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Got off work and saw light sprinkle so decided to not go to Monroe but to go to local Lake Cassidy instead. Had dinner loaded up the CR-V and made it to the lake by 5:45pm it was a bit windy but calm in spots...launched and saw a fish roll close to launch made two top water perch rapala #7 casts to the spot and got two hits but no fish...decided to do some motoring to my new favorite spot...and trolled a bit along the way...past two boats and wind picked up on launch side of the lake...tried some casts out in front of the pads with #7 perch countdown rapala that I caught the big one 16"(my personal best there) last November on...but no luck...so got tired of being blown around and looked for some top water openings back in the lily pads...found one and headed for it...cut the motor and paddled with my oars into position...first cast a nibble, a roll and FISH ON!!! He jumped, he fought, he went left, I pulled right and using my heavier line hauled him in on 10lbs test and got him to the boat but he was hooked under his chin and in his mouth deadly combo when trying to lip him...had thumb and finger on him he moved I let go...I like my hand unpunctured...he fought some more got him close again got a better grip but still got off....splashed some more and thought for sure I was going to lose him but got him the third time!!!...unhooked his chin first then his mouth and took some photos and a selfie....then got the tape measure out come on 16"+ which would be a new lake record for me....measured him quickly 16"....hmm lets line this up on his lip and measure again 17"!!! Been at this lake since late 80's and that is my new record did see a buddy land a 18" but I had only managed two 16" bass out of this lake known for it's lunkers.

Next I had another couple bluegill hits and some small bites in the pads further from shore...moved to another spot and had 2nd fish on but he got off early 10-13" is my guess. It got very calm and I decided to cast away from shore along outside of the lily pads...perfect cast just hit the water with the minnow and all hell broke loose...this big head jumped from the pads out to deeper water and I went that's big!! He hit hard and dove down I got him up he splashed some more and then dove again. I only had about 6-8 ft of line out so decided to see where he went...yep right into the lily pads and paused reeling to see if he would work his way free...he didn't and went straight to a clump of them and next thing I saw was my lure hanging on the under side of a tall pad over the water with no fish...Exciting! He was probably in the 15-18" range if I had to guess. And first time ever had a lunker bass slam my lure right away there...they usually like it slow. But was excited for the action and two big fish close to one another and close to where I had lost another one earlier in the year.


Got two more fish a 9" crappie on top water rapala and 10" bass. Had one more roll behind my lure but I moved it too fast...wind picked up and I called it a night at 9pm.

Been chasing that big one since probably 1989 or so. Last year I didn't fish in June and this one was very close to shore and had to make a perfect cast to hit the small spot where he was sitting. Water was very warm after the hot weekend we had.


All in all a great day on the water!

All fish caught and release and some photographed.

James

fisherman92

6/10/2016 6:48:00 AM

Nice fishin James! I might have to give Cassidy a try Sunday. Hopefully the colder weather will keep most people off the water this weekend.

8theB8

6/10/2016 7:16:00 AM

Nice work my man!! Those Rapala's should be hitting their stride right now with all the fry in the mix! I like the old bass using the pads to leverage against you...classic! The only defense against that is line that will cut through the pads OR pin them and got get em! So many times though it's the outcome you had...I love these fish for that, so wily.

Small Senkos are worth a try right now as well! Outside edge of the pads, wacky style as the females should be suspending out there. Keep it up!!

bob johansen

6/10/2016 7:20:00 AM

Very nice and complete report James - And the photos were good too. Your talk about personal lake records sent me to look at my Cassidy record. On October 23, 1981 I fished that lake with my son and caught a 19 inch, 4 pound, 2 ounce bass on a white spinnerbait. I getting so old that I will never fish most of these lakes again but I still really like to read fishing reports about them and look at the photos. Keep the reports coming!

Geno the Viking

6/10/2016 8:07:00 AM

Pretty darn fun. I've been fishing Lake Cassidy for over 50 years now in the same 12 foot aluminum boat. Thanks for the great report and photos. I'll be out there soon.

Jamesb

6/10/2016 5:55:00 PM

Thanks everyone Bob my two biggest bass are from Sunday Lake 13 years apart 19" by 6" wide 4lbs on my scale. Hindsight only thing I could of done on 2nd one is hit the trolling motor when he hit with one hand and jetted for open water...I was facing that way when he hit. But it was exciting none the less. I have been getting most of my fish from the holes in back of the pads very close to shore. Lake was very warm after last weekend so they were hitting all over the pads now. Got the Crappie out front on way back to the boat launch. I still need to try some senko's and crawdads on the bottom and try something new or #9 sized top water perch...As obviously top water isn't getting the lunkers there have to try a slower approach.

Jamesb

6/10/2016 5:57:00 PM

I was at Lake Gardner in Granite Falls on Memorial day saw the fry all over...was getting bluegils close to shore and saw some fry scatter and a wake...tossed my neon yellow rapala on top #5 this time...and after one twitch landed a 14" Bass that was chomping on fry...sometimes it helps to pay attention...luckily he was one cast from me didn't have to move the boat to get him. I have gotten a 16" bass out of that very small lake before on a buzz bait.

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