Got to the lake at 9:30, water 76°-78°, covered with the same pollen/needles/and pine nuts. Tried a Squarebill, and dropped a Salt Tube with no luck. Picked up the finesse rod, and never put it down. 1st bite, 1.25lb Largemouth, second bite 1.25lb Smallie. Both from the leeward side of the 4th island
(out of 7). Fished a couple of my usual spots and only caught a couple little 1pounders. I decided to try the old blowdowns in the creek where the ramp is. On the weekends theres to much boat traffic, but only 3 of us today. The first one near the mouth has a monster living there!!! 3rd cast, let the Swimming Dinger settle under the tree, starting swimming it back to the boat. 3/4 of the way back it stopped dead, so I buried the hook. I had to turn the boat away from the tree, and as I did that, the beast started ripping line off the reel, like it was tangled in the prop!.I started cupping the spool to attempt to keep the monster out of the tree, to no avail. She got into the tree and POP went the 8lb leader. It was a clean break about a foot above the knot. My guess is Bass, because Pike always shred the leader.
I tried the next tree, and caught a 1.5 pounder, and lost a bigger one. Tried the first tree again and found no one home. Went back to the 2nd tree and nailed the fish of the day, 3 pounds even. Tried both trees one more time and called it a night. This is the home of our State record Largemouth 12lb 14oz, caught in 1961.

Got to the lake at 9:30, water 76°-78°, covered with the same pollen/needles/and pine nuts. Tried a Squarebill, and dropped a Salt Tube with no luck. Picked up the finesse rod, and never put it down. 1st bite, 1.25lb Largemouth, second bite 1.25lb Smallie. Both from the leeward side of the 4th island
(out of 7). Fished a couple of my usual spots and only caught a couple little 1pounders. I decided to try the old blowdowns in the creek where the ramp is. On the weekends theres to much boat traffic, but only 3 of us today. The first one near the mouth has a monster living there!!! 3rd cast, let the Swimming Dinger settle under the tree, starting swimming it back to the boat. 3/4 of the way back it stopped dead, so I buried the hook. I had to turn the boat away from the tree, and as I did that, the beast started ripping line off the reel, like it was tangled in the prop!.I started cupping the spool to attempt to keep the monster out of the tree, to no avail. She got into the tree and POP went the 8lb leader. It was a clean break about a foot above the knot. My guess is Bass, because Pike always shred the leader.
I tried the next tree, and caught a 1.5 pounder, and lost a bigger one. Tried the first tree again and found no one home. Went back to the 2nd tree and nailed the fish of the day, 3 pounds even. Tried both trees one more time and called it a night. This is the home of our State record Largemouth 12lb 14oz, caught in 1961.

Got to the lake at 9:30, water 76°-78°, covered with the same pollen/needles/and pine nuts. Tried a Squarebill, and dropped a Salt Tube with no luck. Picked up the finesse rod, and never put it down. 1st bite, 1.25lb Largemouth, second bite 1.25lb Smallie. Both from the leeward side of the 4th island
(out of 7). Fished a couple of my usual spots and only caught a couple little 1pounders. I decided to try the old blowdowns in the creek where the ramp is. On the weekends theres to much boat traffic, but only 3 of us today. The first one near the mouth has a monster living there!!! 3rd cast, let the Swimming Dinger settle under the tree, starting swimming it back to the boat. 3/4 of the way back it stopped dead, so I buried the hook. I had to turn the boat away from the tree, and as I did that, the beast started ripping line off the reel, like it was tangled in the prop!.I started cupping the spool to attempt to keep the monster out of the tree, to no avail. She got into the tree and POP went the 8lb leader. It was a clean break about a foot above the knot. My guess is Bass, because Pike always shred the leader.
I tried the next tree, and caught a 1.5 pounder, and lost a bigger one. Tried the first tree again and found no one home. Went back to the 2nd tree and nailed the fish of the day, 3 pounds even. Tried both trees one more time and called it a night. This is the home of our State record Largemouth 12lb 14oz, caught in 1961.