It's 2'fer Thursday in WooHoo reports.
I went to Old School...again...after work today. After taking info from reports and pointers from other amazing users, I set out with my froggin setup, this time with a cheap scum frog for its soft texture, flat belly (keeps from flipping upside down and hooking pads, effectively ruining a cast) and different profile from what I've been harassing them with. I also brought a t-rigged creature bait setup. I arrived shortly after 3 and set out my first cast around 3:15. I alternated between setups with no bites on the creature, a few half assed swing and misses on the frog. I switched spots and went pretty much frog only. I hooked into one, but skimming it across the pads it spit the hooks and due to its <1 lb size, it rested on top of some pads for a few moments. By the time I got my phone out to catch the moment, it rolled off the pads to live another day. After screwing up that area with the commotion, i moved about 15 yards south and resumed normal programming.
After a number of casts, I started to ask myself if I burned the spot. I refused to think that, the mild southern winds (I was casting east to west) were blowing my casts off target. I still retrieved them like I meant to do it. That ended up being the ticket. One cast put me dead center in a small "open water" area between some pads. The scum frog has a pretty awful open water action, but I chugged it along anyway. I scooted it along until I got to the edge of the pads about 10' off shore. About 3' later, my opinion of Old School forever changed.
My last post (or one of Crankys, I don't remember) we discussed how so many of us frequent this lake and no one has reported a fish of 3+ lbs. Theories were voiced and a culling seemed to be in order. Well, gentlemen, save the cull for somewhere else.
About at 5:20 PM and 7' from shore, I had one of the most violent topwater strikes of my life. I immediately felt the weight on the line and set that hook. Fish. On. I was not letting this beauty get away. My M/H suddenly became Thor's hammer and I ripped that thing out of the pads and onto shore. Turned around, got about 20' from the water to prevent any funny business and I landed her. I was shaking and yelling my trademark WOO HOO, hoping a curious onlooker would head my way and be so kind to snap a non-selfie pic. But of course, the trail nearby which normally has a decent flow of joggers, bicyclists, and dog walkers was a ghost town. Don't care, let's measure this thing. Went straight to the scale and it wasn't 3 lbs. Nope. This beauty came out to 4.08 lbs (4 lbs 1.28 oz for those of you that prefer). Finally taped an Old School bass and got an even 20". The thumb in the mouth pic came out off, so I lip grippered it to get a perfect side shot and went for the release. Assuming I needed to revive, I lipped her and put her in the water. She ended up taking off just as pissed as she struck the lure, as if nothing ever happened. I put my hands up, verbally exclaimed "Done!", packed up, and left with a new personal best (CRUSHING my previous of 3 lbs 7 oz) and a newfound respect of my childhood stomping grounds. Even made my dad jealous.
I know this is an absolutely ridiculous post for a 4 lb'er, but this lake is notorious for cookie cutter high 1's with a 2 sprinkled in there. I'm still on cloud nine. I'm just hoping the lurkers don't come out of the woodwork, I like having the place to myself on weekdays :lol:
I went to Old School...again...after work today. After taking info from reports and pointers from other amazing users, I set out with my froggin setup, this time with a cheap scum frog for its soft texture, flat belly (keeps from flipping upside down and hooking pads, effectively ruining a cast) and different profile from what I've been harassing them with. I also brought a t-rigged creature bait setup. I arrived shortly after 3 and set out my first cast around 3:15. I alternated between setups with no bites on the creature, a few half assed swing and misses on the frog. I switched spots and went pretty much frog only. I hooked into one, but skimming it across the pads it spit the hooks and due to its <1 lb size, it rested on top of some pads for a few moments. By the time I got my phone out to catch the moment, it rolled off the pads to live another day. After screwing up that area with the commotion, i moved about 15 yards south and resumed normal programming.
After a number of casts, I started to ask myself if I burned the spot. I refused to think that, the mild southern winds (I was casting east to west) were blowing my casts off target. I still retrieved them like I meant to do it. That ended up being the ticket. One cast put me dead center in a small "open water" area between some pads. The scum frog has a pretty awful open water action, but I chugged it along anyway. I scooted it along until I got to the edge of the pads about 10' off shore. About 3' later, my opinion of Old School forever changed.
My last post (or one of Crankys, I don't remember) we discussed how so many of us frequent this lake and no one has reported a fish of 3+ lbs. Theories were voiced and a culling seemed to be in order. Well, gentlemen, save the cull for somewhere else.
About at 5:20 PM and 7' from shore, I had one of the most violent topwater strikes of my life. I immediately felt the weight on the line and set that hook. Fish. On. I was not letting this beauty get away. My M/H suddenly became Thor's hammer and I ripped that thing out of the pads and onto shore. Turned around, got about 20' from the water to prevent any funny business and I landed her. I was shaking and yelling my trademark WOO HOO, hoping a curious onlooker would head my way and be so kind to snap a non-selfie pic. But of course, the trail nearby which normally has a decent flow of joggers, bicyclists, and dog walkers was a ghost town. Don't care, let's measure this thing. Went straight to the scale and it wasn't 3 lbs. Nope. This beauty came out to 4.08 lbs (4 lbs 1.28 oz for those of you that prefer). Finally taped an Old School bass and got an even 20". The thumb in the mouth pic came out off, so I lip grippered it to get a perfect side shot and went for the release. Assuming I needed to revive, I lipped her and put her in the water. She ended up taking off just as pissed as she struck the lure, as if nothing ever happened. I put my hands up, verbally exclaimed "Done!", packed up, and left with a new personal best (CRUSHING my previous of 3 lbs 7 oz) and a newfound respect of my childhood stomping grounds. Even made my dad jealous.
I know this is an absolutely ridiculous post for a 4 lb'er, but this lake is notorious for cookie cutter high 1's with a 2 sprinkled in there. I'm still on cloud nine. I'm just hoping the lurkers don't come out of the woodwork, I like having the place to myself on weekdays :lol:
