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If you have read the comments sections of some other weekend posts you probably already know most of the story but I'll record it here officially.
I got the chance to spend the day fishing with Sam again and we were excited to share details on fishing the motor side of the lake. The weather was predicted to be marginal at best but I was actually excited. You see, my 'raincoat theory' is that when I look at pictures of fish big I have caught in the past, most of the time I'm wearing a raincoat. I also knew that the weather would keep away the fair weather fisherman so we wouldn't be fighting a crowd. We met at the lake about 30 minutes after opening and were boat #3. No crowd - check. Blowing wind and rain - raincoat required - check.
We proceeded to load up my little 17.5 foot boat with 21 rods, 3 tackle boxes, and two coolers.
Luckily the boat still floated and there was no way we were going down for lack of tackle. We motored to the Muddy creek area and began fishing in a pocket off the main channel. In the back I picked up two bass quickly on a spinnerbait. We worked around to a similar pocket with a big laydown in the back. I cast over the main trunk, felt the spinnerbait come over the log then got one of those awesome thump-thump hits where you feel the fish swallow the bait then turn its head. Set the hook and knew it was a good one. Luckily it stayed out of the tree and when I saw the fish I was sure it was 6 lbs. It actually weighed a hair under 5. It was a long fish but not terribly fat. Anyway, raincoat theory pays off and I was well on my way toward making Sam put down the T-rig.
![IMG_1126.JPG]()
We picked up a few more fish including some keepers but nothing huge. We were sure that the back of a creek would be hot but we fished a couple hours and only got two bites to show for it. We decided to go back to the main channel. Sam gradually pulled even then ahead of me fishing the T-rig but still no big fish for him. We fished a laydown he really likes and we made multiple casts but only a small fish to show. As I moved on down the bank casting my spinnerbait Sam kept working the laydown. I hear him set the hook and he hauls a very fat 5-1 to the boat. So much for me making him put down the T-rig!
![IMG_1127.JPG]()
I was now down 3 fish but soon after I boated a nice 3 (didn't weigh) on the spinnerbait. After that little flurry we hit a major dry spell. We tried several more areas in the wind and out of it with nothing to show. Sam needed to leave a bit early and we stayed close to the ramp. As we are working up a bank I hung my spinnerbait in the top of a tree. As I'm trying to recover it Sam pulls a 2 lb fish out of the tree and to add insult to injury the wire on the bait broke in two and I lost the lure. At that point I had a little, shall we say, 'moment'. Sam added one more fish to his tally before he had to leave. After I dropped him off at the dock I headed back to some of the spots where we had success earlier for the last 45 minutes of fishing. I managed to pull a good keeper off the laydown where Sam got the big fish earlier. It wasn't a giant but it felt great after being frustrated without a bite on the T-rig all day.
All in all it was a very good day but somehow felt slow because fish would come in little bunches with long waits between. I enjoyed the trip and I learned a lot fishing with Sam. That said, this is two trips in a row to RRR where I've been bested by the back seat. I think I may have to travel solo next time to repair my wounded pride!
I got the chance to spend the day fishing with Sam again and we were excited to share details on fishing the motor side of the lake. The weather was predicted to be marginal at best but I was actually excited. You see, my 'raincoat theory' is that when I look at pictures of fish big I have caught in the past, most of the time I'm wearing a raincoat. I also knew that the weather would keep away the fair weather fisherman so we wouldn't be fighting a crowd. We met at the lake about 30 minutes after opening and were boat #3. No crowd - check. Blowing wind and rain - raincoat required - check.
We proceeded to load up my little 17.5 foot boat with 21 rods, 3 tackle boxes, and two coolers.
Luckily the boat still floated and there was no way we were going down for lack of tackle. We motored to the Muddy creek area and began fishing in a pocket off the main channel. In the back I picked up two bass quickly on a spinnerbait. We worked around to a similar pocket with a big laydown in the back. I cast over the main trunk, felt the spinnerbait come over the log then got one of those awesome thump-thump hits where you feel the fish swallow the bait then turn its head. Set the hook and knew it was a good one. Luckily it stayed out of the tree and when I saw the fish I was sure it was 6 lbs. It actually weighed a hair under 5. It was a long fish but not terribly fat. Anyway, raincoat theory pays off and I was well on my way toward making Sam put down the T-rig. 
We picked up a few more fish including some keepers but nothing huge. We were sure that the back of a creek would be hot but we fished a couple hours and only got two bites to show for it. We decided to go back to the main channel. Sam gradually pulled even then ahead of me fishing the T-rig but still no big fish for him. We fished a laydown he really likes and we made multiple casts but only a small fish to show. As I moved on down the bank casting my spinnerbait Sam kept working the laydown. I hear him set the hook and he hauls a very fat 5-1 to the boat. So much for me making him put down the T-rig!
I was now down 3 fish but soon after I boated a nice 3 (didn't weigh) on the spinnerbait. After that little flurry we hit a major dry spell. We tried several more areas in the wind and out of it with nothing to show. Sam needed to leave a bit early and we stayed close to the ramp. As we are working up a bank I hung my spinnerbait in the top of a tree. As I'm trying to recover it Sam pulls a 2 lb fish out of the tree and to add insult to injury the wire on the bait broke in two and I lost the lure. At that point I had a little, shall we say, 'moment'.
Sam added one more fish to his tally before he had to leave. After I dropped him off at the dock I headed back to some of the spots where we had success earlier for the last 45 minutes of fishing. I managed to pull a good keeper off the laydown where Sam got the big fish earlier. It wasn't a giant but it felt great after being frustrated without a bite on the T-rig all day. All in all it was a very good day but somehow felt slow because fish would come in little bunches with long waits between. I enjoyed the trip and I learned a lot fishing with Sam. That said, this is two trips in a row to RRR where I've been bested by the back seat. I think I may have to travel solo next time to repair my wounded pride!
