My 1000th bass of 2011 turned out to be a dink...but at least I made my 1K goal! Caught it on the 'Wart shown in the photo about 8-9 feet down.
Got to 1000 13 days earlier than last year though, and this year the 1000th was 12 inches - last year the 1000th was 11 inches... :lol:
Still some good fishing days left before winter sets in, might make it to 1100 this year.
WTG Goose! That's a lot of bass.
Thats a lifetime of bass for some anglers. Congratulations.
Woooo Hoooooo!!!! Awesome stuff Goose!
Big O
www.ragetail.com
Thanks guys! Given my meager skills as an angler, that number really represents persistence...rather than angling prowess...
On 10/18/2011 at 8:43 AM, Goose52 said:Thanks guys! Given my meager skills as an angler, that number really represents persistence...rather than angling prowess...
Most angling prowess IS a result of persistence.
Nice job, Goose! Is that two years in a row now, or more?
You're consistant but at least you're keeping your wrist limber.
On 10/18/2011 at 8:43 AM, Goose52 said:Thanks guys! Given my meager skills as an angler, that number really represents persistence...rather than angling prowess...
probably a result of you having more time than most others to go fishing almost everyday
1k, Nice Job!!!!
Dang way to go! I never really thought about keeping a count for the year.
Thanks again to all.
On 10/18/2011 at 10:45 PM, Dwight Hottle said:Most angling prowess IS a result of persistence.
I must have a lot of prowess then...I bet I've got an average of at least an hour fishing time invested in each of those 1,000 bass...
On 10/18/2011 at 11:03 PM, senile1 said:Nice job, Goose! Is that two years in a row now, or more?
Just two years in a row. I only got back into fishing in late 2009 after I retired so I've only had two full fishing seasons since then. The 1,000 number is really just about a max effort. I only fish my neighborhood lakes and you really have to work for your fish. Next season I need to get back to some other interests and I think my 2012 goal might be just 750 bass.
On 10/18/2011 at 11:34 PM, Grey Wolf said:You're consistant but at least you're keeping your wrist limber.
That is very, very true. I fell on the ice two winters back and ended up with a shoulder injury that left me with limited range of motion of my right arm - thousands of casts worked that out. Two years ago two fingers on my right hand were like claws and wouldn't close on their own - gripping a rod handle many hours a day worked that out. When I go fishing, I tell the wife that I'm going for physical therapy!
On 10/19/2011 at 12:11 AM, Red Earth said:probably a result of you having more time than most others to go fishing almost everyday
Sure. Other than some saltwater fishing in the mid-80s, I fished very little between 1967 and 2009. Now that I'm retired, I'm making up for lost time.
That's a heck of a lot of bass... I wish I could say that I caught 250 this season. My fishing season was basically shot due to several obligations; I got out only twice during the last 6 weeeks.
Stay on them!
On 10/19/2011 at 9:34 AM, deep said:Stay on them!
I'll try! The bite is tough right now though, fished 3 different lakes yesterday for a total of about 90 minutes and only had an 8" fish to show for it. It will be raining all day today but will try to get out and get at least one fish...
That's a lot fish !! I probably average 40-45 hours a week of fishing, too bad I didn't spend that much time working...lol
I have no idea of how many fish I catch. My biggest fish come from top lures, working canal shore lines, I fish that way for bass almost exclusively, it's also the most fun for me.
Hokie Smoke, 2 years in a row? That's awesome! I'm sure you'll have a lot of memories. I know you like to log your catches, did you log them all?
On 10/20/2011 at 3:46 PM, SirSnookalot said:That's a lot fish !! I probably average 40-45 hours a week of fishing, too bad I didn't spend that much time working...lol
I have no idea of how many fish I catch. My biggest fish come from top lures, working canal shore lines, I fish that way for bass almost exclusively, it's also the most fun for me.
That's just the bass! Got a nice 19"/3.02lb LMB this morning so I'm up to 1006 bass for the season. But I also have 92 other fish caught (collateral catches while bass fishing - catfish, carp, crappie, bream, bowfin, chain pickerel) this season for a total of 1098 fish caught this year.
Wow - 40-45 hours a week - I can't match that. I don't keep track but I'd guess my average is about 25 hours a week, give or take. That number will be going down about now with cold weather coming in.
I love topwater too but this year I just didn't fish on top much. I have a few buzzbait fish this year and that's about it. I did have a nice 4.3lb LMB hit my little 5" grub as I was pulling it over some slop - the bass bulged then came through a hole in the matt and nailed the grub - a great rush.
On 10/20/2011 at 8:22 PM, Jigfishn10 said:Hokie Smoke, 2 years in a row? That's awesome! I'm sure you'll have a lot of memories. I know you like to log your catches, did you log them all?
Sure - Excel spreadsheet. I can "shake and bake" the data to find out all sorts of stuff. Gives me something to play with in winter...
Congrats.
I don't count them so I have no idea of how many I catch, other than at the double secret pond where I nailed 50 last trip.
Now, how about going for 1,100 before years end????
Wow...that's very impressive! Congrats on that milestone. Keeping track adds to my fun as well. In the last two years, what have you learned? How has your fishing evolved over the last 2000 fish?
On 10/21/2011 at 5:09 AM, Sam said:Now, how about going for 1,100 before years end????
I'm gonna give it a try. We just had a cold front come through and surface water temps suddenly dropped 15 degrees. We have two near-freezing nights coming up as well. The bite is going to be tough. I did get a 19" 3 pound LMB this morning that put me at 1006 - that's a long way from 1100. Went fishing this evening and got another 19 incher...but it was a trout not a bass so that didn't help my numbers (although it made my dinner table - see Other Species forum - lol).
On 10/21/2011 at 5:17 AM, Revo_Carrot Stix said:Wow...that's very impressive! Congrats on that milestone. Keeping track adds to my fun as well. In the last two years, what have you learned? How has your fishing evolved over the last 2000 fish?
I know my 11 lakes and 3 ponds better - can start to eliminate non-productive water. Getting better at bait selection and use although I still have some weak areas - especially JIGS ! Still not getting all I could out of my sonar when fishing from the boat. Also when in the boat I'm not doing enough to exploit offshore structure. Better and playing/landing fish. Quality of fish has improved - fewer dinks, more larger fish this year than last.
I still consider myself a novice angler but getting somewhat better. Regardless of my progress or lack thereof, I still have fun and being out fishing is more fun that sitting on the sofa thinking about fishing... :lol:
Way to go Goose! Let's see-at 50 per trip, and approximately 30 trips this year, I guess I'm up to about 1500 so far... Well at least the 30 is about right. I always think I will start keeping detailed records, but I have never been able to do so for over a trip or two. I fish with guy from time to time who always seems to know the total for the day; I have found if I divide his number by 2 it is fairly accurate.
I could go for some grilled trout...
On 10/21/2011 at 9:39 PM, tate said:The joys of retirement ....
You betcha!
On 10/22/2011 at 3:58 AM, K_Mac said:Way to go Goose! Let's see-at 50 per trip, and approximately 30 trips this year, I guess I'm up to about 1500 so far... Well at least the 30 is about right. I always think I will start keeping detailed records, but I have never been able to do so for over a trip or two. I fish with guy from time to time who always seems to know the total for the day; I have found if I divide his number by 2 it is fairly accurate.
I could go for some grilled trout...
Hey K_Mac - I sorta have an advantage - I don't take "trips"...I just hop in the car and have 11 lakes and 3 ponds all within about a 6 mile radius so I can get in a lot of fishing. The quality of the fisheries is not that great...you have to work hard for your fish...but they ARE convenient.
The trout was indeed tasty!
Good job Goose!
Happy to notice that the Kalins is still producing for you. Will you be posting up the tote board like you did last year? It was interesting to see what was working for you.
One of these days, I hope my priorities can revolve around fishing and not around all of the other trappings that keep the boat gathering dust. I guess there is always next year.
On 10/22/2011 at 9:14 PM, Lund Explorer said:Good job Goose!
Happy to notice that the Kalins is still producing for you. Will you be posting up the tote board like you did last year? It was interesting to see what was working for you.
One of these days, I hope my priorities can revolve around fishing and not around all of the other trappings that keep the boat gathering dust. I guess there is always next year.
Thanks!
Yep - the grubs still catch fish but I'll have to admit that I went over to the dark side this year - fishing stick worms a bit (primarily where I needed casting distance over the weightless grubs) - I didn't fish a single stick worm last year.
My numbers by bait (bass only) so far this year are:
445 - Grubs
218 - Lipless Cranks
164 - Stick Worms
51 - Spinnerbait/buzzbait/chatterbait
48 - Lipped Cranks
46 - Plastic worms (mostly ribbontails)
36 - Plastic craws
Last year - my top 3 baits were grubs, lipless cranks, and plastic worms. This year, the stick worm took a lot of numbers off the ribbontails so they're now in 3rd place.
Speaking of the boat gathering dust - a big difference this year is boat vs. bank (total fish, not just bass).
2010: Bank - 734 / Boat - 425
2011: Bank - 911 / Boat - 191 (to date)
Since I haven't had the canoe in the water as much this year, I've really had to work a LOT harder for the fish. I catch quite a bit more fish on a per/hour basis from the canoe than the bank. I wanted to do more cranking this year and didn't get as much time in the boat as last year so the lipped crank numbers aren't that high.
Still some days left this season. The spinnerbait, lipless crank, and soft plastic numbers (and maybe even a jig number!) will be a bit larger by the end of the year.
The Dark Side! Just don't start numerous threads about them and you'll survive.
I can't imagine a day when a grub isn't tied onto one rod of mine. If confession is good for the soul though, I will admit that I'm going to be straying off the Kalin's brand a bit next year. The Big O gave me the chance to get my paws on the new Rage Tail Grub earlier, and I'm going to have to give them a real tryout. I think that little bugger is going to add quite a few fish to the head count.
I'm pretty open on grub selection. I have some Kalins I got at a clearance price but haven't fished them yet. The grub line-up for this season (all fish - not just bass) is:
217 - Gander Mountain (I have a feeling these are made by Kalin)
185 - Zoom
44 - BPS
9 - Mr Twister
Sweet. That is a bunch of bass Goose.
Thanks!
Looks like I'll have to be satisfied with that 1K mark. Doesn't look like there's any way I'll be able to make it to 1100. The bite here has STOPPED. I fished for 6 hours yesterday and 4 hours today and got...nothing (that's significant since I've only been skunked 4 times since April 1). Last year, there was still a good bite at this time but this year, with the recent cold/rain front that went through, it looks like the fish are going to be hunkered down for a while. Hopefully, I'll get some fish in November.
That is a lot of bass. Between work and family I will be lucky to see 150 this year.
On 11/1/2011 at 1:04 AM, Bankbeater said:That is a lot of bass. Between work and family I will be lucky to see 150 this year.
I understand for sure. Hang in there.
I didn't catch 150 bass (total) in the 40+ years between 1967 and 2008. Boy, have I got a LOT of catching up to do...
I'm just trying to catch 365 bass that 15" for the year here in Iowa, good job!!On 10/17/2011 at 11:43 PM, Goose52 said:My 1000th bass of 2011 turned out to be a dink...but at least I made my 1K goal! Caught it on the 'Wart shown in the photo about 8-9 feet down.
Got to 1000 13 days earlier than last year though, and this year the 1000th was 12 inches - last year the 1000th was 11 inches...
Still some good fishing days left before winter sets in, might make it to 1100 this year.