Big Fish!

[Yak Fish]

Here's just a few shots from the last 2 weeks of fishing!
Swimming plugs...xraps, crystal minnows and bombers are my favorites. I troll a pair, one of which is almost always an xrap. The crystal minnows seem to outperform in calm morning waters and the bombers later in the afternoon as the wind kicks up. These fish came in 5-10' of water at ambush locations (think points, pockets, changes in topography) with deep water nearby.

Today's Video:
https://www.facebook.com/chesapeake....type=2&theater

fish 5.jpgfish 6.jpgfish 7.jpgfish 3.jpgCapture.jpgfish 1.jpgG0070239.jpg

[whiskerfish]

Wow...amazing catch!

[perchy]

Damn... you are a beast sir!

[Mark]

Alan,

Incredibly impressive.

So how do you get those big fish onboard? Especially those caught with an X-Rap without getting hooked yourself.

I haven't landed any stripers the size of those in your photos but I've lost more than one striper between 20 and 30 inches at the side of the boat.

Sometimes they thrash so much I have difficulty controlling them.

Should I play them out more?

Thank you,

[Yak Fish]

Alan,

Incredibly impressive.

So how do you get those big fish onboard? Especially those caught with an X-Rap without getting hooked yourself.

I haven't landed any stripers the size of those in your photos but I've lost more than one striper between 20 and 30 inches at the side of the boat.

Sometimes they thrash so much I have difficulty controlling them.

Should I play them out more?

Thank you,

The trebles are tricky. With a jig head, not so much.
If you watch my videos you'll see me grab them with a lipper. Once that's in place you can control it. Also take note that sometimes I pull back quickly for two reasons. 1) I don't want to get thrashed 2) I don't want to accidentally grab the lure, which would almost assure that I'd lose the fish.

I really think a long reach lipper should be on the market. I should make one since they don't seem to exist.

[Cowpokey]

You have become a master at photo chopping the shoreline so as to not give away your location(s).

[Yak Fish]

You have become a master at photo chopping the shoreline so as to not give away your location(s).

Hahaha....part of that is because there's no shorelines nearby.

[Cowpokey]

Hahaha....part of that is because there's no shorelines nearby.

LOL. If I ever start catching decent size fish, I will be taking a tip out of your playbook before posting pictures that would give up the location...sick of getting spots overrun with powerboats.

[YakCapn]

I think he always turns the yak around for the picture so the far shore is in the background.

[Cowpokey]

I think he always turns the yak around for the picture so the far shore is in the background.

That's a good idea too. That way I can keep posting from the water for my live reports.

[gurnbow]

Outstanding! I wouldn't be able to hold a full time job if I was catching fish like that!

[mweber02]

Those would make for a great year of fishing!

[Mark]

Alan,

Thank you.

[Yak Fish]

Alan,

Thank you.

Also, if you try to use anything but a rubber net you'll really regret it with hooks. I tend to just like the lipper and just forgo the net completely.

[YakCapn]

I once used a string net on a catfish...it slimed it up something awful and with the hooks it got to be a tangled mess. I have no idea why I put that damn net in my kayak every trip...I really need to stop. Not that I've been catching any fish recently anyway.