I hit Hagg lake on New Year's day hoping to catch my first bass of 2026. I figured the lake would not be in great shape but with the dry spell leading up to New Year's I figured perhaps I would have a chance. I also brought some trout trolling gear in case I got tired of not catching bass. Sometimes it is fun to switch things up and not catch trout for a while

 

I was the first one to launch at boat ramp C. I figured maybe that would bring me some good mojo - it didn't.

 

Well, to make a long story short I spent about 6 total hours fishing for bass and I think I had one bite the entire time. That was a little disheartening. I tried drop shot, Ned rig, Carolina rig and a blade bait. The only bite I had was on the Carolna rig. Bass fishing was an exercise in futility.

 

Around 10am (after a few hours of not catching bass) I decided that I would give trolling for trout a try. I spent about an hour and a half doing that when one of my rods went off! I have to say that nothing gets treated with such loving care as that skunk averting first fish. The entire fight I am chanting to myself, "Please don't come off, please don't come off". Fortunately that trout was a good sport and allowed my to slip my net underneath it and bring it in the kayak.

 

 

 

Getting that huge skunk weight off one's shoulders is one of the best feelings in the world! After that fish I went back to trolling for about another 1/2 hour. Since I did not have another bite and I really wanted to catch a bass I went back to trying to catch that first bass of 2026.

 

I fished hard, moving spot, different depths, cycling through presentations. The only excitement came when I felt a thunk on the Carolina rig in the middle of the afternoon. It was a swing and a miss but my senko was balled up on the hook. I really do think I had a bite!

 

Eventually I came to accept the fact that I was not going to catch a bass so I headed to the ramp, loaded up and slunk home with my tail between my legs. I just keep trying to make myself feel better by reminding myself that I at least caught one trout.

 

 

Well after a trip like that, it'll not be too difficult to do better next time out. I almost had a day like that once minus the trout.

10 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

It was a swing and a miss but my senko was balled up on the hook. I really do think I had a bite!

 

That was a bite for sure. 

 

10 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

Sometimes it is fun to switch things up and not catch trout for a while

 

Ha!

 

10 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

I just keep trying to make myself feel better by reminding myself that I at least caught one trout.

 

And you were out there in January. January! That alone is a victory worth celebrating. 

@Swamp Girl  It is pretty awesome that I can fish year round. I will get them next time!