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I love Zone 14 bass opener. I've got my milk run that I've been doing for quite a long time and it never disappoints. Water temps were 66 when I got to my spot, started off quick and that wasn't going to be the ticket today. Long bomber casts with spybaits was the pattern that worked for me today. Winds were ripping out of the west so it was bumpy out there. I did keep two fish (I know, unheard of for this guy) and one was still full of eggs. Spawn has been crazy this year. If I would have known that she would have gone back. I did however set a PB for another species I chase in Gbay, lol. The funny thing is I swear I've raised this fish 3 times over the past 4 years almost every single 4th Sat in June. It was nice to finally meet her. This is definitely her home base and today was my lucky day. I was by myself, it was chaos, I'm so happy I left my muskie gear in the boat (Net included). I tried to get a tape on her but with her not sitting perfectly straight in the net it was almost impossible and I wasn't taking her out to lay her in the boat to do that. She was a giant. I don't know if she touched 50 or over but it had to be close. She spent a few seconds out of the water for a quick pic and back in she went. Took about 5 mins to revive her, I'm glad the water temps were low. Way too long of a fight on bass gear but not much I can do about that. She righted herself and stayed a few inches below the surface for about a min or so, and I just followed her around with the boat. After that some healthy tail kicks and down she went. I'd love to meet you in the fall sweetheart when you've got a feedbag on! It was really nice to make your acquaintance.

WARNING: Lots of fish porn in this post! The weather was beautiful for the FMZ20 bass opener! Great to see with the weather that we've been having that a lot of the Smallies have done there thing already. Obviously there are still some bedding fish, but I do believe that most of them are done. They must still be in a bit in a bit of a post spawn funk as we were unable to catch anything of note on a horizontal presentation, one day the drop shot was the deal and the next day it was the Ned rig. We probably caught over 100 fish on Sat. and 60 on Sun. but the fish on Sun were definitely a better average size with probably 25 in the 5-6 lbs. range. Definitely one of the best Smallmouth Bass fisheries in the world.

Holy crap that thing is an absolute sow unreal!

What ever works for yah I guess... LOL I hope has has "back-up"! HH

I see you did not bend the hooks in,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Will never forget that day Dave. LOL Nice fish Sir.

Maybe he has potty mouth.

Congrats! Great looking fish I’m still trying to crack the code for catching big bass on lake o...looks like you’ve got it figured out!!

Nice fish and a great way to break in a new boat, that 1st bit of musky slime is a charm !!

Oh and I also caught my first Muskie on Sunday, after many many failed attempts over the last few years. My first fish on the new boat! 42” and 15.5lbs

Some real nice fish there

That's one heck of a productive opener! Thanks for the fish porn man!

Good looking fish, that size are always fun to catch!

My 2 hp Suzuki is a beast. 😄

Looks like a 50 to me nice fish

Gotta pay to play. Agreed that if you wanna run the boat 100kmh you hope your boat is well manufactured and been taken care of. Maybe I also just got lucky with my rig that the hull was made by skeeter and has been bulletproof so far. I already know though the bunks have put a few bad spots into the hull, i can see them when I swim beneath my boat. Tough to work on a boat though without being able to jack it up somehow.

The store has come through again for me. I just wished they had other colors. This bulk bag of some black fiber I found for only $4 bucks . I am not sure if it is synthetic or not, but it will make great streamer and dubbing material. Will be tying it up Tuesday on some jig heads. Oh I also found my new stream trout net. $4 too, and will do the job. I can take the Ninja Turtle piece off, but that just would not be right. LOL Hey,look at that cool guy,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ah the good old 80's. I would rather forget the 80's. For me it was terrible music, terrible fashions, terrible TV, terrible cars and most of all a terrible 10 years of marriage. 17% and even higher mortgage rates don't even make the list. It was a terrible 10 years for me, sorry.

Not so amazing really, aluminum boats last forever. I used to be a Millwright/metal fabricator by trade, so a couple of skills but anyone can learn. And the rest is maintenace and respect for the machines Here’s my offseason restoration project. I do a bit every year. It’s an early fish and ski that started back in 1969 (I think). Not my cottage (I WISH)