Concord River 10/10/11
This posting is about a week late as I was waiting for a couple of photos. I went out with a friend last Monday morning to fish a few honey holes on the Concord. I went in anticipating what I thought would be Fall conditions and I was prepared to spend some time with my white spinnerbait. As is the rule, I misjudged and found myself switching back to my go-to Ribbit Frog. First hit was a pike that took a swipe and missed....or I missed him. I will let you decide. The next pike stuck and and was landed. A few more casts and his twin hit and stuck for fish number two. I followed up with another cast to the same spot and the water absolutely exploded. The pike clamped on to the frog and immediately was off with a mouthful of frog. This fish went through the 30# braid as cleanly as if I cut it with a pair of scissors. Those fish were all active in shallow water in heavy submerged weeds. I really slowed my retrieve my last two trips. I am keeping my rod tip up high and am reeling in just fast enough to keep the frogs at the surface. Previously, I was ripping the frog across the surface and I was both getting fewer strikes and landing less. The last fish of the day was taken off of a point and it was a nice largemouth. He took the frog very deliberately and he really had some fight in him.
Any estimates on lengths and sizes are just guesses. I don't carry a scale - but will next year I think. Hell, I never even took photos till I joined here last year. If you guys have any guesses to the size of the bass, please chime in. It felt pretty heavy in my hand.