Fishing Over 4Th Of July Weekend

[Clay Goforth]

So, you guys mostly understand the obligatory holiday weekend with the in-laws scenario. Every summer, this time rolls around and I am required by my wife to attend a mini-family reunion of sorts in Mena, Arkansas. I have a crazy family (none of them would argue differently) but I love em' so it isn't so bad. Plus the food is incredible, we always have a good front-porch pickin' and grinnin' session that usually ends up as a gospel hour, and there happens to be a farm pond on the property of the family members we stay with. This is no normal farm pond. It gets fished one time per year...the weekend when I am there. This thing is LOADED. Catfish from 3lb - 15lbs, loads of bream as a food source, and it is STACKED with big largemouth. So on Saturday, I got up before everyone else, borrowed the farm truck, and headed out to the pond for some early morning action. I was not disappointed. I caught 17 largemouth, all in the range of the ones below.

After a couple of hours, I went back to the house, ate a quick breakfast, then loaded up the kids in the back of the truck and, with the help of another one of the Husband-in-laws, took the group fishing. We fished mostly for bream and catfish with the kids, landing fish after fish after fish. The biggest was an 8.5lb catfish. At the end of the morning as we were getting ready to load up and go back to the house for lunch, I wanted one more largemouth. So, I rigged up a Senko, wacky style (which is the way that I had caught all the other bass) and pitched it into one of the corners of this pond. A couple of twitches on the rod later, and I was crossing this fish's eyes. I had one of my nephews hold it up for a picture to give frame of reference on size.

All in all, a wonderful time with family, hopefully turning a new generation onto the joys and relaxation of time spent on the water. Can't wait for next year when I get to go back and see how big the fish have gotten, enjoying no pressure throughout the year.

[ollie]

Great fish with a great view of the Ouachita's in the background I would think. Win - win! Those are some hogs now.

[Geoff]

I have a farm pond like that to fish, but it gets fished a few times a year, but they arent shy.

[stlfisher]

Great fish and looks like a great day! My local pond is rarely fished, but that is a problem in this case. Too many 10-12 inchers

[5bites]

That's awesome! I love pond fishing.