Retiredguns

First boat on the lake!

In 1986 while stationed in SC, I bought a Skeeter Starfire and really got into Bass fishing. I worked in a weapons shop and 3 of us fished every chance we could. There was a Black Marine from Detroit that asked me if I would take him some time. He had never fished for Bass and had nothing. I rigged up a couple extra rods and put them in the boat. We headed out to my favorite river on a perfect Saturday morning. Within 1 hour we landed over a dozen really nice fish and 4 of them were his. He was beaming the entire day. I wish I had a camera on the boat. By the end of the day we must have landed 30+ fish. He was so excited he went to the PX the next Monday and bought some gear. I took him out 4-5 more times over the season. I was rewarded that day with my last fish being a nice hog caught on top with a Devil's Horse. I wanted to show my Wife so I took it home, got some pics and let it go in the base pond.

The lake was a gravel quarry until 1961. There is a very small feeder creek at one end and a spillway at the other. I think the above statement about diminished numbers is correct as largemouths are pretty abundant. Where I caught the smallie, the lake goes from1 to 24 feet in about 25 yards off the bank.

Brother-in-Law and I hit the small, local lake last Saturday in the rain. We caught about 10 Largemouth before the weather started to get annoying. I decided to end the short trip using my new Jackhammer and Yamamoto Zako along a steep bank. 1st cast was a 3lb Largemouth then after 4-5 more casts a fish nailed it on the drop. To my pleasant surprise it was a decent smallmouth. The species isn't even listed on DNR site, but there are a few. People asked me if I was BS'ing them because they have never caught one in 20 years lol. I feel vindicated for taking out a 2nd mortgage and buying a Jackhammer!

My Brother-in-Law is the only Bass fishing partner I can tolerate for extended fishing. We can fish for 10 hours with little banter and have a great time. I also have a group I have been Walleye fishing with for 2 decades that are pleasant whether 2 hours or a week in Canada. It's not easy finding like-minded people all the time.

My Wife said, "Are you going to fish all day again?" I had to explain..

A little rough but probably true for some.