Evening trip

Pretty decent day in these parts yesterday and I hit the water after work for some fun. Lines in the water at 5:15, with the air temperature at 86 and water at 83. Relatively strong breeze from the north, it wouldn't ease off until after 7. Not too strong but enough to cause me some grief.
I clipped on 1/16 ounce heads of various styles and head out, basically following the 18-20' depths. Took about 10 minutes to find the first fish, a nice 11 1/2" crappie, on a Micanopy creation tie.



15 minutes later, a light bite I was lucky to see, a good fight and a long pickerel got his photo taken and released. Much longer than my board, I'd say 22-23" but not heavy bodied.



That would be it until after 7pm. I'd troll all over searching for fish, even drifted the basin for a while but it was mighty slow. Switched out lures often but no luck. Marked very few fish, hard thermocline at 21'.
Wind began to ease off around 7 and I eased back over to the western shore which was now in shade as the sun dropped below the hill. I also switched over to 1/32 ounce lures and the catching picked up. The next hour would see a dozen fish caught, all while trolling slowly along the 15-18' contours. Perhaps 5 average bluegills, the rest were crappie. The first came as I was taking a picture of this cloud formation. Every few minutes I'd snap a picture of it as the sun went down.













I called it a night at 8 as my lines were getting fouled by floating weeds at that end of the pond with 14 on the clicker. All were returned for another time.

I found those clouds interesting to watch develop and change form.







Fishing is more than putting fish in the boat, it's noticing and enjoying the world around us, too.