Thread: Close to home

Didn’t feel like traveling and had some stuff to do, but I could sneak out for a little while if I didn’t stay too long. Ultra lights X4 was my intended tools and they worked very well. My 6’6” browning airstream got some use instead of just coming along for the ride, what a sweet rod it is. The sensitivity couldn’t be better and the extra length helps it cast very comfortably. A 1/32 #4 head and a Bobby Garland Baby Shad in double silver rainbow was the hot ticket. I still threw the 2 lb rigs a bit but I was having fun with the longer rod. I moved down a shoreline that has given up some nice fish, some kept, some not, but it was a little stingy this day with only 3 keepers in the cooler and none of them giants. All good keepers over 11” was all that would make the cut cuz I had the kids and grands coming for dinner. Needing a few more fillets I scooted down river a ways to another comfort zone. Got there and shut down, only to be front ended by someone in a bass boat trying to push me out from the shoreline. I said nothing and just began to fish as I had planned. Seems he had the run and gun approach and didn’t land any fish that I saw, so I got comfortable and began picking apart the bank and downfalls. I had two in the cooler in short order, and had to use the foreceps to get the hook out of each one I caught here. Glad I was using the bigger rod as these fish wanted to get around some before giving up. The bass boat was gone by now but I noticed the river traffic was picking up and I was getting hungry. Wrapped up and headed back, getting a refresher in crossing wakes in a tin boat. Total of 8 made the trip home and gave us enough for a good dinner together.




Sunday morning my eyes popped open at 4am by the alarm clock by the bed which hadn’t been bumped up yet. The wind was absent and when the sun warmed the sky, I had to go for round two. Two other trailers told of a slow start but with the good temps and low winds I knew traffic would build. Things started slow with just some small gills and such hitting the small rigs I used today, everything slated to be released. Worked through a couple of hundred yards with some good thumps and a couple of 6” gills to show for it. Made a little move and found things kinda slow there too, but these fish were beginning to wake up. Got a Warmouth and a couple of gills that kept me busy, with Gar everywhere. Finally got one ten inch crappie, seemingly opening the door cause I stayed some busier after that. There’s a stretch of shoreline that I always hit and it didn’t disappoint today either. Got a bluegill that had me convinced he was a crappie til he broke the surface, what a fight with the rod tip in the water and headed under the boat and taking drag. THIS is what I came for! Released him and a few casts later got a serious thump that got my attention. Swam towards me for a second then changed his mind and headed west, quickly! Glad I was in open water, he had some attitude. A little more tussle and a visit to the net and a nice 12” crappie went back home. The wind started to push me around some and I got to see a good sized lizard warming up some. I was just done and could stand a snack so I stowed everything and headed back, satisfied with the morning. It was just over 3 hours since I got here. Hope y’all got out and enjoyed the days like I have. Maybe I’ll see you out sometime soon, looking forward to that. Til then...... Skeet

GOOD LOOKING FISH