With the temps in the low 40’s

With the temps in the low 40’s, I had no desire to start at first light. After a sit down breakfast out with my Queen, I dropped in about 8 and eased down to spot #1. Turns out I could’ve had lunch before I started too. Nothing was moving, not even the Gar. Moved a couple of times, made a few color and style changes, still nothing. OK, go outside my comfort zone. About 11:30 I got a strike, turned out to be a nice shellcracker. This was the beginning of a good time. I fished some areas that I haven’t been to for over 6 months. Close to noon I got a very light tic, and when the line came tight I was sure I had a largemouth. Drag stripping, front of the boat to the back of the boat, still pulling drag. Net is buried under rods, so I’m on my own. I finally get a look, Crappie! I bend down and reach to get a thumb in its mouth and in doing that, I bumped the jig and it fell out in my hand. All I could do was watch as it rolled and said goodbye, an easy 14” fish. A picture would have been nice as it was a release day anyway. Oh well.......
Wasn’t long after I got a good gill and I thought to myself that maybe the app was right and the feed was starting to make a turn for the better. It was just after 12.

Eased along to a more open area and without any thump, the line got heavy and it was on once again. All I could do was hope for open water, but now I had a net. Drag slipping again while it did what it wanted.

I worked along and got to an area that I hardly ever pay any attention to. Pitched up close and got a tic, set the hook and here we go again. This one showed itself early on but wanted no part of coming alongside. 3 or 4 times I had it close only to have it strip off more line and start over. Finally got the net under it and I raised my head to give thanks, this was my best fish this year.

I made several changes in style and color of jigs but nothing made any difference. The only thing that caught anything today was a blind Popeye that I tied from some leftovers on the tying bench. Glad I tied it, and there will be more. 1/43 and a #8 sickle in black chrome.
And it’s a male. I had thought earlier that maybe some of the big girls had begun to move up but not here, not yet. A picture and a good look and I would have made Richard Gene proud. I laid him in the water on his side and took my hand away. He laid there a few seconds, fins flipping, before he rolled and swam off. A few more fish and the bite slowed as the clock got close to 2:30. I may not have caught fish early on but I was far from alone. Birds everywhere let me get closer than usual. The unidentified hawk cruised overhead a few times, the Limpkins did their never ending search for the next snail, and the Little Blue Heron was at the buffet when I took this shot with my phone.


Woodpeckers darted back and forth osprey and red shouldered Hawks screeched and did their thing. Never had another boat go by me. The temps came up to the mid sixties and the clothes had come off and got stowed. A slow start turned into a very satisfying day and I put her back on the trailer with a smile. Maybe I’ll see you on the water next time out, until then.........Skeet.