What is your favorite moment while catching a Big bass 2025
shimmy reply :
I'm sure this topic has been brought up before, but i figured i'd ask and see what the current members feel. When my wife asks me, "what are you thinking about?" she has learned that there are only a few responses I can give nowadays, and of course she has learned that fishing is the best bet.
When i daydream of fishing, the image that pops up in my mind is the bite. This is what keeps me coming back. I think of those incredible lakes i grew up on and the image that pops into my mind with fishing is seeing the line move in 8-10 feet of water while finesse fishing using bigger bait, reeling up the slack and lifting ever so slightly to see if it has the weight of a bluegill or not, and then i swing for the fence.
Or i think of the tap. The tap to me is what it is all about. When i get a big bass, i remember more of the bite than the battle. I dream of the bite. In some big bass spots, you know if you get a bite, there are no bluegill around, the bait your throwing only summons the beasts and that tap only means it's potentially a big bass. It's like you can freeze time for that one moment when you get that bite, the adrenaline runs through your body, you can't think too rationally because your too excited, you beckon all of your fishing expertise into that one moment just to patiently and timely reel down to tight line without pulling the trigger to early with slack line and yank back. These moments are what i remember while catching bigger bass.
Your thoughts?
5bass reply :
QuoteWhen i daydream of fishing, the image that pops up in my mind is the bite.
Yeah....that. 
SoFlaBassAddict reply :
Probably the second I see the head come out of the water. Thats when my heart really starts going and I start saying stuff like "Oh god, stay on...stay on...."
stealthcaster reply :
My favorite part (aside from an explosive topwater strike) about catching a big bass is the feeling you get when the fish first comes in contact your lure (specifically a large worm or lizard); the "Ok, something's up.. and this is no dink!" feeling, as your adrenaline rises just before you set the hook.
KU_Bassmaster. reply :
The first glimpse you get of it.
I know the first sight of the fish in my avatar has to be one of the most exciting things I have ever seen.
TourPT reply :
For me it's the release. Naturally the strike, the fight and the landing are all good, but when I release that beautiful wonder of nature and she swims away to challenge yet again another day, that's the moment that brings me the most joy.
stealthcaster reply :
QuoteFor me it's the release. Naturally the strike, the fight and the landing are all good, but when I release that beautiful wonder of nature and she swims away to challenge yet again another day, that's the moment that brings me the most joy.
Wow. Much respect. I release all my bass and it does give me joy to see the fish swim off, knowing he'll be just fine. With that said... it's all about that strike!! lol
triglet reply :
hmm the bite starts it all thats when you stop in mid sentence talking to your fishing buddy. and then the instant that big fish makes the jump and splashes back into the water. consequently no one is talking in the boat after this happens. concentration is on the fish then.
Lund Explorer reply :
For me, it is that second or two right after you've slammed the hook home, and the fish doesn't move. So many thoughts flash through your mind when you have to kick into hawgin' mode.
Sam reply :
The anticipation when I feel a hit or see the line moving and then it is the hook set. 
Catt reply :
The realization when I set hook & the bass sets hook back...you know it's a Hawg
Bankbeater reply :
Landing that hawg.
TimJ reply :
I love a topwater bite, pop-r's/buzzbaits, but my favourite moment has got to be when a big smallie hits a fast moving spinnerbait...just about tears the rod out of your hands! You KNOW you have a good fish on.
TJ
NateFollmer reply :
Depends how I'm fishing. If I'm fishing where I can't see my lure, I love setting the hook and feeling that first initial pull. If I can see my lure (topwater, shallow fishing), there is nothing more exciting than seeing that shadow come out of no where and destroy your lure 
senile1 reply :
Often a big bass doesn't strike viciously. So there are two moments for me: (1)When I feel the size of the bass on the line, and (2) When I see its massive head break the surface.
JLBomber reply :
My favorite part is landing it. Feeling strike, seeing a jump are great but still a ways to go before you're actually lippin it with a big grin.
J Francho reply :
Fish in hand....job well done.
Nice_Bass reply :
Tap, tap.set the hook, drag pulls, and the fish hardly moves as you drive a tru-turn into it. Another moment I get excited about is when a plan comes to fruition. You study the lake map, circle a few saddles, points, rockbars, etc. that you are certain will hold fish, pick the right baits for the situation, and catch fish dusk till dawn.
Red Bear reply :
for me its the fight. drag screaming if the fish runs, the bow in the rod, etc
tholmes reply :
QuoteFor me, it is that second or two right after you've slammed the hook home, and the fish doesn't move. So many thoughts flash through your mind when you have to kick into hawgin' mode.
Yep. It's that moment when you realize that this one's serious. When you set the hook, your rod bends way over and the drag starts slippin'. That's the best feeling in fishing.
Tom
Dr Pigg reply :
for me, it's once or twice a year when I'm fishing something that can hang up like a crank or swimbait-I'm reeling in---hang up hard--"sh_t"-- then alittle movement?-"Oh SH_T"---but, not that much pull, so my heart slows down...---then she comes up---"Have mercy----please don't come off"--- and it's a PIGG. Those are the moments I fish for.
basser223 reply :
the intial strike that big heavy feeling on the end of your line
Missouribassman95 reply :
QuoteProbably the second I see the head come out of the water. Thats when my heart really starts going and I start saying stuff like "Oh god, stay on...stay on...."
X2 
brushhoggin reply :
feeling the tick tick then realizing it's not a grennel
bigbill reply :
My favorite bass moment is watching a bass striking in the lilly pads and hhoking it and it weighs 6lb 1oz and its in my hand and the lilly's are still going crazy with another bass still in them.
Another time is when i was out at 4:30am first light and i seen two freshwater otters splashing two fawns as they tried to get a drink of water. It sure made leaving a warm bed worth it that day.
AV8TOR reply :
The first glimpse of the fish closely followed by holding it in my hands.
burleytog reply :
Sharpening the filet knife.
5bass reply :
QuoteSharpening the filet knife.
Stir that pot Burley!!
burleytog reply :
QuoteQuoteSharpening the filet knife.Stir that pot Burley!!
Heating the oil? :-/
acmaul13 reply :
The strike is definatly a good starting point,the fight is even better,to land a lunker look at it and say Thanks to the Fishing Gods before you let it go to fight another day,PRICELESS Dam near as good as well you know the other fishy thing :
J Francho reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteSharpening the filet knife.Stir that pot Burley!!
Heating the oil? :-/
Before:
After:
No, I did not eat my son.... ;D ;D
Gangley reply :
the tap, without a doubt, the tap. When your fishing a worm and the tap feels like somebody hit your rod with a bat, thats what drives me nuts. I probably spend 20 minutes a day thinking about the taps that I have felt in the past with big lunkers.
bigbill reply :
Now catching bass i've had two great, awesome moments.
1. Its landing a 10lber at dawn, first light. I never seen a fish this big in freshwater.
2. My second time is watching a bass in the lilly pads working over the baitfish and landing it and still seeing the lilly pads being torn up while the bass was in my hand. That tells me there is more than one bass there. I did catch a 6lb 1oz bass there first.
SMfisher reply :
one of my favorite moments is when the SM jump, when they jump at night you can tell by the sound of the splash if the fish is a big one.
Lund Explorer reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteSharpening the filet knife.Stir that pot Burley!!
Heating the oil? :-/
The Dust..... Don't forget the dust. A little flour to start, and add in Lowry's season salt and lemon pepper to taste.
Note to Franco: For fish chief, not the boy!
BassThumb reply :
Probably setting the hook, or when I lip the bass. Unless I'm fishing topwater, then it's the strike. Especially when you get a good look at the bass before you feel it.
b.Lee reply :
QuoteThe realization when I set hook & the bass sets hook back...you know it's a Hawg
I like that, never thought of it that way
tritz18 reply :
The scream of the drag as the fish goes towards deeper water or tries to get into the lily pads!!
jignfule reply :
When you set the hook and it's so sold that you think it might be a log and then the line starts moving. 
Jigfishn10 reply :
All of the above are very exciting experiences and I enjoy it all. My best experiences have come while sight fishing and this past week I've been fortunate enough to have landed a dozen fish while sight fishing.
Bluegill are still spwaning and bass have been within the spawn beds. I was fishing a single blade spinnerbait just under the surface most of the times and would watch those bass from approx 20' away chasing and hitting my bait. You watch the bass just under the surface leaving a v-wake. Once that fish got close, your heart starts pounding and all you can think of is not setting the hook too early...and yes, that did happen a couple of times. One particular fish was at least a 5 lber I saw chasing. I watched her start to hit and pulled the trigger on the hookset too fast.
cart7t reply :
It's gotta be when I reach for my Grandpa's rusty old stringer. There are just so many memories..
NasTMcfingas reply :
QuoteThe realization when I set hook & the bass sets hook back...you know it's a Hawg
x2 couldn't of said it any better!
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