[koz1542]

Fished Swinging Bridge this morning with my brother from 8:30 - 1:30. Air temp was 32 when we launched and water temp 55. The water had that ever popular pea green color. Turnover in progress. Glass calm.

Started working poppers and shallow runners against shore and along offshore flats. Nothing but a follow-up from a 14-inch smallie.

We decided to change our approach...working 20-25 drop-offs with deep cranks and a lone 1 oz. hopkins that I snagged from my saltwater box moments before leaving this morning.

I began to sweep the depths...letting the lure touch down every so often. Several casts later something hit...or I hit something. I set the hook and I knew that it was a good fish...a walleye? shallow brown? hybrid striper? I was amazed at what I saw...one of the biggest largies I've ever landed. She went 23 inches and I estimate 5.5 - 6+ lbs.

What a rush! I followed that beauty up with a 1.5- 2lb. walleye that managed to get unbuttoned at the boat. Again, the hopkins was in the spotlight. Same technique. Same depth. A few minutes later I hung the hopkins on the bottom. Nothing much after that.

Look forward to getting out there again this season...I'll be sure to have a variety of blade baits and at least a few of those hopkins!

Huge, thanks for the help with the pics.

Matt

:beerchug:

 

[HugeFish4]

Sounds like a pig. I will post the picture if I ever see it!

 

[koz1542]

Just sent it over.



Matt

 

[HugeFish4]

Here ya go! Nice!

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[koz1542]

Thanks!

Matt

 

[JOHN G]

Matt: when I was there I was catching gigantic bluegills at that depth with the blade bait.... I mentally noted that, because bass often share the same haunts as the gills...your catch has confirmed that.....great job!!!

 

[Lpbassman]

Very nice Bridge Monster!!

 

[BassMiesterNJ]

We decided to change our approach...working 20-25 drop-offs with deep cranks and a lone 1 oz. hopkins that I snagged from my saltwater box moments before leaving this morning.

I began to sweep the depths...letting the lure touch down every so often. Several casts later something hit...or I hit something. I set the hook and I knew that it was a good fish...a walleye? shallow brown? hybrid striper? I was amazed at what I saw...one of the biggest largies I've ever landed. She went 23 inches and I estimate 5.5 - 6+ lbs.:beerchug:

Holy crap, you gotta love when a change like that works.........

By sweeping I'm guessng you mean kinda ripping it slowly along the botton....not a vertical jigging thing ?

Nice fish !

 

[koz1542]

Bassmiester,

I'd cast, let the spoon drop to the bottom and then slowly work the bait along the bottom sweeping the rod tip up very slowly and letting the bait free fall back down. This approach allowed us to cover alot of water relatively quickly.

Surprisingly, I didn't feel any rocks down there, like I did later in the day at other locations on the lake. Nor did I pull up any weeds or muck.

It was a memorable intro to a new approach to tackling cold weather bass...one I hope to employ my next time out on the Bridge (hopefully, early November) and study up on this winter.

:beerchug:

Matt

 

[BassMiesterNJ]

Funny, I have that same lure sitting in my saltwater stuff..... (making mental note to throw it in the freshwater box)....

Last year (right around Halloween) I caught my biggest Bass of the season fishing deep. I was slowly dragging and pausing a light C-rig up hill from about 20' to 10' of water.....