I took last year off of fishing (blasphemous, I know) due to a new baby and a new job. I got back into things slowly but surely late this spring and over my 4th of July vacation; caught a few dinks, nothing of substance.

I snuck away tonight to fish a local pond for an hour or so. I was determined to use only swimbaits and see what I could pull up. I recently picked up a Mattlures Hard Gill that I fished hard on my vacation, but was 0 for 1 with a big blow-up strike that missed.

Tonight I stuck a little 1lb'r on the hard gill (no pic). After 1/2 hour of the hard gill, I decided to throw the 3:16 Baby Wake. I lucked out and picked one up a few years ago for a song, but hadn't really fished it yet. I fished the weedbeds and points that I could see around the pond and stuck this healthy 2-12 LMB:

All in all, a great night fishing. Now I just need more time to throw those swimbaits! (And more money to buy more!)

Nice healthy fish! Just further proof that you don't have to live were 10 pounders are common to be successful with swimbaits!

Nice healthy fish! Just further proof that you don't have to live were 10 pounders are common to be successful with swimbaits!

That's so true.

great job have fun with those baits and glad your back fishing again

great job have fun with those baits and glad your back fishing again