CTFishTalk.com: Mamanasco 4/16 (NEW PB!) - Connecticut Bass Fishing Reports ( CT Bass Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

lamdesign · Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 50 Location: Ridgefield, CT

So lately things have been picking up for me on Mamanasco. As some of you know, I am renting a house with a dock on the lake. I usually hit it up when I get home from work and throughout the evening. The bites have been getting better.

So last night started off at about 7:30. Caught 3 LMB within 20 minutes. 1 was just a little guy that hit in about 3 ft of water. The other two were about 1-1 1/2 lbs and hit at the same spot, but hit really hard and put up a fight. I've notice the fish have started to jump on the fights now, which I like because it adds to the suspense. However, I did lose 3 last night to the jump, so that was discouraging. After about another 30 minutes I hit 3 more. 2 were over 2 lbs and 1 was over 1 lb. At that point I thought I would head in to make my dinner and thought it wouldnt get any better. Boy was I mistaken.

I went back out at about 9. Water was a little choppy with a slight wind coming in. Although, I heard fish jumping everywhere. within 30 minutes I hit 3 2 - 3 lb'ers. These things hit so damn hard and fought like crazy. One of them matched my previous PB and I thought after that I wouldnt really care what I caught because the night had gone so well. This was until about 20 minutes later when I felt a twitch about 20 feet out. I had been having trouble with the jumping and losing the fish so I set the hook as hard as I could. This is when I felt the biggest pull I have ever had (even harder than a Pike hitting). The thing started jumping like crazy and the splashes alone had me wondering what in the hell I had just snagged.

I then got her in and found this sitting on the end of my line:

This pick is from my porch about 20 yards from the water. Clearly it had a belly full of pre-spawn eggs, so I wanted to make sure I didnt keep it out too long, but managed to get this pic. It was tough to even get the fish held that high. Was in utter shock since this is the heaviest fish I have ever caught.

So full of adrenaline from that catch I thought Id see if the bite would keep. 30 minutes later I had about 3 more LMB about 1.5-2 lbs. I honestly could not believe the bite and aggression going on. It was about 10:30 and I thought I would call it a night until I felt a little bite on my last cast with a little strength. I threw the bait out about 3 more times. On the 3rd cast about 10 ft from the dock I felt another bite and set the hook. I have never felt or seen a LMB hit like this before. As soon as I set the hook it took off directly straight out and was above the water for about another 10ft. It looked like a friggin' toy jet boat shooting off. When it took off, it pulled so hard it pulled me a step forward and I really thought it was going to pull me in. I let it fight for about a minute and pulled it in.

I am not 100% sure but i think i caught the fish from earlier in the night a second time. I almost crapped myself. Brought it up and snapped a pick again. I put it back in slow and it swam off and then came to the top of the water about 10 feet out. I was so concerned I actually got in this inflatable canoe with only a flashlight to ensure it was safe and sound. When I got out there to check it was gone. I can only hope it is doing fine. I always get nervous with taking pics of fish since I have to run up to the porch. My guess is it was out of the water for maybe 1 minute (at most). I did return it slow and held its tail and pulled it back and forth to get its gills filled with air again. Since it did swim off on its own power I think it was fine. I even stayed on the dock searching the water for another 15 minutes. As great as I felt, I always want my fish to live on and handle them only by the lip(especially during the spawn and since this fish was so perfect). So I feel good about its survival at this point.

So since I had such a great night I want you guys to know what I used (and you may be surprised)

I used what I was raised on. All I used was a 1/8 black weight with a 2/0 Gamakatsu Texas Rigged on a simple all black Power Bait worm.

Cant wait to get back out there tonight!

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Sweet fish! Congratulations!

Yeap, I really don't like handling fish in the dark, either. It's tough enough in the daylight, especially in a kayak, but it sucks in the dark.
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DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

Nice job!

Elixir · Joined: 30 May 2011 Posts: 288 Location: Danbury, CT

Nice fish

keep goin'!

perfect hook set · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 1069 Location: Danbury

awesome bro
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Michael · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 3823 Location: Bridgeport

Awesome job! Congrats!

hila2006 · Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Posts: 582 Location: Ellington

Very nice, you're hitting really well from your dock.