One Nice Beautiful Bass

[yaknar]

I kayaked down the James friday. This time I brought my son along. It was his first and last time this year but one he won't forget. I'm hanging up the paddle until 2012. We didn't catch a lot of fish, the water was clear and a little up from the recent rains. I caught a couple of fish that I haven't caught all year, on crankbaits. My son caught his largest bass ever, which after that he didn't care if he caught anything else the rest of the day. He caught it on a Rebel bumble bee. Right before we got to our take out a bald eagle flew over us, what a great day. Hope I didn't post to many pictures....

[moguy1973]

It's hard to tell, but I'm guessing that's a smallie with a stripe down it's side? Perhaps a spot/smallie hybrid or something?

[RSBreth]

Why hang the paddle up- there's great fishing all Winter if you know where to fish...

Great pictures btw - I have to get out next weekend!

[brother dave]

Very nice

[Ham]

I enjoyed the pictures. Cajunangler and I are still having good success when we go, but the river trips are drawing to a close for the year. Between work and the cooling temps, I might get another 3 or 4 days on the creeks this year. We put in long, hard days that usually involve a fair amount of driving and gas money. That level of effort and expense isn't justified UNLESS you're catching a BUNCH of fish. ie I won't do those trips for a handful of bites/fish.

I am of good cheer though. The White river is fishing great and BSL/Norfork will get hot and stay fishable until the water hits 40 degreees.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Nice report and I'm glad your son had an exceptional trip.. That's a nice bigmouth, especially for the river.

[eric1978]

It's hard to tell, but I'm guessing that's a smallie with a stripe down it's side? Perhaps a spot/smallie hybrid or something?

Yep, that's a meanmouth...spot X smallie. Nice one, too. Looks more spot than smallie, but there's definitely smallie in there.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'm not seeing any smallie in the picture, but now that I can get it to load I do see the kentucky. The mean mouths I've caught have all had some smallie mottling, especially towards the dorsal and head.

[eric1978]

The top of the head and the back are just too brownish to be pure spot. I vote hybrid. Could be wrong. Doesn't matter either way, it's a nice river fish!

[yaknar]

I went fishing last year, in late October. It was the first time I fished that late in the year, in the James. And I know there are other places to fish. The weather was nice, but I fished all day and only caught 2 or 3 fish. Like you said "a lot of effort with little result." And the fish I caught had no fight. It was like pulling in a branch, if anyone of you have caught a branch. I like it when they jump, bend my rod or turn my kayak...so until next year.