Headed for the lake where I do my fishing at about 7:30 am recently. After a brief stop at McDonalds for a nice breakfast sandwich and a coffee, I made my way safely up a very foggy 81 north. Once I got to the lake, I enjoyed my breakfast at the picnic table near the lakes edge, where it was very quiet, still, and misty–A beautiful way to start the day.

I had my first line in the water a little after 8 am, rigged with a 4-inch sinking artificial worm. It was still so foggy when I cast out I could barely see where it landed in the water, but I heard a splash so I figured it hit water somewhere.

The first hour was not very productive, and I thought it was going to be one of “those days”–a day where there was no fish to be caught. I had caught at least one fish eon every outing since my fishing season started in late April.

Finally, A little after 9 am I got my first bass, using a green artificial worm that I sat on the bottom of the lake in about 9 feet of water. When I saw the line go taut and I knew I had something nice because smaller pan fish hardly ever go after an artificial anything–they prefer worms, night walkers, corn or even bread. I tried gummi bears once, thinking I might have thought of a new bait to catch fish–so much for that idea, although I did enjoy the remaining gummi bears.

The bass was about 15 inches in length, and weighed about 2 lbs, which is legal minimum size to harvest. Since I am a Catch & Release Fisherman, I removed the hook easily, thanked him for allowing me to catch him, and gently put him back in the water. I swear when he swam away he was wagging his tail at me–Both of us were happy.

I fished for about 2 1/2 more hours, until about 11:30am, and the sun did come out a few times, but for a few minutes each time.

My final count for the day: 4 nice sized Largemouth Bass, 2 nice sized Smallmouth bass, and an assortment of Panfish, Perch, Sunnies and Bluegills. Overall, a very nice and fun day on the lake.

I am trying to get in as many days as I can because, before you know it, the bright sun and warm days of summer will be gone. I have never gotten into ice fishing–a bit too cold for me…

In the last couple of years, I have become a lone fisherman; I used to have 3 retired friends that went with me all the time, but one is unable to go anymore do to health problems, one lost interest in everything, including fishing, and one has found girls again!

I had a nice day, and I shall still continue to enjoy fishing whether alone or with someone…Although if I am alone, I must start to bring a camera to record my catches…because you all know the reputation of fishermen and their stories of the “one that got away” or “the really big fish I caught.”