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Tag Archives: Largemouth Bass

Fishing and free beer

March 18, 2012
Fishing, Fly Fishing, Food and Drink, Video, Warmwater
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Hit a couple ponds on Friday after work looking to catch a few bass on top. The first one was in good shape and I found the bluegill to be very aggressive to both the popper and the dropper. The big bass were in shallow water, sitting on beds and unresponsive to anything thrown their way.  The smaller male bass though would swipe at a fly, I managed to land a few of them.

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The second pond I hit had active bluegill as well, though not the size that I found in the first pond. The catfish were pretty active too. Throwing a slow sinking streamer out to the middle of the pond, let it sink, then hold on was the strategy for the cats. I did catch one on top though which was pretty cool. Managed a nice bass on top as well.

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Capped Friday off with a tour of the Tin Roof Brewing Co. here in Baton Rouge. Every Friday from 5-7 they offer free tours and with the tour you get three free beers. You can’t beat that with a stick. They have an amber(Perfect Tin), a pale ale(Voodoo Bengal) and a blonde(Tin Roof Blonde). The blonde was my favorite, while the amber was Amanda’s. Right now you can only find Perfect Tin in stores, it comes in cans. I’m a big fan of the current trend to can craft beer, I hope it continues.

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Here is a great video that lumehouse put together on the Tin Roof story:

Lesson Learned

March 13, 2012
Fishing, Freshwater, Warmwater
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I read a story last week about a guy in Arkansas catching a largemouth bass that bested the old state record of 36 years by an ounce. It was 16.5 lbs, taken on a Mann’s Jelly Worm by Paul Crowder. I thought to myself, “Good for you Paul Crowder, that’s a heck of a bass.” Now we find out that he did it illegally, he didn’t have a license. A license which costs $10.50 annually to an Arkansas resident. Now his potential record is not allowed and he is looking at paying for it, with a fine and jail time.

Paul Crowder’s story went from “feel good” to “no good”, all because he ignored to purchase a license prior to fishing, even after receiving citations in the past. I see no excuse for this. None. What a tough way to learn a lesson.

I feel bad for the fish. Instead of having it’s rightful place at the top of the record books it is nowhere to be found, and dead too.

Hodges Gardens

March 11, 2012
Fishing, Food and Drink, Freshwater, Warmwater
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I went a month straight posting new content every day, but had to break that this past weekend. Amanda and I spent my birthday at Hodges Gardens State Park, near Many, LA. We booked a cabin a couple weeks ago, had second thoughts this past week due to the weather forecast, but it worked out in our favor and never rained Saturday. We walked the gardens Friday evening and Saturday morning, fished the lake Saturday afternoon. Now Hodges is no Callaway, not nearly the size or staff, and Callaway is private, but, the gardens are very nice, a unique part of the state park system. They boast an impressive array of camelias, azaleas, and some awesome water features. The lake is a reclaimed quarry, 225 acres, lined with aquatic vegetation. We rented a canoe for the day and started pounding the banks. The bass were pretty active and I caught enough to keep me interested.  We ate pretty well too, barbequed shrimp, grilled steaks, and Amanda made a fruit pizza in lieu of a cake.

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We made it back in town just in time for a crawfish boil with some friends. First of the season for us. Hit the spot too.

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It was a great birthday weekend, I really enjoyed it! I’d love to fish the lake again when it is a little warmer, it is one of the healthiest I’ve seen in Louisiana. Amanda ended up being a pretty good paddling guide as well, another good reason to get a Big Tuna.