tjhunt2 Report post Posted May 27, 2009 Since I had Mark(125coues) & Cathi's wedding to attend Sat I decided this would be a good weekend to stay home and not fight the Memorial Day crowds. After being off for 5 days and stuck with not wanting to be here in the valley finally played it's toll on me by Monday night so I put a call in to my brother Larry and asked if he wanted to do a day trip to San Carlos in the Morning. We were on our way by 3 a.m., with a quick stop for Larry's license in Globe and pulled onto the boat ramp at 5:15. There was one other boat there and the weather & wind was beautiful. By 8 a.m. we had only boated one fish and was second guessing our lake of choice when I hooked and landed the biggest bass of my 57 years of fishing. It weighed 5lb 8oz, not big to alot of people but it was to me. You could hear me at the other end of the lake. Just prior to that my bait casting reel backlashed and there was no fixing the bird's nest. I had an extra 33 zebco in the boat that would have to do me the rest of the day but who cared, I had the fish of the day and could care less. After a million cast we decided to troll to rest our weary arms and Larry hooked a 5lb flathead. Since I didn't have enough line on the wife's pole we had to go back to casting our lures. We each picked up a couple 2lb bass and a crappie along with 4 more small flatheads. By 11:30 the San Carlos winds woke up and we had to changed our strategy a little. We decided to cast the back side of the out side points where the wind protected the shore. After working the trolling motor to position us I made the first cast and I yelled fish on. Larry never got to cast and he grabbed the net and after a few minutes I had my largest ever bass breaking the earlier one by 3oz. I couldn't believe it. I said to my brother "what was the chance of that ever happening in one day? Now you need to land one of these big boys." Larry was putting the net back in the bottom of the boat as I casted to the same spot and yelled "got another bro". It had to have been a big flathead I thought as it headed beneath the boat. I knew it was big and was wondering if I had enough line on this reel to land this before it came to an end. I started gaining and it had made several runs as it got close to the boat but never showing itself. Finally it came up and Larry missed it with the net and we both were speachless. After the second miss I said quit ....ing around and net the thing. Two more times he had it halfway in the net and I repeated why are you messing with me Larry? On the 5th try it was in the boat and we just sat there staring at each other. This just couldn't be happening to me. I would not have got him if it wasn't for my brothers help. It measured 26" long and weighed in at 10lb 40z. Sorry for the long story and hope you enjoy the pics. Larry's 5lb flathead Larry and san carlos bass My first 5lb 8oz bass / 8a.m. Breaking the first by 3 oz with 5lb 11oz at 12:45 and then breaking this smaller one at 12:50 with a 10lb 4oz my 10lb 4oz bass Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted May 27, 2009 Awesome fish TJ! Sounds and looks like it was a good idea to get away for the day! Phil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krp Report post Posted May 27, 2009 TJ!!! are you kidding me! That's one of those days that you can say," Let me tell you when...", till the day you die. Congrats friend. Kent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
June Report post Posted May 28, 2009 Excellent, Great day of fishing and excellent decision to get out. Thanks for sharing your story and great pics. See , who needs all those expensive reels. Trusty ZEBCO slade that monster. Congrats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bullwidgeon Report post Posted May 28, 2009 That's a channel cat, not a flathead. Good job on the bass! Bret M. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted May 28, 2009 HOLY COW!!! That right there is a day you don't have to write down to remember! Way to go TJ, huge congrats to you! JIM> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues79 Report post Posted May 28, 2009 Thats a dandy Bass right there. Nice work! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted May 28, 2009 OUTSTANDING!!! A big congrats to you TJ! I always have my best days in the outdoors when its a spur of the moment trip. Thats a day you just can't beat. Good thing you have picture, other wise we would all think it was "just another fish story". Congrats again! Thats one heck of a day. -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted May 28, 2009 TJ? Can you tell me exactly what time you hooked that lunker??? I want to cross reference you location so I know where your Honey Hole is! Great bass!! Congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted May 28, 2009 Wow, what a fabulous day!! Congrats TJ! That's awesome to have your bro out there with you too! Perhaps this is yet another example of the luck of a CouesWhitetail.com shirt!!!! Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted May 28, 2009 Wow, what a fabulous day!! Congrats TJ! That's awesome to have your bro out there with you too! Perhaps this is yet another example of the luck of a CouesWhitetail.com shirt!!!! Amanda Yes Amanda, I believe it has become a good luck charm for sure. I had forgotten to mention I had it on during that trip. Gino.......No secret honey hole just a real lucky day for me but it was 11:50a.m. across from the boat ramp. Jim.....it certainly is a day to remember but most of all I got to share time with my brother on the lake. That means more to me than the fish. Thanks everyone for your comments. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kphunter Report post Posted May 28, 2009 Congratulations on the wonderful fish. BTW, what were you using for bait? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted May 28, 2009 Congratulations on the wonderful fish. BTW, what were you using for bait? Thanks kphunter. I was using a 9-15ft deep dive crank bait with black back, green side, and yellowish orange bottom. Rapala sells for about $10 but I bought the cheap $4.39 Storm version at bass pro. Color is called firetiger. Good luck! TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted May 28, 2009 What a great day! Luck of the Zebco to get a nice 10 pounder. RR Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnie blaze Report post Posted May 28, 2009 Freakin San Carlos........attaboy.......fish fry or released? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
