I got to get out a couple of times during the holiday. I started off in east AR and had some good advice from members here and another site. What I learned from this trip is to listen closely to the advice. If they tell you to stay home if the wind is 10-15 out of the south or south east STAY HOME. Second dont worry as much to how to catch fish, but find out how far you can back down the ramp. After backing to far down the ramp I got the the fun experience of fishing with ratchet straps trying to hang my trailer fenders and lift my trailer up and tie it off to the boat. Once I completed this obstacle then I had to figure out how to get back to my truck without swimming. I then took a push pole (ergo net) and pushed the boat and trailer toward the bank where I crawled down the the motor and jumped for the rocks. After fighting wind, waves and not catching any fish I do believe that the good lord was pointing out to me that I should have listened closer to the first lesson.

Next, I headed for Conway. Headed down the boat trail and where it ended I started trolling toward the trees. Third lesson, Minn Kota Terrova indestructable shafts are not indestructable. I smashed into a stump at half power and bounced off. After trying to pull up on the shaft I came to realize that it was split from the head to motor.

I did manage to catch 9 very nice fish in 4 fow swimming a jig tipped with a minnow 18" below a slip cork. I lost a few more at the boat, but with the size of the fish I put in the cooler they will make a nice mess.