Saturday morning, I hopped in Bret Clark’s boat for a quick 3 hr tour of pool 8. Bret, the guy everyone knows as the Catfish guru told me he’d had a good bite going and was wondering if I’d like to help him put some fish in his boat. You can imagine the shock I went through when he told me his good bite was for Bass. I almost fell out of my chair when he followed that up by saying those fish were hammering slop frogs…
I can appreciate Bret broadening his horizons by using frogs for Catfish bait, but Bret fishing Bass AND using slop frogs to do so…….I was wondering if the earth had fell off its axis. I must say, I was rather proud at the display of Bassin’ ability Bret put forth. He was spot on with his approach and hooking ability.
One of the first Bass he put in the boat was this dandy. This one had a nice pair of beauty marks as you can see in the picture.
Bret’s bait of choice was a Spro frog, black in color while I was throwing a white RageTail. It didn’t take me too long to figure out I was pulling my frog too fast over the cover. Bret was getting bit while fishing his frog at a snails pace, almost fishing it like a bobber, just inching it and twitching it across the surface. I was getting bites on the Ragetail, but most of them looked more like Pike. In fact the first fish I put in the boat was a big Pike. Much to Bret’s chagrin, I turned the fish loose without a picture. Sorry Bret
As I previously stated, I found myself fishing those Ragetails too fast and in return, not getting the bites that Bret was. so I slowed down, and popped the bait across the surface. Instantly, I was rewarded with constant action. The best way to work these baits for me was to let it sink into the holes and slowly work it back to the surface, or just let it sit on the clumps and just shake it. Most times there was no mistaking the strikes, as these fish had the desire to eat.
After wearing out our welcome, and putting over 8 nice fish in the boat, we headed down the slough to look for more productive grounds. The baitfish were popping all over the surface and we could see lots of action by predatory fish chasing down a late breakfast. After not finding much and missing a few fish, the rains picked up. So we decided to head back to the spot and fishing it from the opposite side.
When I can, this is an approach I like to try. Typically it yields a few more fish. We weren’t disappointed on this try either. A couple quick casts, put 3 more fat LM Bass into the boat, as well as a big’ol Pike. That fella was one persistant fish. It hit Bret’s frog as he brought it across the open water. When it initially hit, it didn’t eat the bait to the point where it got the hooks. It just pulled the bait down, and when Bret set the hook, he pulled the bait free. Upon seeing this, Bret dropped the tip down and gave the frog a slight underwater twitch, and that’s all the invitation that Pike need to hammer that frog once more. Then the fight was on.
After a few quick runs, the Pike was in the net and into Bret’s hands for a quick pic. AS you’ll see by the pics, this thing had a huge head and a skinny body. But nonetheless, it put on a great boatside battle.
Thanks to Bret for inviting me to spend the morning with him. As always, the fishing was great and the camaraderie was even better.
It’s always great to see Bret embrace the light and join Bass crowd. 
Thanks again Bret! 
Here’s a picture of Bret’s 36″ Pike. Nice fish buddy! I’ll be trying that Poor Man’s Lobster soon.
Did you guys get a weight on that Saug-bass in the first pic?
Nice fish guys!
WOW some tanks!
One thing, next time could you guys hire some stunt doubles to pose with those fish?? Man that is an ugly site to see both of you in the same report!
AAAHHH!! Another convertered Cat guy!! Great report guys!
Now, time for the Pool 7 report.
After I got off the water with Bret, the plan was for me to call Randy W and hit pool 7, looking for a hot bite. After letting the rains pass us we headed out with high expectations of putting some big LM Bass in the boat. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. After the rains subsided, the winds picked up. That eliminated much of the water I wanted to fish. We certainly could have fished those spots, But I really didn’t feel like battling the winds.
So we headed north into the sloughs. The current is still rolling through the backwaters. The water is unseasonably high, but it’s very, very clean. Almost all of our fish came off slop frogs, with Randy choosing a Stanley Ribbit and myself throwing the Ragetail from the previous morning’s outing.
The fish we found in the afternoon, were located on ambush points. Again, they wanted the bait a little slower, but when they hit, there was no mistaking the strikes.
Below are some pics from the afternoons adventure.
The Pike pictured is my 2nd 30in plus fish this year. It taped out and over 36″. It was extremely thick and battled like none other. Without a net, I was happy to put this fish in the boat and get a couple quick pics.
With this high(er) and cooler water, the Pike have been hanging around, and they’re much more accessible that previous years. I don’t suspect this will be my last tussle with a big’ol toothy critter. I’m just hoping now to find one closer if not over 40″.
The picture where Randy’s holding 2 Bass, has a quick interesting story.
I flipped up onto a grass mat and at the edge, I hooked the larger of the 2 fish pictured. As I was fighting the fish to the boat, I noticed a second Bass chasing the hooked one. So I told Randy to flip in there and see if he could get it hooked up. Almost immediately, the other Bass pounded his jig.
Without a doubt, it pays to watch what’s going on under the water’s surface.
Thanks to Randy for putting up with me and having me in his boat. It’s always great meeting new people and making new friends.
Great report Tom and some dandy fish.
You’re right,that pikes head is huge
Nice LM, sorry to hear about catching those Pike though
BF- Just realized you had to stand that entire time back there. The post extention for the butt rest was in the boat. I guess I could have been a better host
I personally thought the better story was trying to tell you which opening in the weeds I saw that bass role in while you had your back turned. Directions must have been clear, because that was sweet. Perfect pitch and instant blow up. Would have been a bit rude to cast over your shoulder to stick that hungry chunker. Let me know how you do with those mullets. After hitting the couple wingdams Sunday, I’m thinking those on a weighted EWG hook would be a good semi-snag free rig. Plus would go through that Arrow head a lot better.
Great report Blue!
I had a blast fishing with you as always Blue
I appreciated you bringing me up to date on some of the new style baits that are on the market today. Darn, another plano will be needed 
I did get out with Mike C Sunday, stuck a few more bass but Mike made me set up on a cat hole for awhile trying to bring me out of it. This flatty came out of a small 30 foot hole on cut bait. The Bass bite has been a blast so far this year but not to worry, I will get back on the cats
I guess I am becoming a switch hitter
and it has been fun 
Great report guys!
Great report BF.
Did you ever think about being a preacher? 
If you could convert Bret to bass fishing 
I think you could convert a whole town to your church. 
He is definately hooked. 
On Sunday morning our plan was to catch some small gills and drift for some channel cats – we hadn’t done that yet this year. At our first spot I throw out a chunk of crawler under a slip bobber and am slowly working it towards the boat and I hear my buddy just flailing away in the front of the boat.
I’m thinking he sure is impatient this morning with the gills and I turn around and he’s pitching a Spro frog for gills? What’s up with that? 
He flashes me that big grin and says “I’m sorry buddy Mike but I’m hooked on this bass fishing”. 
Oh well, as they say if you can’t beat em join em . Where can I find me a good deal on some of those Spro frogs? 
I’ll have to light a fire in the Champion and get both you guys out after some big’ol Green Meanies.
There’s nothing funner than fishing Bass with slop frogs…except maybe Smallies on topwater.
Blue, what time did you and Bret get out on the water?? How long did you fish for before you made a second trip w/ the other guy?
Bret and I fished from 7:30 am until 10:30 am.
Randy & I didn’t hit the water until around 2pm.
I’ll chip in for gas
Good report, guess I needed to talk to you guys before I went out.
thanks blue
Me too – – –
and the beer. 
Thanks for the report Guys!!
That’s it
….I expected more bull form you Whopper 
