I'd love to here stories about y'alls biggest accomplishments in bass fishing! So far mine would have to be when I recently broke 5lb's its been a goal of mine this entire year and I was beyond happy when I finally did it.... I was trying not to tear up!
so what is yours?
if you put your mind to it ,there's nothing you can't do ! fishing or anything else for that matter goes ! succeed!
The biggest for me is the first Sat. of May every yr. That's when we put on our town's kid's fishing derby. To watch a child catch their first fish still give me the "that's why we do this" feeling.
My best day largemouth fishing was five fish over 43lbs down at Lake baccarac in Mexico. Didn't get any double digits that day but I was knocking on the door. I lost one that juumped at the boat that would have increased that total if I had landed her.
My best day smallie fishing was five fish over 30lbs on Lake Erie prespawn. I also lost a big fish that day that jumped 6-7 times so I got a real good look at her. She would have been the biggest fish of the day. As A-Jay would say fun times.
Turning my 4 year old son into a fishing maniac, and catching bass on jigs for me.
My next big accomplishment is catching the 3+ lbr
Finally convincing my 8 yr. old grandson that fishing with Pop can be fun.
My biggest accomplishment so far has not been about fish, but has been all about friends I have met through this sport I love. I have dear friends that I have fished with for over 35 years, and I am always meeting new ones of all ages. I enjoy taking others out in the boat, and putting them on fish. My best friend was like a brother to me and a fishing partner. We fished together for over thirty years before he moved to New Hampshire. I fished with him last year in the Everglades, and he passed away a week later of a sudden heart attack. On those two days of fishing, we caught over 150 fish, and Tom had the big fish at 5.7oz. We laughed and reminisced the whole weekend, and he had a great time. It was the best fishing trip. I just didn't know it would be our last!
The friendships gained through fishing are rewarding, and satisfying, and last the test of time. I look forward to each trip taking someone out and sharing the experience. It doesn't get any better then that!
My favorite accomplishment has been spending some time with my Dad fishing from the 2 man canoe I bought especially for that purpose.
My biggest accomplishment has been catching bass on a regular basis, rather than once in a while by pure chance. (For this I have to thank all the excellent advice I have received/read about on this forum).
for myself: the day my collection of fishing gear started shrinking instead of growing. it was a clue i was beginning to understand...if only a half clue
for others: the smile on someone's face that I helped catch a fish
The day my boat was paid for.
A few years ago, we dug out a pond down at my uncle's farm. We built a bunch of structures, placed them in the pond, and then filled it up in the spring. We then stocked the pond with bass, bluegill, perch, and crappie. Over the years, we've maintained it and slowly watched as the little fish we once stocked, slowly started getting bigger.
And then about a month ago, while fishing the pond with my little 4 year old nephew, I caught a 5 pounder on topwater. He was so excited to see such a big fish, and I was so excited that our little project had finally gotten to the point that it developed a fishery with quality fish in it.
My Biggest Accomplishment in Bass Fishing (and all my fishing in general) happened quite a few years ago.
It was when I realized that what I Really Love about the sport has less to do with catching lots of fish and Much More to do with the enjoying the outdoors, the belief that the learning is endless, and the friendships.
A-Jay
My biggest accomplishment in bass fishing would be my angler of the year award. At the time my club was rollin and had close to 70 members. I guess others would be tournament wins at various lakes where I struggled in the past. Figuring them out and making practice pay off. My next goal is to win a large open tournament. I have not fished many, but have the confidence now that I would not be there to donate money. I will enter a few next year with the goal of winning them.
Two years ago I put twelve guys onto their PB, a few largemouth, but mostly smallmouth.
My biggest accomplishment while bass fishing was rescuing two people who had capsized their boat in the middle of a small pond.
There were two other incidents in which I rescued two people who thought it wise to try to swim across a small pond and were lucky that a buddy and I happened to come along just in time, and the other when we came upon a burning boat on the ocean and headed directly into the breeze to find a man in a raft thirty miles offshore, six miles from the burning boat. Those had nothing to do with bass fishing. Just a case of being in the right place at the right time.
Sharing some bass fishing knowledge is always good and the Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar for me was my contribution to bass fishing.
Being a bass angler who has focused on catching the next world record using lures in lieu of live bait has also been very rewarding, although fell short of my goal.
Biggest 5 bass caught ; 5 between 17 to 19 lbs.
Best 5 bass limit was just over 62 lbs, included 1of the 17.4 lb bass.
Blessed to be able to still bass fish.
Tom
5.3lb bass on Hyland Lake Park in MN off of Rapala's lipless crankbait.
This year's accomplishment was seeing my kids catch striped bass...I know it's not black bass, but to have them ask to go fishing again after that was and is a thrill for me.
I know they weren't big, but boy, did they have fun.
Probably learning to fish and control the boat at the same time.
Got into tournaments. Fished Spring and Fall State for Iowa Bass Federation through BASS. First time ever. Didn't win or anything. I learned a lot and everything. I won a Wednesday Night Bass Challenge with 4 pounds and odd change. Got several prostaff and think of them as my family. Am thankful that I have great friends and especially my family, my mom, and my dad are very very supportive of my dream and fishing in tournaments.
More to come.
I'm a little like AJ in that I enjoy the time out in nature as much as catching the fish. The biggest thrill for me was watching my wife, on our honeymoon, break her personal best three different times. That day, to me anyway, was my personal best day on the water!
My biggest accomplishment this season has been increasing my personal best bag weight by 6 pounds up to 20.6 pounds but pusjing to make it better!
Having lived in Central Florida for 10 years, chasing LMB , that is where I learned how to truly grind it out, by flipping... Pitching and topwaters, much of the information I learned was study of Doug Hannons work,
Teaching my Son, how to cast a high performance baitcaster, and, how to fish a jig at 10 years old, he is quite proficient with it, and he truly loves the sport, that makes me quite joyous to have passed to him some of what I learned..
Time on the water, will teach him the most...
Accomplishments while fishing in Maine:
24 bass between 7 and 8 lbs.
5 bass between 8 and 9 lbs
1 bass over 9 lbs, weighing in at 9 lbs 1 oz , 23.5 inches long, 19.5 inch girth, over 16 years old.
Biggest 5 fish limit in Maine weighing 32 lbs 6 oz
Accomplishments this year:
1296 bass so far this year since April 19th and still counting
46 bass over 5 lbs this year between Maine and Vermont and still counting
Angler of The Year in my bass club as a non boater. First non boater ever to win Angler of The Year in my bass club.
While fishing tournaments this year finished 1st in 3 times, 3rd place once, 4th place twice, and 5th place once.
Finished in 1st place in 3 consecutive tournaments.
Still pushing myself to be a better angler. To share this passion with friends and family.
Still searching for a 10 lb largemouth from Maine. Never going to stop chasing at that 10 lber. Its going to happen.
Helping my 2 youngest grandsons [6 and 8 yrs old] catch thier first fish! ...Still can't tell which hugged me the hardest!!
Qualifing for the Florida B.A.S.S. Nations State Championship for the 2nd consecutive year.
Catch 40+ bass in 3 days at this years Bass Resource roadtrip on Wilson Lake [but not 1 smallmouth..figure that out!]
[but did meet new folks who I am proud to call a Friend]
Mike
My biggest accomplishment would probably be my 5 bass limit that went 30lbs 2ozs in Kansas. I've caught bigger 5 bass bags, but that just doesn't happen in KS.
I used to teach a lot of first time fishing classes, which in itself was fun, but once had an 8 year old girl catch a 4.5lb largemouth on her first cast ever with a spinning reel and an artificial lure. I had to jump in and dig it out of the weeds under the dock that it had dove into but I didn't even have to think twice about it. She got her picture in the newspaper with it, her dad paid to have a replica made of the fish and framed a picture of it to put up in their house. I've taught a lot of folks but that one sticks out the most and was one of my proudest moments.
Keeping the boat on top of the water, and (mostly) in one piece, and after taking my kids out, having them ask "when are we going again?"
I had a few personal accomplishments,back in the 80's,when I fished tournaments.But now that I have an 8yr old grandson and watching him catch fish,is my greatest accomplishment.I taught my son to fish,in turn he taught his son.Watching the two of them in the back of the boat,laffin and havin a great time,well it doesn't get any better than that.
1. Teaching my children to fish. I first brought them with me at 3 and 5 years old. Now they are 22 and 24 and they still love it.
2, This year my wife has started fishing with me. Teaching her and seeing her catch her first bass has been amazing!
3. Building my own lures. In particular, I build a Hula Popper replica at my child's request and he caught two bass at once on it this spring when I was fishing with him!
4. Teaching others. Recently I taught a young man (a friend's grandson) how to fish for bass. The next day he went out and caught a 5 pounder!!
I'm with A-Jay. The older I get the less it's about how many or how big but about the time spent in the outdoors. I thank God for every opportunity I get!
I'd say teaching KVD how to fish a spinnerbait back in the 80's on Portage Lake. I'm also proud that I invented the Carolina Rig .
This may sound conceded, but catching a largemouth bass over 10 pounds... in NY. And letting it go to maybe be caught and enjoyed by future fishermen.
On 9/17/2014 at 11:01 PM, woolleyfooley said:This may sound conceded, but catching a largemouth bass over 10 pounds... in NY. And letting it go to maybe be caught and enjoyed by future fishermen.
Nice catch ! That fish must have been a sea beast. You got a picture of it ? Id love to see it ? You get any measurements weight it ? Fish that size are very rare around the northeast. You going to get a replica ?
Teaching my son to fish at a very young age, then fishing team bass tournaments with him, and then seeing him grow to be a much better bass fisherman than I am.
I have caught some nice fish over the years but my biggest accomplishments come from helping others. There is no better feeling than seeing a youngster or friend learn to fish or catch fish using a new technique. For me once I removed the competitive aspect out of fishing it makes it more enjoyable. Just an overall change in thinking would sum it up best.
For me, it's cast control and my lost lure count. I was forced to focus on those before I could figure out presentations. My fish per dollar ratio was horrendous the first year on the water. The list of people I gleaned information from would be several pages long, but I'd like to thank everyone on this board for the feedback, advice and for answering every single question I ever asked. Road Warrior and Glenn are very intelligent folks that seem happy help anyone, any time. Their attitudes are contagious and I find myself wanting to be a better person by being as helpful as I can and keeping this sport as friendly as I can. We are all on the same waters, even if we don't share the boat.
Well.. My biggest accomplishment is my PB.