New PB alert! Prior to a storm coming in this morning, I snuck out with my cousins and buddy to fish for flathead catfish. My rod tapped furiously, and I went to set the hook and a battle ensued. Some strong digs and deep runs, I knew it wasn’t a catfish. A short while later, I felt the line move up the water column, and I went to lower my rod tip for a sure headshake or leap. The giant head came out of the water and we all gasped. The battle went on for a bit, thankful for my cousin Binh as he cradled the fish around its body and a great team effort getting the fish into the boat. The sturgeon measured out to 170 centimeters or 67 inches. A few pics and back the fish went to fight another day. I also caught and released a 13.5 lb. flathead early but the big sturgeon stole the show.

A fun week of smallmouth bass fishing at Arcadia! We just got back from a week long trip from June 14-21. Sunday evening started off good and each day got better and better with Wednesday being the ultimate bite day. Then a cold front came through Thursday, and the bite mostly shut off through Friday but still caught fish here and there. The hot lure of the week was a tiny 2.5″ Imo Kemushi stick worm Neko rigged. Here are a few highlights.

So fun watching JT pluck crappies in shallow water that dad had to join this past Saturday morning! Over a dozen crappies in just over an hour on a Kalin’s 2″ Tri-Color Curly Tail Grub rigged with a 1/16 oz. chartreuse jighead. All under 10 inches.

Score: JT – 12, Dad – 5

Fun opener weekend catching tasty rainbow trout! JT caught his first ever trout and he was pretty excited.

After work yesterday, I stopped over at one of my favorite ponds for a little fishing. Shortly before sunset, this 21.5” largie smashed my 1/2 oz. Grass Piece rigged with an X Zone Lures Rally Shad! The fish tipped the scales at 5.6 lbs.

Brrr…what a cold spring morning! It all warmed up fast when this 20”, 5 pounder smashed my 1/2 oz. Grass Piece rigged with an X Zone Lures Rally Shad. Second 5 pounder of the year and we are still in April.

Back at it! Josh caught way more than I did and bigger fish too this morning. Fun to see him go pick out his spots and hear him yell “I got one!”

In two hours of fishing on a small pond yesterday evening, Josh and I landed 5 bass, all between 2 to 5.4 pounds. A 1/2 oz. white chatterbait and 1/2 oz. Bass Puzzle Grass Piece rigged with a 4.5” X Zone Lures Rally Shad in the pearl silver flake color got it done! The big bass went a whopping 22 inches. A surprise catch for a small pond!

Jumping on the trend, I had a good giggle with this creation.

A slow overall day wading in the river with a handful of pike and smallmouth bass on small cranks and live bait. A fish here, a fish there kind of day. On our way back, we saw a raccoon standing still and seemed ill.