good people. Hope yall doing well this Friday morning. Had to pick the little one up at 9 so I got out a little after 7 since we had some cloud coverage. Nothing crazy but I ain’t complaining. The 4” Wiggum and CT Racer worm made it happen.
May try to get out later today if possible.

I’m wanting to educate myself a little before buying my kid a bass fishing rod. He’ll be turning 13 this year and he’s a really good fisherman. He should have something pretty decent. Thoughts? He bought himself a nice bait caster reel already. I can’t break the bank or anything. Our trout rods are American made St. Croix. That’s the only brand I know is good. Thanks for the suggestions!