- Hi folks, this is Don Meisner.

And today we're going to look back at all the years of doing fishing behind the lines where we caught bass.

And did we ever catch bass?

I think you're gonna love seeing some of these catches.

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These are their stories.

This is Fishing Behind The Lines.

- Fishing Behind The Lines is brought to you by - You know folks, when we would go out to do a show we never knew what we were going to catch but bass always seemed to save the day.

And as we look back today, I got to tell you how do you pick the best.

Bass are so much fun.

- You were right, Ben, just right by the boat.

- Yeah.

- You wonder if there we go there.

- Oh!There we go.

- There, it's what I said.

We're gonna get doubles.

That was my hope.

You keep yours on.

I'll tell you what we're going to do.

We're going to put them both in the same net together.

- Okay.

Well.

- We got plenty of time.

If mine gets off, then he knows something that I don't about getting hooks out because we sure.

- Oh man.

- Ooh, nice bass.

Nice bass - It's over there.

- There.

Now I got to have the straight, lift him.

There we go.

- Wow.

Isn't that neat?

- It got hit on that red.

- Yes.

Did you think this would ever happen today before the day started?

- No.

Absolutely not.

- I told you it was going to be good but I didn't want you to think it would be this good.

- Isn't that amazing?

- Yeah.

They're both decent sizes too.

- Yes they are.

- And there's some fat.

- Yes.

- That's the funny thing.

They are just such fat fat fish.

There we go.

- Nice.

- Yours is bigger.

Yours is the bigger fish and that is the one you caught the bigger one.

Cause you could see it when you pull up.

Wow.

That's neat.

- That's a nice bass, but boy.

Wow.

- You wanted this one?

- I lost my worm.

I mean my, my frog - Frog?

- Ripped it right off.

- Yeah.

But you know, I liked that color.

- Yeah.

That's that's validation.

- Yeah.

- It's a good fish.

- Yeah.

That's a no, that's a nice small river grass river.

Small mouth.

Small river grass mountain.

- Oh my gosh.

Nick has got a bass.

Oh my gosh.

Dave, you didn't tell me you were a master at this?

Oh my gosh.

That's fantastic.

Oh Oh my gosh.

That's a big one.

Nick, you didn't tell me you were going to be a fishing star on your birthday.

None of us can get a fish, but look at you.

And now, here's what you got to do.

You put your thumb right in there and grip is tight as you can.

Okay?

Cause that's a big bass.

- Yeah, it is.

- You got to hold him up there.

And you look out.

Yeah, that's good.

That's a little less weight.

Isn't it?

That's a huge bass.

I am telling you that is a fabulous bass.

You know, all the kids back Ah, the kids that I was going to say, all the kids back in school, where is earned a special day on his birthday.

I almost, I almost need a good name, but anyway they're going to see this and they're going to say, Nick, you're a master.

Wow.

- Great fish.

- Well, I want you to remember this this picture of you with your bass on your birthday, 13 years old and you're going to remember for the rest of your life.

because you caught one of the nicest bass.

Now, I'm going to let you throw him back.

So that next year, when you're 14 he'll be even bigger.

- Bill, you're doing something pretty good.

- That is a big bass.

- That's what we want.

- You know, the surprising thing is he came right up to the surface in this cold water temperature.

- Oh, that's a nice bass.

That's a beauty.

- Oh, that is a big, heavy bass.

My gosh, that is a dandy.

- What do you think?

- I think that this thing is huge.

That's what I think.

- This right here this is a biggest smallmouth Bill has ever caught.

To be able to catch this on our show and to share this with everybody, that's fabulous.

- This is awesome.

- It is.

Isn't it?

- The biggest one I've ever in my life seen and touched in person.

So... - Oh, it took it and get one, swinging and a miss.

- Got him large-y.

And another one behind him.

- Oh my gosh - This is a three and a half.

- Yeah - Now this is a beauty.

- Barely hooked though.

- You.

This is, do you realize Did you see my smaller compared to your large-y?

- The way I roll?

- This is unbelievable.

I'm getting all the date fish.

- There's a three-pound there.

- That's a beauty.

A beauty.

- So the Rocky took my trailer and I threw it right back out there.

Cause I knew there was a fish there.

- And that's a beautiful that's a beautiful largemouth throat.

Look how much paler the back of the other water they are in here.

- Yeah.

- The other place, they were pretty dark.

Now tell us why you kiss a fish.

I know everybody kisses him.

I never had.

But tell me.

- I think it's a good luck thing.

- Do you?

- Yeah.

Yeah.

That's just, you know, everybody's got their little thing.

I can't remember who taught me how to kiss fish.

Somebody told me about it and I'm just, you know - One of those puberty stories that go on for a lifetime.

- Yeah, exactly.

- Ooh, there's coming up.

Oooh, Its an easy.

- Nice and easy.

I'll just lift up just a little bit.

Okay, good.

Right.

Keep your rod tip right there.

- Keep reelin'.

- Wind to him.

- That's the beauty of a bass.

- Yeah, this is all right.

When I tell you to just lift him, right?

Okay.

Up.

There you go.

Just take him.

Eh, - Holy cow!

Is this a monster?

- This is a bass.

Did you think a small mouse would grow that big?

- No.

- You're going to want to grab them with your thumb on the bottom sometime.

- Just squeeze as hard as you can.

- I'll grab it for you.

- I had him.

- He's got him.

- There you go.

- Now hold him right in front of you.

So we, oh my gosh.

Is that fish six pounds?

This is.

This, honestly it would win any tournament.

This is a bass that people would come from around the country to catch.

This.

Is this huge for a smallmouth.

I never dreamed you catch - Are you sure this is a smallmouth.

- Yeah, this is a smallmouth.

It don't look too small.

Doesn't it?

Okay.

You can put him back if you want.

- I can just throw him in?

- Yep.

Let's throw them right in.

- Swam right away.

- He left us.

He's gone.

- Oop.

Don's gone.

- Don's got one.

- Don's talking in the third person.

- Don's talking in the, Don's got one in the third person.

- Oh, it's a nice one.

- It's a good one.

- Don's got one.

- Oh geez.

- Don's talking in the third person.

- Geez.

- Another big one.

- Look at the color.

Wow.

That's dark.

- Aren't they dark?

- Yeah.

- These are really, really dark, large balls.

Aren't they?

Oh, without a doubt.

- This is one of the best days I've ever had.

- And look how dark that fish is.

Will, why do you think these fish are so dark?

Is it just the water there?

- Well, yeah.

It's the water set.

Brownish tannic water.

- Yeah.

- Which you can see, like, you know, we've always said as the yellow tint on them.

- Yeah.

- You can tell that that bass has spent a lot of time in the grass, up in the cover and so.

- It's gonna rain.

Well, it's starting to rain a lot right now - It's gonna rain but the fish bite good in the rain.

- Fish bite good, yes.

- Right through the reeds right here.

- Those weeds.

- Yeah, exactly.

- Ooh!

Get 'em Don.

Get 'em.

That's a nice one.

Get 'em.

- Common Don, bring him right here.

- Bring them into your buddy.

- Get him!

- Get him up here, Don.

- Keep the pressure on him Don.

- Yeah, baby!

- Keep him coming, buddy.

- Wooh!

- All these things, all day.

- Oh man!

- He's coming.

He's a nice one too.

- Oh!

Man.

- Look at this one.

- Holy man!

- Holy Cow!

- Get him, get him!

- That's a giant!

- Yeah!

- We did it!

- We did it!

Look at the!

- Holy Cow!

- Wow!

- That was a beauty!

- Will, holy smokes!

- Look at that thing.

- Did you see when he hit?

- I didn't.

- Oh my goodness.

I heard it.

Oh, it was either you or me.

Yeah.

- Boy.

I'll tell you why.

Isn't it beautiful.

Oh my God.

- Oh nice.

Oh - Gosh.

That was a battle.

All the way in to keep him from burrowing into.

Yeah.

- Well I'll tell you what, here's what I was doing.

You won't believe this.

I w and this is one of the biggest bass you'll catch in the river.

This is a huge bass.

I just was leaving it.

Drifting in the current.

Not pulling it, not doing anything behind the rock.

And all of a sudden, I felt this.

I'm telling you, I hope we get this.

Cause this is a huge bass for a river bass.

He's got me behind something now.

Honestly, I'm as nervous about this as if I had a musky.

I can't believe.

Yeah.

Oh yes.

Rust has got a, a net at the other canoe.

- But the funny thing - This must have been gone to school for a long time.

- Oh my gosh.

Yeah.

This one has, as Corey said, this has been going to school a long time.

I'm thrilled.

- He's a big one.

- Squeeze your hand as hard as you can.

Now pose with it and say this is what I'm catching next.

Oh my gosh.

- You give him a kiss.

Oh - My gosh.

- Oh my God.

- Oh my gosh.

Just keep the rod up.

Don't fall.

Oh, home.

Oh my gosh.

This is a monster.

I'm going to go down here.

- Oh my God.

Look at him.

Oh my God.

Oh!

- Oh my God!

- Oh my God!

- Oh!

- Oh my goodness!

Look at that!

- Holy cow.

Oh my gosh.

- Oh, you gotta get a camera for that one.

- You can't give it to her that way - I was feeling sorry for it when we were starting out.

Now, she gotta be feeling sorry from all of us in the boat.

for all of us in the bolt because she's putting - A hurt on us.

That's a huge, that's a that's a fish of a lifetime right there.

That is a beauty - Heavy.

Isn't it?

Yes.

Now - Hold it.

So it's just by the mouth.

So it's down and oh man.

They can really now, now turn it so that they can see the, yes.

- Look at that.

- Oh!

- Awesome.

- It's a monster one.

Oh, this, this, this really is a nice fish.

I'm hoping I can keep him on because I want you all to see him.

Oh, oh, oh Holy cow!

Oh!

- That is big.

- This isn't real.

This is really a huge bass.

And it's doing some incredible acrobatics for us.

- We've got two on, he's got one on - Oh, fantastic.

- You got it?

- Oh yeah.

I got him.

- All right.

- Yep.

- Here he comes.

All right!

Yes!

- Here!

Right here buddy.

- There.

There we broke the ice.

Ooh.

- Oh my gosh.

Feel better?

- Yes, indeed.

- I hope to get him come off.

- Two at one time.

- The hook's right up in our other boat.

They've got fish on.

This is absolutely incredible.

I'm going to go over and join the other folks here in a minute.

But my, my four fish here has been waiting patiently.

So the two could go back together.

- It's mommy and daddy and - Mommy and daddy.

But, it still.

- Don't it feel great?

- Yes, it does.

- Finally.

You got me?

- All right, you better hold it up.

- This by the way.

We're close now.

This is, this is just a trophy fish.

I'm really, I'm really pleased with this.

I got to tell you though, with with my boat mates here, getting their fish it means a lot more to me than this, this big monster.

But Hey, maybe they'll get one like at, well, maybe they my goodness will show already got one bigger.

- Shane's got one too.

- Yep.

Yes.

- Oh look at that!

- Oh, we got a monster over here.

Oh, Shane, wait a minute.

Shane.

Shane.

You're making me nervous.

Get over here.

This is the biggest one.

- That is a beauty.

- Look at that one.

- This is one of the biggest bass I've ever seen, - Is it really?

- Shane seriously?

This is, this is a trophy trophy trophy.

Smallmouth.

Oh my I'm holding it, but I didn't catch it.

Here.

It's your fish.

Oh my gosh, Shane.

- Look at that, huh?

That is a fat boy.

- Oh.

Oh my gosh.

Shane, that is, - Look at that.

- You'll probably never catch one bigger.

Now your bass fish is going downhill.

- Yeah.

- That is incredible.

Oh my gosh.

- Yup.

- It's beautiful huh?

- That is a beautiful fish.

- Thanks fishy.

- Isn't it?

Yeah.

Oh yeah.

Is it?

- Oh, this is a good one.

This is a good one.

This is a good one.

- Oh my God.

- Oh, this is a little, little Ruper.

- Ooh!

That's a beauty.

- There.

- What are you doing different?

- I'm just a very good fisherman.

I to got the touch.

He's really gotta blogging people.

I'm really going to catch some fish.

- Ooh, that is a good one.

That's a big fish.

- You know it.

How do you know it?

- He knows.

- That's so crazy that you didn't know.

And we haven't even seen it.

- Well, that's a big bass.

Oh, it's a beautiful bass.

- It's a big one.

Oh, sorry.

Okay.

I know you need - I, I, I need to spin.

- Got it.

- And the funny thing is, I wonder if he hit that with all those weeds down there, there's a ton of weeds.

- Uh huh, mmhmm.

- Boy.

That's a nice bass.

- That is a big one.

I needed.

I needed to kind of work my way into the bigger ones.

- Yeah, you sure did.

- Wow.

That is a good one.

All right.

Well, how you're supposed to switch off?

There you go.

- I don't even have to hold this forward too much to make it look bigger.

- No you don't.

You can actually bring him back.

- What do you got to say for yourself?

- Well, nothing yet.

I ain't got the fish on the boat yet.

He's not in the boat yet.

Or you'll get him.

- This is a big one, Don.

- Yeah.

I bet you need the net for this one.

- Oh, Holy cow.

You do.

- You got one, Corey?

- You got a fish?

- Yeah.

- Corey's got one.

- It's the big one Don.

- This is a big one, Corey.

- There you go.

That's a good one.

Real, nice one.

Here we go.

Just lift him up Corey.

Lift it.

Got him.

- Oohh.

Don.

Good job Don.

Good job.

Good job, Corey.

Fantastic, Corey!

- Did you think, oh my gosh, this really is big.

We gotta be careful of those troubles.

Oh my goodness.

- This too are giants.

Look at the size of this.

Look at this.

- He's at two, five pounds - And look at me in the middle of it here.

Like I'd done.

- So Mike knew a darn thing.

Holy cow.

- We're coming.

Just take your time.

Keep pressure on him.

Keep pressure on him, Scotty.

- I don't know where he is.

- Holy cow!

That's a beautiful largemouth.

No, just take your time.

- Whoah!

- Holy cow - Wow, man!

- Scotty, if you hear, have you ever caught a bass that big?

- Never.

- All right, just take your hand off his tail so they can see just ah - Woo baby.

Look at the size of that thing.

- Look at what's on the side of him too.

Like something got him on the side.

- Something bit him?

- Yeah.

See that?

- Yeah.

Yeah.

- Right there.

Can you get that Andrew?

Look at that.

- Oh, they're just scraping up along.

- It that what it was?

Well, I look at the size of him the way.

- That is a beauty.

- Scotty.

- Nice weight.

- Take that and tell that what you caught him on.

- I don't even know what it was, what was that?

Just a gradual swim maybe but just jigging that up and down like that I finally nailed one.

- What was his strike like?

- Oh, it was hard.

Oh my God.

Oh yeah.

Wooh!

I wasn't sure what I had.

I thought I had some of that, that seaweed again.

But when it snap, I knew I had it.

- Scott, that's beautiful.

Let's get him back in.

- Yeah!

That's a beauty All right.

Yeah!

- There you go.

- Yes.

- So apparently Justin's hooked a fish and he's gonna let his future fishing, uh, buddy reel it in.

- Reel it.

Reel it.

Good job!

- All I can do is hear his cute little voice.

- Yay!

- Oh my goodness!

Wow.

- Good job buddy.

- River, hat's a big one.

Yeah.

- Holy cow.

- You want to help me grab it Don?

- You are in the best position to land the fish.

Oh my gosh.

- All right!

- Hey Shannon, it's huge - It is huge.

- That's one of the biggest ones I've ever seen in here.

- Not that.

- Me too!

- You know what?

Holy!

- That's nine inches to there.

That's an eighteen inch, Molly.

- That's awesome.

- Reed, what do you think?

- What do you think?

See the hooks.

We gotta be careful with the hooks.

- Thank you for grabbing it.

I was so scared.

It was gonna fall off.

- Was it?

Did it hit out on the fast water or it was getting closer?

- No, right out there.

I was reeling in.

- This is huge.

- Look at him.

- That is huge.

Look at it.

It's as big as you are.

- What do you think?

Do you like it?

Ooh.

What does it feel like?

It's a fish.

- Yeah.

That's his first fish.

- Ooh!

That's its teeth.

See the teeth.

Ooh, - That is huge.

- It is.

I-I'm amazed.

We, when we planned do this today, we said, well the fish are gonna run eight to ten inches.

Eight to 10 inches.

That's eighteen.

Wow.

- See you later.

- Fish?

You got a fish?

- Yep.

- Oh, they could, take your time with it.

What is it?

- It's a nice one.

Whatever it is.

A big, big, large mouth.

- Is it?

Holy cow.

I'm coming down to help you.

Hold on.

Holy cow.

That's a beautiful largemouth.

- So - Nice large mouth in a tiny little feeder stream.

Yeah.

I know girl.

There he goes - Oh yeah.

Nice.

Wow.

That's a six-pounder, - Is it?

- Close to it.

- And he's got me right in these Lily pads.

Oh my God.

Look at him.

Oh, he's big.

He's really big.

- Oh yeah.

- Oh yeah.

Nice fish Don.

- Oh my gosh.

Look at that fish.

- Oh yeah.

- That's a big boy.

- He's a beauty - At the cranberry lake.

- Oh, there you go.

There you go.

Boy.

My - Oh my gosh!

Am I happy?

Am I happy?

Oh my gosh.

You got players.

Are you even grab that part?

Yep.

And just pull.

Yep.

Great job.

Great.

I tell you there's only one thing that would make this better for me.

And that's if Terry had hooked this.

I want him to get one of these old.

- Well, the day's not over yet.

- I'll tell you what.

- And I did get the first fish.

- Yes you did Terry.

But I got to tell you.

It's the first time, my whole life living up here in the Adirondacks that I've ever fished this lake.

And what it tells you, is you could spend a whole lifetime.

You'll never visit, visit all the waters.

There's just so much.

- What's your thinking?

- Well, it gives me - That's a horse and please, please, please.

Don't get off, right?

- No, no.

- Oh my goodness sakes.

Oh my goodness.

- Wow - Brian, that's fantastic.

If you ever caught one better.

- No, this is definitely a personal best - Personal best for you, personal best for you.

And it's always best for me.

Every time I go out.

That's fantastic.

- All right.

I'm gonna put you back in your home.

- Well, I got to tell you folks, it was really fun to look back at all the catches we've had through the years.

And I gotta tell ya, there's been so many wonderful times that sometimes I've forgotten just how great the bass fishing can be.

And if I had to pick one fish, it's always going to be bass.

- Fishing Behind the Lines is brought to you by.

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