Have sold all my crappie trolling gear since I will be selling my bass boat, so decided to load up the boat for some bass fishing this morning and to run the engine for a bit.

Went to my usual small (700 acres) lake up the road from home. Nice early launch, no other folks on the water, took some GoPro video as well.

Water temp was 75 so I head to the north end and start working a brush pile I know about that is near deep water in this lake (max depth 15'). I see some bass busting the surface around the area. Tried lipless cranks, square-bills, in multiple colors and nada... even went to a dropshot rig in the area to see if they would hit off the bottom, but I couldn't buy a bite.

So back to beating the shoreline. Shoreline + soft plastics = bass year round in Florida. Was good for 3 dinks and 1 average one.

Then the wind kicked up pretty dramatically, from the North. I remember reading an article that I'm supposed to fish the windy side where all the bait is getting pushed to. Just rip some crankbaits through it and you'll get some action. Again, nothing. While my goal today was to catch my first bass on a crankbait, I gave up and switched to a confidence rig, Texas-rigged Zoom fluke in shad color, on 20lb power-pro braid. First cast about 10 yards off a grass mat and WHAM! I never felt such violence magnify through every inch of the 7-foot rod. Only took a single reel to lose the slack and I set the hook. For a second it felt like a log, but that log quickly changed directions. Fought her for about 2 minutes. Kept trying to go into the grass. The final 30 seconds was pure torture since she was tangled up in about 5 lily pads. Didn't freak out, just kept steady pressure while getting the net ready. Thank goodness I was using braid! Her head broke the surface and she eased the remaining 10 feet right into my net over the side.

I'm so glad I have a loving wife because I had to call her to bring the fish scale that I had left in the garage. Loaded this beast into the live well and she barely fit! Drove to the dock and waited anxiously for the scale. Took a bunch of pictures, then weighed her......9.39lbs!! Thought I was for sure in the DD club, but honestly I didn't care, that fish was awesome and is my personal best. Good healthy release back into the lake.

Still had a couple hours left to fish, but I figure why bother at that point. Ended my trip on a high note, went out for some lunch and beers with the family.

Now if I can just get this boat sold, I'll be back in a kayak hunting slabs and lunkers!









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