Weatherman said 90% chance of rain so I said, "I'm in"! Started out Fishing Lake Nickajack in the hope of catching a few Shellcracker to put in my pond. Looks like I was late because I only caught two little ones and burnt up half the day. There were only three boat trailers at the ramp and that's like only three fans at a Yankee Game.....it just doesn't happen! I practically had the lake to myself on a Saturday! Well, I soured on the Shellcracker so I loaded the boat for the short trip below Nickajack Dam to get to my beloved river. Once again, nobody on the river all day. It rained and drizzled all day but as you can see in the pictures, I have an enormous umbrella over my boat. I stay mostly dry in the rain, and I am in the shade on the sunny days.

 

     Didn't take long for the Smallies to find my Zoom Speedworm in the light current. Wish I wouldn't have wasted most of it with the Shellcrackers but the two hours I did have were magical. Got my first 20+" Smallie of the year, as well as one over 18. Caught several other good fish and lost a couple others before the wind picked up and the bite stopped. The umbrella is great for vertical rain but not so much when it blows horizontal. Ended up in a storm and rain in the face for three miles as I motored back to the ramp. Umbrella pole bent and one frame member snapped. Drove home soaked but that is what we do! Used to keep a change of clothes in my truck but somewhere I got away from common sense. Need to re-visit! Worked on umbrella Sunday and am ready to go!

Nice fish. Way to go!

Great stuff Bob, and for whatever reason the more poop I have to go through in terms of fishing, the more I honestly believe the universe is going to reward me.

 

Last week I've never been caught in so many lightning and thunderstorms trying to just get a couple hours in on the water.   Then on Friday it didn't rain, and I was rewarded with two exceptional fish.

 

The only thing that has ever mattered is one's willingness to commit to the process, and most importantly put the hard work in over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over ?

Sweet!