4th of July on Wheeler

[BMcClenney]

Hadnt been to Wheeler in several weeks so I decided to head out there for the fourth so I went out from 7 til 11 to try to miss all the ya-hoos out there on pleasure boats. Turns out there were plenty out early as I watched one idiot on a late 90's model stratos run all over the lake with his trolling motor still in the water. This move ended up totaling the trolling motor and tearing the gel coat on the front of the boat all the ****. Then some other idiot cursed out the park rangers for not allowing him to park his trailer for his air boat on the ramp the entire time he was out there. Guess there is no escaping stupidity!
Ended up having a great morning! First fish was 20.5" and weighted around 5# or more. The next few were 4#+ and then caught several good keepers before hooking up with a 22" sow that whacked a carolina rigged worm of all things. All the fish were in good shape and well fed! All came on crank or carolina rig in 8-12' of water near the channel. I landed 12 in all, all keepers, and lost 3. It was a great morning and it was good to see that the fish were healthy despite the recent algae blooms that were seen a few weeks ago. I am still not ready for a sushi dinner from lake wheeler, but feel a lot better about the health of the fishery.