Thanks everyone, I have spent quite a bit of time, and had many trips to Lake Fork and JP of catching nothing trying to find fish in deeper water, I wouldn't say extremely deep, just getting off the banks and looking for structure that may hold some cover or little spots within spots on a map. I have been very fortunate to have caught a 9.4 and a 10.12 in the last 2 weeks.

Here is my story, if you don't like long reads, with a bit of rambling, here is the pre-disclaimer! lol

The story is that I had set up a different set up the night before because I was going to try different presentations and colors. On my first cast I caught a 3 or 4 lb fish, but I was thinking, this is the curse of catching one on the first cast, so I might be in for a long afternoon. Wasn't long after that, I caught a few more smaller ones, so then I decided to switch to the other set up.

Whenever I took all the old line off the night before, I had cleaned the reel, and forgot to tighten the drag real tight, that will come back to help me later. I threw out, wasn't long I thought I felt a bite, but felt more like I had fell off the ledge into deeper water. I slightly pulled and felt pressure, thought maybe it was in a stump or something, but thought hook sets are free so F it. When I set the hook, I knew it was a good one. Didn't fight like a 5 or 6 # fish, they fight harder than the bigger ones in my experience (until they get to the boat anyway). I took my time with her, she was trying to go deep, which I had expected. Anyway, I get the net and she is stripping drag. It all happens real fast, but once I got her close to the boat, I tried to net her and quickly realized, this net is too small. She jumped and I thought oh my God she is coming off. I dropped the net in the lake, let her go back under the boat once or twice instead of letting her jump again. She finally got tired enough that I was laying on the deck and almost dropped my rod, but was able to get control of my line and lip her. Once I picked her up, I knew she was going to be close to 10# - Here is the deal, ALOT of people post pics of 6-7# fish on here (no offense) and on FB saying they are 10# fish, but they are not. Once you get a big 9# or 10# in your hands, if you admire nature and can appreciate what you are holding in your hands, you will be in awe of a true lunker bass.

Anyway, I put her in the livewell and I was still in disbelief. I put her on my scales and as soon as I saw it go over 10#, I put her back in the livewell, tied down all my [censored] and headed straight to the marina. After weighing her and getting some pics, I took her back out to the main lake and watched her swim off into the deep water in amazement.

People ask me all the time, and I'm sure it happens to you guys too, people that don't understand bass fishing, are always asking did you keep it? When is the fish fry? Etc. etc.. Then they are like, why the hell do you spend all that time and money out there?

Then I get asked this all the time, when are you going to fish this tournament, etc..

Well I have no issues with people that eat smaller bass, or bass tournament fishermen, but for me it is all about the thrill of the chase of the big fish, and that moment of watching them slowly swim off into the abyss is worth every second and every penny I have invested. And I can't wait to have the chance to do it again!

pig fish

Nice write up brother! You beat me to the club but I'm not giving up! Congrats again on a nice DD!

Well said buddy!

Nice!

well said.........

Nice job Slade. Contrats..

OMG!! I Cannot Believe You Said That!! Who would EVER do something like that???

Congrats again buddy. You have become the new D-Hobbs of JP!

It is getting crazy, I really can't believe what I'm experiencing right now. I went yesterday afternoon for a few hours, caught a 6.2, 7.94 and what I thought was another DD, but turned out to be a 9.52, it hit 10# on my scale but I took it to the Marina to double check, wasn't a DD but a great fish and what an unbelievable couple of weeks.

Dude you are on a roll.... Enjoy it.

Nice fish. Glad to see that you put them back into the water instead of on a wall.

Yea if I ever put one on the wall it will be a 12# and it will be a replica. I used to deer hunt alot, for various reasons and being burned on one too many leases I finally gave it up. I have shot some trophy bucks, I was never the type to shoot whatever and some years I wouldn't shoot one. But the one thing I love about Trophy Bass fishing vs Trophy Deer hunting, is that you can catch a trophy, get a lot of pics, measurements, etc.. then turn them back to the wild. It's the most enjoyable part for me.

If you want to increase your chances for a 12 by about 6X, go ahead and get a replica of your 10.12..

And stop posting pics of your fish on a certified scale! You're making a lot of guys really nervous by doing so!!! LMBO!!!!