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Forum nameCalfishing.com Main Board
Topic subjectYour favorite fishing pic
Topic URLhttp://www.calfishing.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=2&topic_id=3376
3376, Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by swimbait, Thu Sep-15-05 09:26 PM
Sometimes you get that pic that captures a moment just right. The pic that you look at later and smile because you remember every part of that experience. I was looking through old pics tonight and came on this one and it just summed up the perfect moment for me. This pic was taken in the dead of winter, on an all day rainy miserable weather deal. I had been fishing for 4-5 hours with only one small fish when this fish hit. I wasn't even that excited because it didn't fight much at first and I was freezing. As it got by the boat it woke up and put up a great fight. In the net, it was a beautiful chunk of a bass. She had the frame of a 7lber but weighed in just over 10. A long freezing day turned into a great trip in that short moment. This pic captured it all for me

http://www.calfishing.com/albums/bass/rob_10_3.sized.jpg

I'd love to see some of everyone's favorite pics and a little story if you have the time :)
3377, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by supermat, Thu Sep-15-05 09:54 PM
Alright, here is mine...
On this specific day the weather was miserable and cold. I had a friend with me who was trying to learn to throw swimbaits but he'd never even seen a fish landed on them. Anyways, I saw a school of big bass in deep water, left the area for a while, snuck back in along the shore, ditched the boat, and laid a perfect cast across where I thought they should be, and BAM!!!! It was perfect! While not a 10 pound fish there is nothing wrong with a plan coming together and giving you an 8.9 lber!
http://www.calfishing.com/albums/supermat/1839070_R1_044_20A.sized.jpg
3378, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Urban, Thu Sep-15-05 11:18 PM
Ive been staring at huge Cali swimbait fish since I was 7 (Ill never forget Ray Easleys fish on the cover of BASS, that made a significant impact on me). The whole thing seemed like another world, something out of my reach. Well, I moved to Cali in 1996, but was not in a location to pursue big fish. When I moved a few years ago, all of a sudden the trophy potential was all around me. So, I got stubborn and decided I was going to commit to swimbaits, learn everything about them, no matter what the consequences. And believe me there were consequences (many lonely fishless days, nobody wants to fish with me cause they think Im nuts, etc, etc.).

Id been throwing big baits for several months with no love, but I knew what the fish were doing, and the stage of spawn they were in. The physical conditions came together one thursday morning. I sat in my office all day watching the weather, and I knew everything was lining up perfect. At 5 pm I announced I would be taking one of my vaction days on the next day, Friday.

Friday comes, Im on the lake. A co-worker was meeting me at 3 pm. Not much was going on, I was looking for bed fish. At 2:30 a front blew in, and I started throwing the big bait. First cast, bam 4 pounder, next cast bam 3 pounder. Sometimes when fish bite you just know you have the best bait, and the best presentation, and you just know you are gonna catch fish. I knew I was going to stick something good, there were no doubts.

Buddy arrives, I announce to him that they are on swimbaits, and off we go. 30 minutes go by, I stick a few more, none over 4. Then I make a very long cast, the bait gets 2 feet and a train hits it (topwater presentation). I knew it was a good fish, but when I saw its tail stick out of the water, I knew it was real good. I didnt have the right gear, and quite frankly Im amazed I got it to the boat. However, at the boat it surged and hung in deep, thick weeds. I really didnt think the fish was coming out, and I was using 65lb braid! 5 minutes go by, and Ive been right on top of the fish, and the whole mass of weeds dislodges. When the mess comes to the surface, I ask no questions, I just bear hug the weed clump and get it in the boat, fish intact. Goes 11.5, post spawn (how come all my big fish are post spawn?).

Ill never forget this fish for many reasons. It was my first over 10, it confirmed many uncertainties I had about swimbaits, it gave me the confidence to continue learning more about swimbaits, and it was a dream come true for a 7 year old kid daydreaming about a strange place where huge bass eat huge baits. For the first time I realized that the sky was the limit, with perserverence and an open mind. Ive caught bigger fish since, but they arent the same, not quite the same level of amazement or excitement. Ill never be able to recapture the emotions associated with this fish, never.

BTW, the guy I was fishing with was from Vermont, he lived on Lake Champlain and was a smallmouth nut. He used to laugh at me for throwing big baits, he had no idea that we were playing with fire. Two weeks prior, we took a pic for somebody of a gorgeous 11.5. Afer I caught this fish, I think he was more excited than me, and the only thing I remember him saying was "what the **** is up with this place". My response was I dont know, but I wish more lakes had the problem! To this day he says that I sat there holding the fish and the only thing was I was saying was "I cant believe it, I did it, I cant believe it, I did it".

Sorry for the long post.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4085-3.26.04.jpg
3379, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by supermat, Fri Sep-16-05 10:06 AM
Urban,
Don't you love it when you get into one of "those" bites? It seems like you can do no wrong. But on that note I've found another phenomenon... it seems like after having one of those epic days I spend sleepless nights wondering if I could have fished it better, caught more/bigger fish, and just plain pick apart everything I did. I guess its just part of the game, we always want bigger fish even when we had the best day of our lives! Am I the only one who goes through that thought process?

...sorry Rob, didn't mean to jack your thread.

Matt
3380, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by woodchucker, Fri Sep-16-05 01:37 PM
Heres is one of my favorite pics.It was january before last and I had dumped two big fish prior to hooking this one.One the night before and another 5 mins before.I dident know for sure I would get a fish because I was farmin em so bad.One broke me off and the other I dident get the hook to stick.All on the same spot.
Supermatt that fish looks sooo much bigger than 8#,and no your not the only one who gives himself unjustified mental aguish.I know one of those fish was way bigger than the 28 I boated.But I also could have had three toads.That trip was good but it could have been great.Ill be back there soon.

http://www.calfishing.com/albums/woodchucker/billycrain_28lbs_willow.sized.jpg
3392, RE: Nuff said
Posted by Urban, Wed Sep-21-05 10:41 PM
Well, you know I know what you are saying. For example, the day I caught the above fish, right after I got that fish, my trolling motor died. The bite was on and I could do nothing but sit there. Mixed emotions, i was greedy, I just knew I could get another tank, but I knew I should be happy with what I got. I sat there anchored for 2 or so hours before 2 float tubers were kind enough to tow me back to the ramp. I was torn up, why would my motor die when the perfect conditions were present? What could I have done to prevent that? What could I have caught had my motor not died?

And of course, theres the night we had that was epic, but could have been the mother of all mothers had we not screwed up. But did we screw up? Should we just be happy with what we actually got in the boat? I know Ive beat myself up over the two fish I farmed. Mixed emotions, greed vs just being thankful for a night I know Ill never forget.

Nah, we screwed up dude, we could have had a 5 fish bag that neither one of us will ever beat:P

But then again we are both still young!:P
3384, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by lionkiller, Mon Sep-19-05 03:39 PM

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4090-samstrophy.jpg


50 lb Dorado taken out of Ft. Pierce FL. Caught after I landed a 26 & the wife stuck a 24.

Now to get that 10+ Cali bass...

Oh, that fish is on my wall now
3385, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by PHISHnutS, Tue Sep-20-05 11:49 AM
Awesome pics !!

Billy- whoever took your pic did and awesome job too!! ;)

Matt- that thought process your descriding is what makes you the successful fisherman you are. Like Rob has mentioned and explained before, attention to detail makes a huge difference.Over analizing your fishing day could reveal weaknesses in your approach. You have a beautiful collection of bass pictures, you have to be doing something right, keep it up.

Heres one of my favorites. I was sick as a dog all day, stopping to hurl every 15 minutes or so in the middle of a wide open sand bass bite. I stuck it out and hung this nice 6lber towards the end of the hours of action. Biggest of the trip and my PB.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/PHISHnutS/Toadergrumpy6lbshuntflats.jpg
3386, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by woodchucker, Tue Sep-20-05 02:47 PM
Hey Trev,
Yeah the guy who snapped that pic has had alot of practice.That cooler your sitting on just has the look of a cooler full of sandies,we sure stroked em that day.}(
Congratis on the grumpy,now that is a nice pic man.
3390, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by magmaster, Wed Sep-21-05 02:50 PM
This day was one of the happiest days of my fishing life. I have tried for 6+ years to get a solid DD bass out of Lake Mission Viejo (my home lake). I have lost quite a few and never landed anything over 9.9. I caught this while taking 2 guys from Japan out fishing. I wasn't planning on trophy hunting that day and tossed out my drop shot and a little worm. I stuck this fish on 5# test and the two guys from Japan about $hit themselves. Awesome...

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4102-dan_dd_lmv.jpg

Thanks go out to my friends who have put in endless hours with me at the lake. And the ones who were nice enough to make the 30 minute drive out to bing a camera to record this catch for me. Thanks Wade and Dustin!!
3391, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Fishtricks, Wed Sep-21-05 04:00 PM
Most recent fav
http://photobucket.com/albums/v388/fishtricks/th_TrixNearSHNet.jpg
3408, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by calicokid, Mon Sep-26-05 04:37 PM
Nice fish on the light tackle. Nice Dana Wharf shirt by the way.
3393, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Bassin, Thu Sep-22-05 08:22 AM
Ok, Here is one that is at the top of my fav's right now (that is until I get another DD Bass) It was last July down in Cabo, after wakin up with hang overs from hell. Ever been out on the sea with someone that is barf'n every 15 min.? ALL DAY! Well it wasn't me it was my buddy, the guy was a great sport though and he ended up with a Football size Tuna to boot. I had never done this type of fishing so it is a great memory....went just under 100lbs Stripped Marlin 35 miles off Cabo.

PS. I hope I downloaded this right this time Rob, sorry if I fumbled it...

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4104-StrippedMarlin.jpg
3394, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Lightninrod, Thu Sep-22-05 08:24 AM
What a great thread idea! Thank's Rob and all the others too.

This month 2 years ago, I was fishing for the first time with my brand new, 7' Kistler Medium Helium rod and I was throwing a 1/2 oz Vision's Honeybuzz buzzbait with it. The Bass were turned on and on a topwater bite. I hooked and landed 8 or 9 Bass that afternoon and missed another 9 or 10.

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/pictureview.cfm?pnum=70607&anum=3723

You can see from my expression that I was having a ball all by myself; both from the almost non-stop strikes to the satisfaction I was having in using my new Helium. I'd ordered that first one sight-unseen after having read a review on one over at Tackle Tour. It became the first of seven. It is a light-weight(under 4ozs) powerhouse but not for swimbaits.

Dan
3396, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Team Striper, Thu Sep-22-05 03:30 PM
I couldn't choose between these 2?
The first is from the most exciting day on the water I can imagine, the fact that it happened on a very rare day my brother & I were joined by my sister, her husband & our father made it extra special. We got into Yellowfin, Albacore, Dorado & these Big Eye Tuna:

http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/503/3_bigeye.jpg

I was so sore I couldn't get out of bed the next morning. You can read the (long) blow by blow here if interested:

http://team-striper.com/article_index.htm

This photo was taken while in the most amazing place any of our crew has ever experienced, simply a life changing vacation. My life pretty much revolves around fishing & the fishing in Costa Rica was the best I've seen but that wasn't even the most memorable part of spending time in this magic location:

http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/576/66Mikes_196.jpg

Full (long) report here if interested:

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=13159&mesg_id=13159&listing_type=search

Josh
3398, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by bassnet, Thu Sep-22-05 08:08 PM
Josh, Epic shot with the bigeyes!! Besides Mr. Two fin, the best you can get out of SoCal!! I have to dig up an old Polaroid and try to scan it, Bigeye are the bomb!
3397, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by swimbait, Thu Sep-22-05 03:42 PM
Those are all great photos and great stories :) Thanks you guys for taking the time!
3399, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by fishinballr96, Thu Sep-22-05 10:47 PM

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4107-CIMG0065_resized.JPG


First post in a long time but this is a 30lb striper and a legal wsb taken in the same day in malibu california. Got lucky with the striper but the seabass were hitting at the time. Awsome day that day, and awsome week. This reminds me of the epic action we had on WSB from the surf that week in the summer!



http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4108-me_seabass.jpg


15 Lbs, malibu
squid almost exactly one year after the ones before it


3410, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by , Wed Sep-28-05 11:25 AM
Well,
There are a few to choose from, but this is one of my most recent favorites.
As some of you may know, I moved up to a small little town in the mountains about 2 and half years ago, and the only bass fishing near me is a trout lake with northern strain bass in a lake above 5000 feet. It has definately been a big change from trophy fishing in the bay area lakes. For my first year, i tried to get to know the lake using the conventional techniques. It panned out fish but nothing big. Then came my first winter up here. I spent the hole snowed in time thinkin bout how to get the fish. I kept thinkin, bass+trout=big bass. Even though they were northern strain bass, it still seemed like an equation for success. As soon as i got word of ice off there i cruised up and tried some big baits, and sure enough it paid off.
This fish came later on in my second year, but it was special because it was my first really good fish. Prior to this one they were mostly 3-7lbs. This went 9.0 and would start off the 2005 year which i have now caught an 8.8, 9.0 and a 10.7 from this lake.
http://www.calfishing.com/albums/album26/aaa.sized.jpg
3411, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Urban, Wed Sep-28-05 12:42 PM
Now thats cool, Id love to catch a 10 plus northern! Step 2: buy ice auger with large diameter bit, figure out how to vertical jig swimbaits, or convice a company to make swimbaits for ice fishing.
3412, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Matt Peters, Wed Sep-28-05 12:55 PM
Great idea for a topic:

Here goes....The below picture might look familiar if you've seen my photo gallery. This picture however, is a taken at the right moment of complete, utter stoke about the situation. The smile on my face is pretty much as happy as I can get.

Background: I caught this fish from lake Hodges in August 1999. At the time, I was going to school in San Luis Obispo, and decided to get back home for a few days of fishing and surfing. My friend Cameron took me out to lake Hodges, where he'd been whacking them recently. We caught about 40 solid 2-4 pounders all day off the SAME rockpile. It was getting toward the evening, and I set the hook and man, I just got my butt kicked. Line was getting peeled off and this fish took me for a ride. I was seriously lucky to boat this thing. Cameron stoked me by taking a bunch of pictures and just letting me enjoy the moment.

When I got back to SLO, I swung by my friend Rob Belloni's place, and showed him the pics. Rob was like, "whoa dude, what's it like to catch an 11 pounder?" If that doesn't beat all!!! I actually had a bigger fish than Rob Belloni! That didn't last long, and now I'm constantly pinging Rob for help and feedback on how to better catch big fish. Overall, this pic is probably my one favorite....the fact that I was in college at SLO and came home on a fluke and caught her out of Hodges, from my buddy Cameron's boat, and then having Belloni be impressed by the fish----shoots. That is STILL my big fish!






http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4113-joyfullhodges11.jpg
3413, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Lightninrod, Wed Sep-28-05 01:20 PM
What a GREAT story Matt!!!

Hope you beat it way down here 'Gawja" soon,

Dan
3414, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by swimbait, Wed Sep-28-05 01:44 PM
Classic dude :D That was epic when you got that fish, it brings back the memories.

I learned a lot from Matt back in the Cal Poly days like how to fish crankbaits... and what the money colors were on twin tail grubs. Matt was like my source for how people really fished for bass since I was in such a vacuum when I learned how to bass fish. I never did get any good at shaking a brass-n-glass worm though :P

You remember that evening we were back in jackass canyon and I threw out the AC minnow on a long cast and caught like a 2 or 3lber and you were trippin because it was June and they were eating the swimbait :) How about that great bite on big hammers in the fall when we got the double hookup with me on the big hammer and you on the deep little N :) That was a sic day.

Man if only we had really known how to fish back then lol. It's funny when you think you're totally on top of the latest shtuff, and then later you realize how crude your skills were.
3415, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Matt Peters, Wed Sep-28-05 05:47 PM
Totally man.

I was looking at a bunch of pre-digital camera day photo albums this afternoon. I need to scan some of those early older school pics and get them on the web, just for my own historical sakes, if nothing else.

I came across some Rob/Matt Santa Margarita adventures, and have a hard copy photo of the Big Hammer/Deep Little N double up. Good stuff. Your jon boat was a sweet setup.

Yeah, it is really funny to look back at times when you thought you were on top of your game, and be like, holy smokes did I suck back then. Cal Poly was a great time, and man, some great fishing days. I miss doing the WON BASS ProAms and being all in the bigger West Coast tournament scene. That was fun times.

Well, no need for too much nostalgia...we got plenty of good times ahead and history to make! And this ole boy, well damn, I gotta get a new PB while I'm down South here!

MP
3416, RE: Your favorite fishing pic/story
Posted by Bassin, Thu Sep-29-05 07:18 AM
Hey Rob/Matt,

I am living that "SLO/Calpoly" life now, fishing Santa Margarita and Naci....only difference is I havn't met a trophy hunter like Rob or Matt yet and I am doing it now a bit older then what you guys were back then I imagine. I have one story, (wish I had a good pic) of my first PB caught in the back side of Margarita in 2002. After going into a cool store in A.G. that is now in SLO called Tacklewarehouse I was turned on to Osprey swimbaits...Well my brother and I use to hike into the backside of Santa Margarita and before this bass fishing craze hit me, we would go back there floattubing and fly fishing for big Bluegil. Well one day I went with a swimbait rod and my brand new (big ass) lure. On the third cast of this 6 inch or so (can't remember how big it was) swimbait I get hit like a frieght train and have an awsome fight and land a 8 or 9 lb'r. It was definitly life changing....
Bryan
3418, RE: Your favorite fishing pic/story
Posted by Fishtricks, Fri Sep-30-05 03:47 PM
Here's a cool one that's also very recent. Mattlures with a ling on one of his swimbaits, and me with a Jetty Worm ling.

http://www.plasticnavy.com/albums/drewmisc/mariner_003.sized.jpg
3419, RE: Your favorite fishing pic/story
Posted by Jeremyfisher, Mon Oct-03-05 05:39 AM

Well, I was trying to be stubborn and avoid this topic because of the author, but I guess I'll give in.

Back in August I caught this fish, without even cranking the big motor or even putting the trolling motor down. It was kind of funny because my buddy launched the boat and I made a cast as the boat was sliding off the trailer, he went to park and I nailed this fish. Even on a big rod, she stripped my drag under the dock and the fight lasted 5 minutes. I was screaming at my buddy to come and help me land the fish, but he was busy parking. He finally made it back by the time I lipped her, and there was quite a few people watching by that time. It was pretty cool. And to top it all in the classy department, I was wearing the flannel shirt.

http://www.calfishing.com/albums/album21/aad.jpg
3420, RE: Your favorite fishing pic/story
Posted by jeremiahr, Mon Oct-03-05 07:54 PM
Here is mine, It came from santee on drop shot.


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/jeremiahr/santeelakesbass2.jpg
3433, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by Banana_Clip, Thu Oct-13-05 11:02 PM
13.5 a personal best out of lake chabot april 05 using a initation wallmart senko toobad i had only a poliroid camera

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4190-the_Fishh.JPG
3438, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by PHISHnutS, Mon Oct-17-05 04:51 PM

That's a nice fat fish Banana Clip, what a belly!!

Trever-
3468, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by CV, Wed Nov-02-05 10:15 AM
Our first tournament together Rob. Hard to beat how I felt that day after that 12 lbrs went in the later part of the day on that heavily pressured point...
Now if I hadn't dropped that teener on the second cast...
This pic is my favorite for many reasons. First 2 fish over 10 in a tournament for one. How healthy they were, the incredible weather, watching the 10.4 eat my bait in plain sight, etc, etc.. A perfect day.
12.49 and a 10.4
http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4292-Fishies_and_Cats_118.jpg
}(
3469, RE: Your favorite fishing pic
Posted by PHISHnutS, Wed Nov-02-05 05:50 PM

WOW, what an impressive catch. Those are two very healthy looking fish, beautiful pic!

Trever-