I thought that I was early, but I was really late

I got to the ramp before first light. already there were trailers in the lot and one on the ramp launching. I was next. But as I started to back down the ramp about 6 more pulled into the lot and stopped right in the middle of the lot blocking everything. no one could go anywhere. I finally got to park the truck and got out of there as fast as I could.

The wind was stronger than forecast but laid down as the day went on.
The fish were playing hard to get with only one here and one there. But it was too nice of a day not to be out.

My first fish hit me hard and bent the rod right over. I got her to the boat and it was a slab. I reached for the net only to see her shake her head then take off. Oh well, next time. A few small ones came and were sent back. Time to move. still not much. next spot.

Then the back rod goes down. The reel starts to sing. I grab the rod and lift it up. No give. Just more line going out. I adjust the drag. The reel goes quiet but the rod tip still is tasting the water. I lift up and crank down. Slowly I start to make some gain. It's a nice cat and she doesn't want to come up. Good thing too because I have a dozen rods out and that would be a mess. I see her and grab the net. She sees me and heads back down. We play this game a few more times before she comes on board. That was fun!



I am on another pass of the area when one of my long rods start to move. It's the one on the left side of the boat all the way back. My float is going further back and to the right. It is just doing what ever it wants even with me trying to guide it through the mess of lines I have out. So I let it go the why it wants to until she clears all the other rods and I start to play it on the right side of the boat. Almost made it but she got the last two rod as she came in. A nice size striper.

It's time to head in. I got a Lake Monroe trifecta. A cat, a striper and a crappie. ( I really had 4 crappie in the box ) I lot of smaller one got to go back to play some more.



By the time I got back to the ramp, most of the other boats were gone. Easy time loading the boat. A good end to a good day.

Until next time

Tight lines and full nets

see you on the water

Jim