Put in around 2:30 this afternoon and fished until dark. It was a 20 minute run to our first hole. I was excited because the weather conditions were just how I like them. I hadnt even had a chance to get the troll motor down and my partner hooked up with a beautiful smallie. We landed the fish, which happened to be 18 inches, and released him. My partner was throwing an x-rap, black back, grey belly, and red on the head. I was stuck on my favorite rogue, purple back chartreuse sides. About 20 minutes later he landed another nice fish, 17 1/2 inches.

It was more than an hour later when my partner landed yet another nice fish, 16 inches. By this time I had switched to another rogue, but still no luck. I had an x-rap like my partners, but I was trying different things to see what color on his x-rap they liked, or if it was the action of an x-rap or what.

In the end I caught 2 on a olive color x-rap, and my partner caught 5 on the black, grey, and red x-rap, including a very nice 19 7/8 inch 4 1/2 pound toad. All of our fish were very nice.

I eliminated all the bad water and put down a good sturdy pattern today. The bank had to be dirt, the bottom had to be sand, the depth was between 2 and 4 feet, and there had to be scattered medium size rocks.

All in all I learned a lot today, so even though I was outfished, it was a productive day. I have been outfished by my partner 5 times out of over 400 in the last 3 years. I taught him everything he knows, so basically I outfished myself, I taught him well.

                                                                  Ian

Its fun finding a pattern when nothing is working... Good work!

Nice work Little Brother! I forgot to ask you, any pics???

Nice work Little Brother! I forgot to ask you, any pics???

> NO!!!

Landon took my camera. I have pics on my phone though. I cant put them on here either.

Idaho***er,

Yes I love finding patterns! It ensures me that I am doing things right and that I am learning. Like I said, I could have put on the same thing my buddy was using, but I wanted to find out WHY they were hitting that specific lure. It's all about WHY!

                                                                     Ian

That's messed up! Sorry to hear that! I'm hoping he just borrowed it and didn't "borrow" it.