[perfect hook set]

Fished the same area at west lake today.

Casting the same spinnerbait I used to catch my Fat LMB last night.
Fan casting from left to right, I miss one on my second cast. The LMB spit the spinner bait at me and wouldnt hit again.
A few more cast (back to fan casting) about half way in as I am looking down into the water I see a brownish gold color fish (I was thinking a big LMB) slaughter my lure. As the fish turns I feel the weight and set the hook. As the fish comes close enough for me to see it.... a pickerel! It was the smallest out of the 3 I caught there this year but, still bigger then the ones I usually catch else where.

I continue to work to the right, about 2 - 3 yards (about 5 minutes past AT MAX between releasing the pic and a few casts) from where the pickerel hit, BAM!
Again I see a quick flash of fish feel a hard pull and set the hook WOO ITS ON.
A LMB, it was a bit closer to the shore so I was able ti fight her in fairly quickly after stripping the line once..

I was fired up but, in the back of my head I had a feeling for some reason that was all I was going to catch today.

I moved around a bit without much success, I brought one almost to shore on a swimbait and the lmb tail walked a bunch of times and my swimbait went flying out of its face.

I went back and started to cast around the area I caught the other two fish in.
Working the spinnerbait a bit slower now (watching the water) a feel a light hit and see a fish miss it.
Time for a trailer hook!
I did the same thing and missed this fish twice more. It was upsetting because, from what i can see it looked decent.
I gave up on that fished and ended up pulling a little guy in not too long after


It was much fatter then what this picture shows =/




This picture really shows how big it was, not because, of the ruler but,because, its a nice close up!

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[Michael]

WOW!!! That one is more like 5 or 5 1/4 pounds!

[BassRican]

Nice fish!!! What kind of swim bait?
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When in doubt, rip their lips out!

[perfect hook set]

I didnt catch this one on a swimbait, cant wait until I do though!

I use a spro 4in slow sink bbz-1 "shad"
Its cool because, you can still work it at the surface at a slow speed...
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[DirtyDawg10]

nice one!

[damage inc]

Man you are killin em! By boy Onzo went over there on the 17th and caught 4-2 lbers.
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Oh man... you got Onzo'd!

[chuckc]

Just an FYI laying a fish on the ground is like dropping ice cream in a sand box. When a fish is flopping on the ground it removes some of it's the mucus membrane and makes it more vulnerable to diseases and such. This only applies to catch and release of course, you really wouldn't care if its going to the frying pan....lol
May I suggest a measuring board (you should wet the board before you lay a fish on it) :







*Image courtesy of PECo*
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[Ryanmalloy44]

Sweet largemouth!!

[perfect hook set]

a measuring board would do similar and so do nets
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[chuckc]

Not if you wet the board or net first and don't lay them in the dirt. Or even bring a small trash bag with you and wet it then lay the fish on it.
Just a tip to help the fish if you are a catch and release guy..
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[perfect hook set]

I layed theym on grass. Some of the fish are dirty because the shore is dirt. I am on a rock and most of the fish as I bring in tail walk toward the shore.

Some tourneys do not allow nets for the reason I stated before...

Thanks for your tip I'll be sure to give you one when you bring me a cold drink =)
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[Elixir]

Nice nice nice nice! PHS pulls it out of his ass again!! lol

[chuckc]

[perfect hook set]

Yes winner gets free drinks!

I never said there was dirt in the grass, I said the dirts on shore.
About 2-3 feet behind me theres grass sorrounding me though is dirt!
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