One Year and One Thousand Bass - My Thanks to All ! 2024

Goose52 reply :

I registered on this board one year ago today. I haven't posted as much as many folks do, just tried to absorb the posts and articles. The 2010 fishing season was my first full season of fishing since I was a teenager. Work and life events prevented anything other than just occasional fishing in fresh and salt water from the late 1960s until this year. I retired in 2009 and am now able to fish nearly every day.

My thanks to Glen, the Mods, article authors, and to the board members for the information that I have tried to absorb and translate to practical use. My knowledge of things like analysis of structure and cover, then bait selection and utilization, and all of the other technical details of bass angling I mostly attribute to this board.

The results? I set a goal of catching 1,000 bass this year. As of today, I've caught 1049 largemouth bass this season (plus another 105 miscellaneous fish like trout, crappie, brim, perch, etc.). Now, that 1049 bass number includes everything from 6" dinks on up to a 4.73lb LMB and includes about 75 bass over 2 pounds. There are not a lot of large bass in my local lakes and the 4.73 fish was as big as anything caught in the local bass club's tournaments this year. So, not bad results for the year. Last year, I lucked onto a 7.75lb LMB (my PB), so there are some bigger fish in the lakes. A future goal is to beat that 7.75lb number.

Although not a bass, my biggest angling success of the year was landing a 37.1 pound grass carp on a 7'm BC rod w/10lb test line - a great 35 minute fish fight (I already reported that catch in a post in the Other Species forum.)

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for all the knowledge sharing and camaraderie that we have on this board. We are all fortunate that so many experienced anglers choose to share their knowledge in this fine venue.

Now, if folks would just quit bashing my use of BPS reels and rods, life would be good! (I did go over to the dark side and bought a couple of Loomis GLX rods this year...but I'm still using my trusty BPS PQs and Carbonlite BC reels!) ;D

I can't wait for next season !

Goose52 reply :

I can't wait for next season !

Goose52 reply :

I can't wait for next season !

Lund Explorer reply :

Great Job Goose!

Setting a goal and attaining it is always a good thing.

What was your top producing baits?

Lund Explorer reply :

Great Job Goose!

Setting a goal and attaining it is always a good thing.

What was your top producing baits?

Lund Explorer reply :

Great Job Goose!

Setting a goal and attaining it is always a good thing.

What was your top producing baits?

Goose52 reply :

Thanks!

On the baits, the lowly 5" grub was, by far, the biggest producer - you catch dinks on them, but I also caught bass up to 3 pounds on them. I fished the grubs on the fall, dragging them back, swimming them back, and as a topwater. Anytime I thought the fish were in 5 feet of water or less, I would always start with the grub. If no action, or if I thought the fish were deeper, I went with Plan B. I also love the lipless cranks to cover a lot of water, fast. Here's the totals:

761 5" single-tail grubs (Zoom, Gander Mountain)

120 lipless cranks (SK RES and Yo-Zuri Rattl'N Vibe)

90 plastic worms - 4" to 10.5" (Zoom, BPS, Culprit)

34 crankbaits (Bomber, Norman, Luhr Jensen, Storm, Berkley)

30 buzzbaits (Strike King)

7 spinnerbaits (H&H and Walmart!)

7 misc topwater (Jitterbug, Tiny Torpedo)

Now that I know my 11 lakes much better, the mix-up will change for next season and I hope to get in more topwater action (what a rush) and cranking. BUT, when conditions are right, I'm still gonna start with the lowly grub... ;D

Goose52 reply :

Thanks!

761 5" single-tail grubs (Zoom, Gander Mountain)

120 lipless cranks (SK RES and Yo-Zuri Rattl'N Vibe)

90 plastic worms - 4" to 10.5" (Zoom, BPS, Culprit)

34 crankbaits (Bomber, Norman, Luhr Jensen, Storm, Berkley)

30 buzzbaits (Strike King)

7 spinnerbaits (H&H and Walmart!)

7 misc topwater (Jitterbug, Tiny Torpedo)

Goose52 reply :

Thanks!

761 5" single-tail grubs (Zoom, Gander Mountain)

120 lipless cranks (SK RES and Yo-Zuri Rattl'N Vibe)

90 plastic worms - 4" to 10.5" (Zoom, BPS, Culprit)

34 crankbaits (Bomber, Norman, Luhr Jensen, Storm, Berkley)

30 buzzbaits (Strike King)

7 spinnerbaits (H&H and Walmart!)

7 misc topwater (Jitterbug, Tiny Torpedo)

aceman387 reply :

Congrats on your fish totals for the year Wayne.I about dropped my pancakes on the floor this morning when i saw you bass count on the grubs which for me is one of those seldom used soft plastics i have tucked away on the shelf in the garage.I bought a few bags of some 5" kalin grubs earlier in the year and basically forgot about them, After seeing the success you had with them i wish i would have tried them.

aceman387 reply :

Goose52 reply :

Yep, the grubs are obviously my confidence bait Including "other species" I caught 791 fish on grubs this year.

BTW - I don't fish them on a jighead as most folks do - I fish them weightless and weedless on a 1/0 EWG.

Goose52 reply :

Yep, the grubs are obviously my confidence bait Including "other species" I caught 791 fish on grubs this year.

BTW - I don't fish them on a jighead as most folks do - I fish them weightless and weedless on a 1/0 EWG.

Goose52 reply :

Yep, the grubs are obviously my confidence bait Including "other species" I caught 791 fish on grubs this year.

BTW - I don't fish them on a jighead as most folks do - I fish them weightless and weedless on a 1/0 EWG.

Grey Wolf reply :

Congrats , an excellent year !!!!!!!!!!!

Grey Wolf reply :

Congrats , an excellent year !!!!!!!!!!!

Grey Wolf reply :

Congrats , an excellent year !!!!!!!!!!!

firefightn15 reply :

That's great Goose, glad to hear of your stellar year; keep up the good work! 8-)

firefightn15 reply :

That's great Goose, glad to hear of your stellar year; keep up the good work! 8-)

firefightn15 reply :

That's great Goose, glad to hear of your stellar year; keep up the good work! 8-)

Goose52 reply :

Thanks guys...it's been fun! And there's still more catching that can be done this season here in TN - the water isn't hard yet !

Goose52 reply :

Thanks guys...it's been fun! And there's still more catching that can be done this season here in TN - the water isn't hard yet !

Goose52 reply :

Thanks guys...it's been fun! And there's still more catching that can be done this season here in TN - the water isn't hard yet !

bassfisherjk reply :

Congrat's Goose.

bassfisherjk reply :

Congrat's Goose.

bassfisherjk reply :

Congrat's Goose.

tnbassfisher reply :

That is a ton of fish!

tnbassfisher reply :

That is a ton of fish!

tnbassfisher reply :

That is a ton of fish!

K_Mac reply :

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That is a ton of fish!

That may not be far off! Goose you keep such meticulous records, what do you recon the total weight was?

K_Mac reply :

Quote
That is a ton of fish!

That may not be far off! Goose you keep such meticulous records, what do you recon the total weight was?

K_Mac reply :

Quote
That is a ton of fish!

That may not be far off! Goose you keep such meticulous records, what do you recon the total weight was?

Goose52 reply :

I wish it was a ton - that would be an average of almost 2lbs per fish !

I do keep pretty good records, and I have the lengths of all the fish that I've caught. I also have data on average weights of LMB 14" and longer. I had to guess at average weights of fish under 14". Keep in mind that this is not a real healthy fishery and the bass in the 11 lakes that I fish tend to be skinny - my PB that I caught last year was a respectable 26"...but only 7.75lbs - big head and skinny body. Here's the numbers:

20" - 4.73lb (I only caught one 20" fish and it was a plump 4.73!)

19" - 3.04lb

18" - 2.77lb

17" - 2.26lb

16" - 1.85lb

15" - 1.50lb

14" - 1.34lb

13" - 1.10lb *

12" - 0.90lb *

11" - 0.70lb *

10" - 0.60lb *

<9" - 0.40lb *

* = estimate

So, given those averages, I only caught a less than stellar 925 pounds of bass this year ... :

Goose52 reply :

I wish it was a ton - that would be an average of almost 2lbs per fish !

20" - 4.73lb (I only caught one 20" fish and it was a plump 4.73!)

19" - 3.04lb

18" - 2.77lb

17" - 2.26lb

16" - 1.85lb

15" - 1.50lb

14" - 1.34lb

13" - 1.10lb *

12" - 0.90lb *

11" - 0.70lb *

10" - 0.60lb *

<9" - 0.40lb *

* = estimate

So, given those averages, I only caught a less than stellar 925 pounds of bass this year ... :

Goose52 reply :

I wish it was a ton - that would be an average of almost 2lbs per fish !

20" - 4.73lb (I only caught one 20" fish and it was a plump 4.73!)

19" - 3.04lb

18" - 2.77lb

17" - 2.26lb

16" - 1.85lb

15" - 1.50lb

14" - 1.34lb

13" - 1.10lb *

12" - 0.90lb *

11" - 0.70lb *

10" - 0.60lb *

<9" - 0.40lb *

* = estimate

So, given those averages, I only caught a less than stellar 925 pounds of bass this year ... :

lazeebum reply :

I wish I would take the time to keep that kind of records. Nice year and great recording.

lazeebum reply :

I wish I would take the time to keep that kind of records. Nice year and great recording.

lazeebum reply :

I wish I would take the time to keep that kind of records. Nice year and great recording.

lazeebum reply :

I don't know what part of Tennessee you are in, but you might still be able to make one thousand before the end of the year. Hand warmers and layers.

lazeebum reply :

I don't know what part of Tennessee you are in, but you might still be able to make one thousand before the end of the year. Hand warmers and layers.

lazeebum reply :

I don't know what part of Tennessee you are in, but you might still be able to make one thousand before the end of the year. Hand warmers and layers.

lazeebum reply :

O.K. one thousand pounds. :-[

lazeebum reply :

O.K. one thousand pounds. :-[

lazeebum reply :

O.K. one thousand pounds. :-[

Goose52 reply :

Quote
I don't know what part of Tennessee you are in, but you might still be able to make one thousand before the end of the year. Hand warmers and layers.

Another 75 pounds would be a challenge. I'm up on the Cumberland plateau and it's a bit colder up here than middle or west Tennessee. Water temps are dropping fast. I fished for almost 2 hours this afternoon and only got one 15" (1.34lb) fish. I'd have to catch 55 more of those to get 75 pounds !

Goose52 reply :

Quote
I don't know what part of Tennessee you are in, but you might still be able to make one thousand before the end of the year. Hand warmers and layers.

Goose52 reply :

Quote
I don't know what part of Tennessee you are in, but you might still be able to make one thousand before the end of the year. Hand warmers and layers.

Bryce C reply :

That is awesome Goose!!! I had never kept track of my number of landed fish in a season until this year......I set a goal of 1000 as well, but didn't quite make it.

Your record keeping is awesome....do you carry a notepad with you while you fish or just jot stuff down after each trip? Are you using a specific log form? I would love to keep better records in the future....it's been a lot of fun just counting the total number this year let alone lengths weights baits etc....

Good job man!!

Bryce C reply :

That is awesome Goose!!! I had never kept track of my number of landed fish in a season until this year......I set a goal of 1000 as well, but didn't quite make it.

Good job man!!

Bryce C reply :

That is awesome Goose!!! I had never kept track of my number of landed fish in a season until this year......I set a goal of 1000 as well, but didn't quite make it.

Good job man!!

Goose52 reply :

I have good records but my data collection system is not that sophisticated ;D

For lengths, when fishing from the bank, I wear a lanyard that has nailclippers (for line cutting) and a little 3ft tape measure. Everything that comes out of the water gets measured. This was something I started just to get an idea of the average size of the fish in these lakes and I just kept doing. If I'm in my canoe, I have a "bump board" that I put the fish on the get the length.

For weights, at the beginning of the season, I was only weighing fish 18" or longer. Then, as the season when on and I was noticing how many skinny fish I was catching, I decided to start weighing all fish 14" or longer so I could start running averages. So, I have an electronic scale with me all the time - either on the bank or in the boat.

For capturing data - this sounds kinda cheap but works really good. I cut up cardboard boxes (like cereal boxes) into 3"x5" cards. They are of course blank on the inside surface and are stiff enough to write on with no backing. From the bank, I just carry a blank card and write down info as I catch fish. From the canoe, I make the card up before I leave and create sections for the rods I know I will have with me (see example below). These cards will show water temp, catch, baits, etc.

The data captured is recorded in an Excel spreadsheet. I have a number of worksheets (page/tabs) in the file. One for data on my rods/reels, local lake data, catch by year, and a page that automatically calculates average weights. The catch by year worksheet has columns for:

Date, Place, QTY, Catch, Rod / Reel, Bait, Line, Water Temp, & Notes

Below is an example of one of my "tote cards." Not very tidy is it! It was originally set up with 6 sections for the 6 rods that I took in the canoe that day. As I started fishing, you can see that I had to make some quick adjustments - especially for the rod that I was using for cranks (lower right corner. You can see that I caught 8 fish on a wiggle wart and two fish on a Norman Deep Little N. Overall, the card shows that I caught 10 fish on cranks, 3 fish on a 7.5" Yum ribbontail worm, and 5 fish on a Zoom Fat Albert 5" grub. It was the first time I fished that lake in the canoe so I recorded the maximum depth that I observed (11 feet - the smallest/shallowest of the 11 lakes that I fish). BTW - this card was for the outing when I went over 1000 fish - in the top left corner you can see that my 999th fish was a respectable 1 1/2pounder, but my 1,000th fish was an 11" dink !

Phew - that's the short explanation of my data system !

Goose52 reply :

I have good records but my data collection system is not that sophisticated ;D

Date, Place, QTY, Catch, Rod / Reel, Bait, Line, Water Temp, & Notes

Phew - that's the short explanation of my data system !

Goose52 reply :

I have good records but my data collection system is not that sophisticated ;D

Date, Place, QTY, Catch, Rod / Reel, Bait, Line, Water Temp, & Notes

Phew - that's the short explanation of my data system !

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Congrats on a goal reached and a great year. Your fishing records are more meticulous and organized than some people's income tax records! lol

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Congrats on a goal reached and a great year. Your fishing records are more meticulous and organized than some people's income tax records! lol

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Congrats on a goal reached and a great year. Your fishing records are more meticulous and organized than some people's income tax records! lol

Goose52 reply :

Thanks DVT - I've always been big on keeping good records both with fishing and with my shooting stuff.

They weren't all big fish, but I still made my 1,000 goal. To compensate for the small size, I nearly always use ML or M power rods...I only caught a handful of fish on MH rods and none on H.

Goose52 reply :

Thanks DVT - I've always been big on keeping good records both with fishing and with my shooting stuff.

They weren't all big fish, but I still made my 1,000 goal. To compensate for the small size, I nearly always use ML or M power rods...I only caught a handful of fish on MH rods and none on H.

Goose52 reply :

Thanks DVT - I've always been big on keeping good records both with fishing and with my shooting stuff.

They weren't all big fish, but I still made my 1,000 goal. To compensate for the small size, I nearly always use ML or M power rods...I only caught a handful of fish on MH rods and none on H.

Big-O reply :

Quite a feat Goose and congratulations for a terrific year... It's folks like youself and comments like those that are most appreciated by all of us here at BR.Terrific Post Friend!!!

Big O

www.ragetail.com

Big-O reply :

Quite a feat Goose and congratulations for a terrific year... It's folks like youself and comments like those that are most appreciated by all of us here at BR.Terrific Post Friend!!!

Big O

www.ragetail.com

Big-O reply :

Quite a feat Goose and congratulations for a terrific year... It's folks like youself and comments like those that are most appreciated by all of us here at BR.Terrific Post Friend!!!

Big O

www.ragetail.com

Goose52 reply :

Thanks Big O ! Yep, there's a lot of smart folks on the board, it only makes sense to pay attention...

I should do better next year. Maybe not in numbers, but in quality of the fish

Goose52 reply :

Thanks Big O ! Yep, there's a lot of smart folks on the board, it only makes sense to pay attention...

I should do better next year. Maybe not in numbers, but in quality of the fish

Goose52 reply :

Thanks Big O ! Yep, there's a lot of smart folks on the board, it only makes sense to pay attention...

I should do better next year. Maybe not in numbers, but in quality of the fish

lazeebum reply :

My record keeping consist of hoping I don't forget. Hmmm, new year coming up. :-/

lazeebum reply :

My record keeping consist of hoping I don't forget. Hmmm, new year coming up. :-/

lazeebum reply :

My record keeping consist of hoping I don't forget. Hmmm, new year coming up. :-/

lazeebum reply :

You could always fish Tims Ford. If I ain't mistaken thats not too far from the Cumberland Plateau.

lazeebum reply :

You could always fish Tims Ford. If I ain't mistaken thats not too far from the Cumberland Plateau.

lazeebum reply :

You could always fish Tims Ford. If I ain't mistaken thats not too far from the Cumberland Plateau.

Goose52 reply :

Quote
You could always fish Tims Ford. If I ain't mistaken thats not too far from the Cumberland Plateau.

Yep - Tims Ford is southwest of me. I have a lot of "big water" around me - Tennessee river & Watts Bar, Dale Hollow, etc. But since moving to TN, I've mostly fished my 11 local lakes (4 acres to 201 acres) since they are all within a few minutes drive of my house. I haven't taken any "fishing trips" at all, I just hop in the car and within 5 minutes I'm at one of my lakes. I may be able to get out to some of the "big water" next year !

Goose52 reply :

Quote
You could always fish Tims Ford. If I ain't mistaken thats not too far from the Cumberland Plateau.

Goose52 reply :

Quote
You could always fish Tims Ford. If I ain't mistaken thats not too far from the Cumberland Plateau.

lazeebum reply :

We are kind of in the opposite deal. I can be on big water in a few minutes, and small water is quite a drive. Once again I admire your record keeping and hope to see more post from you in the future. Good luck!

lazeebum reply :

alienfishermen reply :

Great idea, I think I'll start keeping records in 2011

I had a 1 day total of 32 bass

1 friend caught 106 bass in one day in the spring, I'd like to better that this year ( yeah right )

Realistically I'd like to land 400 keepers ( 14"in" up )

alienfishermen reply :

Great idea, I think I'll start keeping records in 2011

I had a 1 day total of 32 bass

1 friend caught 106 bass in one day in the spring, I'd like to better that this year ( yeah right )

Realistically I'd like to land 400 keepers ( 14"in" up )

alienfishermen reply :

Great idea, I think I'll start keeping records in 2011

I had a 1 day total of 32 bass

1 friend caught 106 bass in one day in the spring, I'd like to better that this year ( yeah right )

Realistically I'd like to land 400 keepers ( 14"in" up )

Goose52 reply :

My best day was actually from the bank - 39 bass - about half in the morning, and half in the evening. The bass were apparently on a feeding frenzy in shallow water, just before a front was coming in after a 3-4 week drought. All small fish though - 17in or smaller. Best day in the canoe was 27.

Yeah - I'd like to get 400 14" or larger too ...

Goose52 reply :

Yeah - I'd like to get 400 14" or larger too ...

Goose52 reply :

Yeah - I'd like to get 400 14" or larger too ...

Redlinerobert reply :

Great thread Goose.

You're an inspiration for sure. I'm looking forward to retiring some day and following in your footsteps!

Redlinerobert reply :

Great thread Goose.

You're an inspiration for sure. I'm looking forward to retiring some day and following in your footsteps!

Redlinerobert reply :

Great thread Goose.

You're an inspiration for sure. I'm looking forward to retiring some day and following in your footsteps!

Goose52 reply :

Quote
Great thread Goose.
You're an inspiration for sure. I'm looking forward to retiring some day and following in your footsteps!

I have a feeling that after you retire you might be spending some time in Brazil/Brasil chasing peacocks! ;D

Goose52 reply :

Quote
Great thread Goose.
You're an inspiration for sure. I'm looking forward to retiring some day and following in your footsteps!

I have a feeling that after you retire you might be spending some time in Brazil/Brasil chasing peacocks! ;D

Goose52 reply :

Quote
Great thread Goose.
You're an inspiration for sure. I'm looking forward to retiring some day and following in your footsteps!

I have a feeling that after you retire you might be spending some time in Brazil/Brasil chasing peacocks! ;D

10050

One Year and One Thousand Bass - My Thanks to All ! 2024

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