Braggin' Board

Tracy Yocham of Kellyville, Okla., bags his first turkey!

First swimbait I made, catches fish just fine haha. Beats paying $100 for the real one.

Submitted by Christopher Roth (Colorado)

20-inch, 3.6 lb. largemouth. Used Zoom Magnum Finesse Worm on a Chompers Shaky Head.

Submitted by David Hopkins (Dillsburg, Pa.)

redfish :)

Submitted by Valerie Ponton (Tampa, Fla.)

Submitted by Laura Salyer

I missed this beast in 2004 but I called him in 2010 with the whole herd! 15 elk in all; one spike, 14 cows and a calf. 55-inch main beams! 11.5 bottoms! MASS!

Split Pea was his name. RIP I will miss your pictures on my cameras!

Submitted by Glenn Thurston

A 130" 8-pointer (left) and a 150" giant 8-pointer, both taken by rifle.

Submitted by Timothy Nickless (Pacific, MO)

Submitted by Justin Largen

This fish was about 42 pounds and caught off the southern Pacific Coast.

Submitted by Vincent Parker (Sacramento, Ca.)

My little brother and his catch of the day.

Submitted by Valerie Ponton (Tampa, Fla.)

Got this nice 4 pounder using my homemade rabbit fur jigs.

Submitted by Christopher Roth (Colorado)

The last weekend. Used my Bear Mauler at a 40 yard spine shot. Meat in the cooler.

Submitted by Michael Magee (Gainesville, Fla.)

He's a monster.

Submitted by Valerie Ponton (Tampa, Fla.)

It is big.

Submitted by Dane Fuchs (Sully, Iowa)

4-year-old Yellow Lab. Kansas Duck Retriever.

Submitted by Garrett Prechtl (Colorado Springs)

3 guys, 18 ducks and 7 Canadians in Kansas.

Submitted by Garrett Prechtl (Colorado Springs)

Submitted by Nathan McManus (Alaska)

Jan. 13, 2013 - took by Chad Lawrence from Cleveland, Alabama

Submitted by Magon Lawrence (Cleveland, Alabama)

Six people, 11 deer. Missed our limit by one.

Submitted by Kenneth Fodill (King William, Va.)

I harvested this very nice 5X6 on the second day of the 2012 season. I saw him move into the field i was in just as the sun began to dip into the horizon. With just enough light left i squeezed the trigger on my Savage Model 11 .308 and he fell were he stood. This hunt was an amazing experience, The time in the cabin with my Dad and the thrill of harvesting my very first Big Game Animal. I hope to do this hunt again next year.

Submitted by Chris Dunn

Parker's first buck shot during muzzleloader in Ohio.

Submitted by Pam Campbell (Allen County, Ohio)

21.5 inches, 4.5 lbs. Used Flat Top Jig and Craw Trailer.

Submitted by David Hopkins (Dillsburg, Pa.)

Submitted by Valerie Ponton (Tampa, Fla.)

Destin, Fla. vacation. Two 180 lb bull sharks.

Submitted by Tammy Mabe

A giant 35 lb Bull Redfish caught by Captain Brant Frazier of Fins and Family Charters at gofishinggulfshores.com

Submitted by Brant Frazier (Orange Beach, Alabama)

Submitted by Nathan McManus (Alaska)

Purple paddle tail jelly belly.

Submitted by Pete Garm (Otisco, NY)

Me and my brother caught these on 1-12-2012 at the *** Dee river at Society Hill. That's a goodun paw paw. David Web didn't catch any.

Submitted by David Webster (Bennettsville, S.C.)

What a fishing trip in the barren-lands.

Submitted by Kevin McNiel (Aylmer Lake, NWT)

Submitted by Nathan McManus (Alaska)

5.5 pounds, 22.5 inches long. Caught with a Chompers Chartreuse Lizard Texas Rigged 1/4 ounce weight.

Submitted by: Mathew Burch (Rapid City, SD)

Maybe 3 pounds. This girl crushed my Zoom *** toad. First cast she jumped out of the water for it. AWESOME Topwater bite.

Submitted by: Christopher Roth (Colorado)

Caught this nice largemouth on a 6-inch Huddleston swimbait. Great day - got 3 more about the same size.

Submitted by: Christopher Roth (Colorado)

This brown trout ate my topwater Jackall Boil Trigger 100 about 2 feet from me. Fun fight.

Submitted by: Christopher Roth (Colorado)

8.3 pounds - Saguaro Lake

Huge bass - 8.4 pounds.

Submitted by: Ralph Cale

Submitted by: Justin Largen

Submitted by: Justin Largen

Submitted by: Justin Largen

Submitted by: Justin Largen

Submitted by: Don Heidt

The wife knows how to reel in the big ones.

Master angler Hunter Thomas with a fine Drum which he landed on his recent visit to the Grandparents home in Fernandina, Florida.

Posted by: Matthew Durway

Michelle shot the two Golden Trevallies in about 20 feet of water. Power fish and great to eat.

Posted by: Noel Roper (LA and Panama, Central America)

Michelle got the Blue Travally out of the school and they all disappeared.

Posted by: Noel Roper (LA and Panama, Central America)

Michelle shot the Wahoo at about 25 feet.

Posted by: Noel Roper (LA and Panama, Central America)

My 4-year-old daughter went on her first hunting trip on Dec. 8 and was back home within 15 minutes with her first buck!

Posted by: Mary Alyson Gardner (Rogersville, TN)

By no means a trophy, but still very excited as this 7 pointer was my first! Taken Nov. 2, 2012 in Thorold, Ontario, with my Parker crossbow purchased from Bass Pro!

Posted by: Amber Dashwood (Canada)

62-pound, 8-ounce Blue Cat caught on Reelfoot Lake, Tenn., May 31, 2009

This is a true father and son fish story. Let me tell you about my dad. His name is T. J. Willette. He served in the United States Air Force for 28 years. He served in occupied Japan at the end of WWII, served 13 months in the Korean War and 2 tours in Vietnam. My dad started taking me fishing when I was 3 years old and after that, he never went fishing without me. We never, I mean never, went fishing unless both of us could go together. Fishing is the one thing that we did together that taught me so much about life, the respect for life, and the beauty of the natural world. My dad was many things to me. He was my hero, for he was a highly decorated soldier; he was my father, mentor, “Daddy”, but he was also my best friend. Fishing was something we did together and amazingly enough, we only spoke a few sentences to each other while fishing from sun-up to sun-down. My dad always said why spoil the beauty and wonder of the outdoors and the water with words that will pass us both by, while this beauty will linger forever.

In May 2008, while staying at the Cypress Point Resort on Reelfoot Lake, the only place my dad would stay, we found a really nice spot on the lake. Dad dropped his favorite bait in the water over a hole and let it sink to the bottom. Within 10 minutes his rod was doubled over and the reel was whining loudly as the line was being peeled off the spool at a rapid rate of speed. He was using 30-pound test line on his rod and it got so hot it melted on the spool and broke off. Dad said, “There’s a fish bigger than 50 pounds in there.” He also told me that one day we would catch that monster cat in that hole. That dream never came true because that was the last fishing trip we took together. My dad had lung cancer and his health greatly declined after that trip. He was ill with the effects of the cancer, but he wanted to spend as much time fishing with me as he could before he died.

On Oct. 8, 2008, he died. Well, on May 31, 2009, I decided to revisit that special place on the lake that we’d found and I dropped Daddy’s favorite bait (skip jack) into that hole and the fight was on! I got that fish to the surface and my heart skipped many beats. It took me about 10 minutes to get the big cat in the boat. Was it that very same fish? Who knows. I just know that after I got him in the boat, I cried uncontrollably for a long time. I could only think how proud my dad would have been to see this monster in the boat. Then I realized that even though he wasn’t sitting in the seat next to me, he really was always there and always will be. This big cat is for my dad with great thanks, love, and appreciation for all the lessons of life that he taught me while fishing. Thanks, Dad!
Sincerely,
Tommy J. Willette

Posted by: Thomas Willette (Gates, Tennessee)

Lake Fork big bass.

Posted by: Logan Heidt (Lake Fork)

First salmon EVER! Around 40 pounds.

Posted by: Andrew Li (Port Hope, Ganaraska River, Ont)

P&Y 195

Posted by: Justin Pandorf (Ohio)

9-pointer killed in Park County, Indiana.

Posted by: Mark Lacy

Caught in the hot water discharge of Lake Monticello in northeast Texas.

Posted by: Michael Singleton

Mississippi swamp donkey.

Posted by: Russell S. Myers

Posted by: Joshua Tuggle

It has over 22 inches of brow tines!

Posted by: Kimber Bledsoe

Dylan shot this 8-point buck with a 17-inch spread the last day of the Pennsylvania rifle season.

Posted by: Thomas Gooden

Caught slabs during a downpour.

Posted by: Bill Blundy

My twin 7-year-old boys each got their first deer opening morning of the Indiana youth season. Rossi 410 worked great for both of them. Very proud dad!!!!!

Posted by: Justin Pastore

My 13-year-old son killed this 8-point buck up in Caroline County, Va., on the day before Thanksgiving. He shot it with a Remington 20- gauge shotgun with Federal No. 3 Buck using a Buck kicker choke. The buck was about 20 yards away when he got three good shots on him. Awesome deer for a 13 year old!

Submitted by: Chris Cranor

Submitted by: Russell S. Myers

150-pound 9-pointer

Submitted by: Christopher DeLong

12-point buck. 12-gauge shotgun. Dec. 2, 2012. Council Bluffs, Iowa.

My first bull and my first bow hunt. My friend Ricky helped call in this 301-net bull in the Gila Wilderness on a public land draw hunt.

Submitted by: Mark Bennett

Taken Nov. 6 with my daughter.

Submitted by: Patrick Davey

2011 buck

Submitted by: Andrew Arthur

Indiana 8-point shot on Nov. 21, 2012 using CVA Optima 250 grn Shockwave.

Submitted by: Andrew Arthur

20-point non-typical buck taken by Christopher Shoopman in Liberty, Ky., on Nov. 14, 2012 with a 12-inch drop-tine.

Main frame 8 split brows 10 points 20-inch spread.

Submitted by: Charles Shinert

Submitted by: Ron Ellis

Submitted by: Erik Lesniewski

Buck harvested Nov. 4, 2012. 27 5/8 spread with 30-inch main beams. Main frame 10 with 13 total points. Green scored 192 7/8 typical. The HOYT and a little good luck did it again!!

Submitted by: Greg Beebe

16-pointer, non-typical taken Nov. 3, 2012, in muzzle load season. Field dress 212 pounds, taken by Ray Frost.

10-pointer shot in Louisa County, Va.

Submitted by: David Desjean

10-point Buck taken on family farm on opening evening of youth season, Nov. 3, 2012.

Submitted by: Melodee Taylor

My 5-year-old old Bluetick coonhound just loves pheasant hunting.

Submitted by: Jay Fowler

Great day of pheasant hunting!

Submitted by: Jay Fowler

Submitted by: Rick Emery

200-plus, 7x10 Colorado Mule Deer of a lifetime!

Taken Oct. 23, 2012

Submitted by: Blaine King

11-point buck, 16.75-inch spread. Shot in Damon, Texas, on Oct. 28, 2012, by Logan Maus.

Submitted by: Anthony Viers

This 205-pound,9-point buck was taken by young hunter Gage S. of South Carolina. Not his first deer but one of his best so far. Taken with rifle Oct. 13, 2012 on private land in South Carolina.

Posted by: Bob Hayes

Taken at Bonaparte Lake, BC

Posted by: Norm Stackhouse

350 bull taken in New Mexico public land (wilderness) with his RedHead bow in the roughest country you ever seen.

Posted by: Clifton Link

My wife and I foster puppies for Lab Rescue Club of the Potomac (http://www.lab-rescue.org/). This little girl came to us with her sister Ruby and her brother Garnet. We took all three to our local Bass Pro store in Ashland, Va., and they were a huge hit.

Posted by: Greg Lumpkin

This deer was stinking so bad , that I smelled him coming, from a box blind 15-feet high. That's a first for me , they usually smell me coming. I took him at 9 a.m. on Nov. 24, 2011. Nice Christmas present.

Posted by: Lonnie Henderson

My twin 7-year-old boys each got their first deer the opening morning of the Indiana youth hunt. Rossi 410 single shot worked great for both of them. Very proud dad!!!!!

Submitted by: Justin Pastore

My 12-year-old son with his first buck, an 8-pointer, in the woods. Doesn't he look happy?