I learned some things this weekend

[BrianMDTX]

I was going to fish Lake Raven in Texas (Huntsville) yesterday, but woke up and just didn’t have the energy. So I went to the local pond. Very dead. Only caught one small bass and lost one. So I made my mind up to go to Lake Raven this morning. It’s not a huge impoundment (203 acres) but it’s a lot bigger than a 2-3 acre pond. I’ve fished there twice before so it’s still a learning experience. 
 

I had read a report on conditions (stained/muddy due to recent rains) and there are no lily pads out as of yet, so I left my frog rod home. I took a MHF baitcaster for Texas rigs and another for chatterbaits/spinnerbaits, and another for jigs. Also brought  MHMF for topwaters and crankbaits and a MXF spinning rig for finesse. 
 

I started with a Whopper Plopper and it garnered zero interest. I switched to a chatterbait and then a Texas rig and they also struck out. No algae like I’m used to in ponds but tons of hydrilla. I could rip the chatterbait through it better than the Texas rig. 
 

I crossed to the south side and tried the chatterbait again, just off a point. After a few casts I thought I hooked a bass, but the fight didn’t seem right. It wasn’t a bass, it was a crappie. The first one I’ve caught in decades!

 

Then I switched to a blue/black jig with a green pumpkin Rage Bug trailer. I caught my best jig bass today. Almost 3 lbs. I don’t fish jigs a lot as they are horrendous in algae, but fishing them in hydrilla is an eye-opener. I know I missed two strikes setting the hook late as a jig bite just feels different. But it was the best bait today. I ended up rigging a Rage Menace on an unweighted Texas rig on the spinning rig as bass seemed to be right on the bank and it’s not easy flipping when seated so low to the water. All my earlier TR were rigged with black, watermelon red, or watermelon with red/copper flake worms or Senkos. This was green pumpkin. Looks like green pumpkin rules the day. 
 

I also tried a spinnerbait, lipless crank and a squarebill without success. But I learned a bit about jigs today! 

[Swamp Girl]

Way to fish, Brian. You kept trying until you connected.

[pdxfisher]

I love a story of perseverance! I think that is one of the most important qualities of a good fisherman. 

[GreenPig]

Excellent. If you learned something it's a win.

[BrianMDTX]

@pdxfisher @ol'crickety At one point, I laughed to myself and said “Oh well, may get skunked but you’re going to learn how to work a jig. At least you’re having fun!”

 

It was a learning experience. I’ve never worked a jig so much. I casted and pitched countless times (no way to flip that close to the water). Over wood, into weeds, right on the bank. I was enjoying that even without catching anything. 
 

But hooking that bass made it better!