I DID IT!

[Duke]

I landed my first bass of 2007 today! And it was a pig! I'm a pretty proud guy and its been a humbling (embarrassing) winter; with the exception of a few walleye, its been a pretty hard winter on my fishing psyche (although normally I'm not driving the boat around in January).

Anyhow, I went out to Fish Lake by LaPorte, IN at 11:00. Its pretty small, about 200 acres. I had about 2.5 hours to fish before my in-laws came over so I had to move. Thus, I quickly proceeded to a main lake point which lit my graph up with baitfish. My adrenaline began to flow as I was ripping my blade bait up from the bottom between 18-20'. But after 25 minutes I hadn't gotten a bite so I threw a wacky senko (I've gotten desperate). After 10 minutes of this I switched to a crankbait. Nothing. (More desperation set in.) Then I picked the blade bait back up and threw it up shallow, 6'. As I reeled up my slack, I felt a little push and instinctively set the hook. The battle was on. The giant came up from the depths and his whole body cleared the surface. The mouth looked like a New York subway tunnel. I looked back and said to my partner, "We need a bigger boat!" (Thats from Jaws.) Wait a minute, I was by myself. Then I said that to my motor. Remarkably, after anoter couple of seconds the pot-bellied pig cleared the water again. I only had 10# Gamma line and was afraid only rope would land this monster. After 3 more seconds of intense struggle that brought me nearly to my knees, I hoisted the pig into the boat and it hit the floor with a thunderous thud.

With my struggles this winter I nearly jumped for joy! I don't think I've seen a bass since Middle school. My lunker-sized bass was all of 12" and it had a gut, so I estimated it may have weighed in an impressive 1.1# Upon a careful 2 second inspection I let little Moby Dick back into the sea. Captain Ahab was thoroughly content.

Overall though the fishing report of mine sucks. That was my only fish. I lost another of similar size on the same bait a little later. I spent the last hour in rain/snow mix. It was chilly. The water temp was 43 degrees. I had the lake to myself except for 1 walleye fisherman, I spoke with him before I left and he had less luck than myself. I have no answers to catch fish except that we won't catch anything from the house in dreamland!

I sound pretty pathetic don't I?

[canvsbk]

 It's nice to see you're on 'em again. You know how they always ask "you get your deer?" - You can say you got your bass. I haven't got mine yet, hopefully I'll get it out of the way before July this year.
(I did get my good deed out of the way for this year early - helped the neighbor start his car, so that's done.)
This no ice deal is driving me crazy! Boat's in hibernation and WAY too much work to do. I vow to make 'em pay for this later....
Glad you got after 'em.

[djkimmel]

Many mixed feelings here...

but I guess since we can't talk about catchin' bass 'north of the line' now until the last Saturday in April... you guys and gals from 'south of the line' will have to keep it alive for us!!

[kgr624]

I agree with Dan, I was holding myslef back from scanning the rest to find the size after the exciting fight. But it was fun reading!!!

[Duke]

I'm glad I was able to provide a little entertainment for the North-bound people. Hopefully I'll be able to provide another piece in the near future; but don't hold your breath!!

[karol]

 hey duke, you hear what mike collins on channel 16 was saying didn't you? we're going to pay for this but not too much.

i know why it's not snowing, spent 750 for a snowblower that attaches to my tractor and used it twice last winter that's alright, i live..karol

[djkimmel]

I'll bet you can leverage that snowblower attachment by using it as an aerator for your local lake???

Just park her at the edge and let it rip. It'll keep the ice from forming too if it won't get thick enough for safe fishin'

[karol]

 hey don, than i would be just like earl pitz, he said he would run down and take care of norega but his bass boat would run out of gas on the way used to be on the country stations, he sign off by saying " this is earl and i'm pitzed off".. sorry about that, i'll go play with my lures and stay out of trouble..lol..karol