My biggest to date!

I suppose a little story to go with the pic might be appropriate so.... we started the day early as I picked up my partner at about 5:45 and off to prarie county we go. We headed straight to horseshoe lake (not the big lake in east ark) to find the water had come down and gotten real close to where it needs to be. Right off the bat I caught two real nice black slabs that weighed right at 2lbs each and then caught probably 8 bass around 2lbs or so and then like someone blew the union whistle... everything just quit us and we couldn't buy a fish. After about 3 hours we ran back by the boat ramp only to find my truck standing in water, and knowing I was sober when I parked, the water was obviously coming up so we decided to pick up and try somewhere else. So we commenced to head to one of our favorite little sloughs off the White. We started catching a few here and there in about 5 ft of water about 4ft deep on blue and white jigs tipped with minners (my personal favorite). So here we were fishing one of our 'hot tops' I could hear running water behind me and sure enough there was water draining in from and adjacent field. So I troll over to the other side to realize we can't fish it from the boat due to the trees and brush but I have an ingenious idea to get out the bank with my little 5ft ultralite and jig in hand. I snuck around the back of the brush like a cat stalking a mouse and there was a little opening in the brush about 2ft wide where I proceeded to drop my jig - with only about 14" of line out. and WHAMMO!! I rolled over a nice slab only to see him spit out the jig and disappear! So frustrated and stoked at the same time and now minnow-less, I dropped the jig in again and WOW I just about got the pole yanked out of my hand! I pulled this baby up to the top to see him role one time but was once again frustrated "dagum drum" is all I could mumble. After a few second of trying to keep this 'drum' from hanging me in the brush I managed to roll him again and this time I realized this DRUM wasn't no darn DRUM!! Needless to say I think folks heard me hollering a couple of counties away. Boys I can't remember the last time I got that excited over anything!! He's in the freezer and I'm looking for recommendations on a good taxidermy around Cabot if you know one! THE END!!! :)

17 1/4 "
3.25 LBS

Nice fish like to have about 20 of them "drum" thanks for the pic.

Real Nice Hog

now that's a SLAB...enjoyed the story and the pic...thanks for sharing

Nice!! Thx for sharing!

Real nice !!!!!

That must be a thick dude. WTG Should make a pretty mount.:cool:

Good story and great fish.

I just get chill bumps reading your story. Felt like I was there doing the casting myself. Nice fish...excellent story. Never got one that big. Now, if I can only bribe my doctor with a bag of fillets to let me get back on the water. Oh well, such is life. My maker knows what is best for me.

catch one for me.

Nice fish hotrod....congrats and thanks for sharing.

nice catch, if i were you id be calling Hi-Tech taxidermy in McGehee,Ar he's one of the most prestigious taxidermist around. he mounted a bass i caught that weighed 11.9 and it was a true art-work. a little pricey but well worth every penny.

Many thanks to all! It was a day I won't soon be forgetting! Does anyone have any idea what it might cost to get it mounted? I've never had the need to look into it :)

Now that's what I call a Frickin PIG. Congrats

Excellent Fish!! Thanks for the pic!

A fish of a lifetime...3.25 lbs!:eek: Congrats.:) Thanks for shaing the story and a pic of the fish with the rest of us.:p

Congrats On Your Pb..............


Cm

Hey Hot Rod Good Fish man, bet ya cant wait to go back there and catch that 4 lber in that hole. Hey Fin Feather and Fur in Jacksonville does great work and has mounted 2 fish for me.

that's one fine Arkansas "HOG";)!!!!

Congrats on the fish, Hot Rod! Great story too! Thanks for the post.

awesome fish! thanks for sharing!

Hey Hotrod,

I'm one of those who wouldn't know about a taxidermist because I've never needed one, but "Stubby" posted a picture of a mount he had done at Chipmunks Taxidermy in North Little Rock and in my opinion, it was the most realistic looking crappie mount I've seen! Look at a post by Stubby, who I believe is also from Cabot, dated 10-26-2009 and there is a picture. Don't have any idea what it cost but it sure looks good!

Nice fish Hotrod, thanks for the story and pictures. I should be getting my mount back next week of my 3lb. 5oz crappie from Cane Creek, hope it turns out good. I'll post a picture of it, Natures gallery in Star City is doing mine, he charged $200.

What a fish! That's probably a lifetimer.

Wow

You can't go wrong with fin feather and fur or chipmunks, they're both top notch, a little pricey but you won't be disappointed

Man that is a really nice fish!! You gotta love those refuge lakes over there!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ski trip

Hey Hotrod,

I'm one of those who wouldn't know about a taxidermist because I've never needed one, but "Stubby" posted a picture of a mount he had done at Chipmunks Taxidermy in North Little Rock and in my opinion, it was the most realistic looking crappie mount I've seen! Look at a post by Stubby, who I believe is also from Cabot, dated 10-26-2009 and there is a picture. Don't have any idea what it cost but it sure looks good!

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Nice catch! Chipmunks is definately the place to go... $165 was the cost if i'm not mistaken.

Congrats from Missouri, beautiful fish. If I am ever so lucky to land such a fish it would grace my wall stuck to a nice piece of driftwood.

You tryin to beat my biggest or something. dang, i show you one pic and two weeks later you do this! Come down here Thursday, I'll be out there ALL DAY.