Today was a gloomy, miserable looking day, for fishing or not.

Neither my lingering cold nor the blustery gusts and the wind-scattered rain were going to stop me from going fishing today.  I had a feeling that no one else would be hard-core or foolish (depending on your perspective) enough to fish today and I was right!

It is hard to see, but it was very windy and the rain came down non-stop pelting jacket, jeans, gear, and sanity.  As you can see, there is not an angler in site on the dock.  That is rare on this lake.

Target: Largemouth Bass

Location: Steel Lake (My "home" lake has been stingy for Largemouth this season, 0 for 2 to date, excluding this outing)

Allotted Time: Forty Minutes

I worked the boat launch area with my spinning rod first, which was rigged with the drop shot.  I moved on to the dock after about twenty-five minutes of no luck and no takers.

I pitched the bait to my intended target, next to the first swimming ladder and initiated the retrieval of the bait.  It was a combination of working a semi-slack line, pausing, dangling and dragging to the next spot.  Then, right after I broke the weight free from some entangling grass, I sensed a small, assertive tug.  A small bass for certain, but I'll take it because this little cutie is my first Largemouth of the season.

I made a cast to the same spot and picked up bass number two.  He was just as feisty, but much smaller!

I changed the lure to a pink bodied and chartreuse tipped Robo worm and pitched it on the other side of the dock.  I got a little impatient on this retrieve and cost me.  Right as I made my final yank to pull the rig out of the water, a nice 2.5 to 3 lb Largemouth darted out from under the dock toward the worm but made an instant about face as soon as it saw me.

Oh well! You win some, and you lose some.  I had to pick up my daughter from school.

Sometimes, even a soggy, rain-soaked day can yield fish.

Gear: Shimano Compre Spinning Rod, Rapala 6sxi reel, 6# Cajun FC line, Sniper Snub, Roboworm

Date: Friday 05-28-10

That first catch of the year is always great. Good luck and much success

From a slow start to a nice finish...Congrats on your first fish 

Big O

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