Hickory 6/15

[geneinnc]

Daylight top water action had died with the cool weather. It was after 8 until i could see the bait balls on the surface. Chartreuse 1.5 one knocker yielded a few decent fish. When that died I started hitting ledges. Same lure got me another nice fish. I tied on a tube on an XZONE CHARTREUSE BOMB and worked it like a jig on the drop-off. I am glad I put it on  a jig rod. I saw the line move and felt that distinct thump of something big inhaling the tube. Ike would have been proud of the hook set, one of those where you run a 21 foot circle. The 7ft MH Falcon rod bent double under the boat. I luckily had just put fresh 14lb FC Sniper  fluorocarbon on. I had to lean in to her to get her off the bottom. I was expecting a 4lb spot. Wrong. When it jumped my heart skipped a beat. I reached for my net but stuck to my guns on MLF rules. I got her turned and when she opened her mouth to jump again I lunged. Luck was with me. My left arm is still about 20% and I dropped her. The hook held and I scooped her against and in to the boat.

PB on  Lake Hickory. 7.2lbs.

What do you guys think of a replica mount? The odds of me catching anything even close to this one are miniscule. I did get the measurements. I dont even know the cost. I'm open to suggestions.

Funny how I have never even tried a tube for 60 years and now it's on my short list of go to lures!

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[Capt. BassinLou]

Wow!!  Beautiful bass, WTG!! Honestly... why fish to the MLF standards and risk losing a PB? Use the net.

Thank you for sharing.

[geneinnc]

Wow!!  Beautiful bass, WTG!! Honestly... why fish to the MLF standards and risk losing a PB? Use the net.

Thank you for sharing.

It wouldn't have fit the net I had anyway. You do have a good point.

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[Lipripper]

Great looking fish. Like Lou get the net and on a fish like that MLF standards would be taking a dip in the lake.  Congratulation on a new PB. 

[Capt. BassinLou]

It wouldn't have fit the net I had anyway. You do have a good point.

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Sounds like you need a bigger net for those hawgs!!

[Mike Cork]

Congratulations on a beautiful bass.

Replicas are awesome, I have 6 and they are great ways to acknowledge a big bass and give you something to strike up conversation to tell the story when folks come over. Being replicas they are easy to clean too, just pledge and a rag and they look like new again.

I am part of an organization called Bass Life, here in NW Louisiana we hold a fund raising banquet. Through the year we provide replicas for angles who catch weigh and release big bass. We pay half for an 8 pounder, 3/4 for a 9 pounder and 100 percent for a 10 plus.

These weights are regional obviously... Whether you should get a replica is up to you, I say heck ya!!!

Cost, we'll be pay about $350 each, we get a break because we order so many. If you have a local taxidermy, check with them. I know BPS does it but it seems like they are pretty expensive. All this rambling to say it's not cheap but I'd do it if I caught one that big in your neck of the woods. 

Again Congratulations

[Donald Garner]

Congrats on the New Personal Best    That's a really nice looking fish there.  Good luck in getting a Replica made.  Tks for sharing the trip and pictures with us also