Hi Folks,

 

I got away for a couple hours this evening and managed to catch a smallish bass using the new 5500c3 and a green shallow-diving bait of some sort.  I flat don't recall what it is:

 

 

The 5500c3 as well as the old 5000 reels I've tuned out can cast a looong way now, and this bass hooked up at right around 30 yards. 

 

This is the furthest I've ever fought a fish of any sort in.  Not that this one was big, but it does mark kinda' high on the cool factor.  The 5500c3 does 25 IPT and with its comparatively wide spool, that number doesn't drop all that much.  I liked being able to crank more instead of having to tire the fish too much.  I play less and crank more these days to spare the bass.

 

This bass's coloration was odd on the tail and the anal fin:

 

 

 

 

At first I thought this was a bedding bass, but didn't see enough damage.  Then I wondered if it was some sort of rot, but it didn't really look like it.

 

The bass in this lake tend to have either light or dark tails depending on the amount of sunlight they get.  This one had positioned itself by the dam's overflow to take advantage of the food there, and it's on the northern side of the lake.  I suppose this might account for it.

 

It just struck me as interesting.

 

The rod and reel fish nicely.  I wish the reel handle weren't foam, but there were no choices on that matter.  Otherwise it all feels really good!

 

Josh

I see fish with those black splotches on them fairly often. From what I've been told it's a sign of a healthy fishery? No idea why but I know most of them I see are from lakes that do have very good bass fishing. 

Hello,

 

Strange.  I never heard of such a thing.  Good to know!

 

As far as I can tell, most people have given up on this lake.  I have seen kayaks but not recently.  I do see charred wood from fires and forked sticks, so I figure folks fish for panfish or catfish at night.

 

In the past months, I've not seen any other bass anglers, now that I think of it.

 

Regards,

 

Josh