End of the day

I had a lot of chores to do today, pruning plum, peach and apple, took the grader blade off the '51 John Deere M, and put the pond bucket back on for the summer. Cut down a 90 foot red oak for splitting to firewood for next winter, and stacked brush for chipping.

When I was done, it was close to 6:00 and I wanted to check out the crappie situation at the pond I tried yesterday, but in a different spot, so I hopped in the car, tackle was already aboard, and took off. The pond is about 20 minutes from the house.

It had been a warm day, but the sun was sinking beneath the mountain behind me by the time I got there, and things were beginning to cool off. One spot I tried yielded nothing. Moving 100 yards further down the shore n 11" crappie popped the bobber out of sight, and put up a nice fight for its size, weaving and splashing at the surface. This time I decided to keep fish, so dispatched him.

As soon as I cast out again the bobber went under and it was another crappie, this time a !0". Added to the night's catch. After that action was good. I landed a dozen fish, missed four, and kept seven. All 10" except for the first 11". Black flies were out in force, but I just batted them away from my face -- I was having too much fun! Action slowed after 6:30, and the black flies became then more noticeable! So I called it a day.

Here are the keepers. An hour later they wee converted to fillets for tomorrow's dinner. It was a fine way to end a day!