Got a little time near the water yesterday
I have a boat but my emergency brake on my Ranger has been ailing. Trying to launch ,the truck would groan a little and move a few inches backwards...not a very good feeling!! I finally found a spring for it at a jy and went to test it yesterday taking the poles and a can of wigglers along just in case. Tested the truck sans boat but it held good on the ramp so I think it'll be ok. Then I headed out to a boat ramp just past Lorida on 98..No luck there..worms or artificials. Next was the locks on 721 ..nothing there either...Some folks were fishing for catfish and having some luck but I got no bites . Finally went to my sure fire spot where I always went with my daughter when she was little. We called the place "the tubes". There is an irrigation ditch that crosses over Hwy 70 and has three huge tubes in the water on either side of a bridge. Never fail to catch something there! On one side the tubes were covered because of risen water but I knew what the bottom looked like from when it was lower...very sandy and there were always signs of old fish beds there. Tossed out a worm at about three feet deep close to shore and caught four or five little bluegills. Then...something bobbles it a few times then just started running off with it never taking the bobber under. There were always lots of catfish there so I figured it was one of those. Nope....biggest shellcracker I had ever caught...1.5 on my scale and I ran to get phone to take a pic and had left it at home! arrgh! the one time I really wanted it! It was caught about a foot from the side of the tube and about 2 ft out from shore. That fish alone made the trip worth it. Obviously..I plan on visiting it more often even after I get the boat running again..will probably even take the boat out from the ramp there. Anytime spent on the water to me is good time! especially when you catch that unsuspected slab of a fish.....
