I rolled into Teddy Hill's driveway just before 7:30 in the morning. And within minutes, we had our gear loaded in his boat and were on our way. A steady rain was dancing across his windshield. And although we had hopes of the precipitation lessening, the local forecast suggested we would be in for a rainy and unseasonably cool day.
Sure enough, we were forced to don our rain suits upon reaching the lake. But we were both prepared and had no intentions of allowing what some might consider as less than favorable conditions to dampen our spirits. And who knew. Each disturbance that was forecast to roll through our section of the state during the upcoming hours might send the fish into a feeding frenzy.
I grew hopeful upon coaxing a spotted bass into hitting a jerkbait shortly after we coasted to a stop near a steep bank. But the hope was short-lived as the next few hundred casts went unanswered.
We eventually opted to try our luck with floating worms, as we neared the shallows of the large pocket. We had both heard tales of nesting fish in this particular section of the lake. And although I had not noticed any indications of nesting activities only days prior, I was aware they can literally move in and begin their annual spawn overnight. .
That in mind, I eagerly rigged a worm wacky style and cast in the direction of the shoreline. Again, neither Teddy nor I detected as much as the twitch of a line as we continued casting into the shallow water.
I eventually grew tired of floating a worm to no avail, and resorted back to my ol'' trusty suspended rogue. It didn't take long before something attacked the lure just after I allowed it to suspend motionless below the surface.
It seemed like a hefty fish. And I grew excited as it continued to fight. I was more than eager to boat something substantial. But the excitement was short-lived when I saw a chain pickerel nearing the surface.
Carefully avoiding its teeth as I dislodged the hook and pitched it back in the water. And of course, I spent the next few minutes wiping slime from my hands prior to making another cast.
We eventually pulled the trolling motor from the water and moved to yet another location where we had both experienced success at catching springtime bass throughout the years.
We managed to entice a small striper into biting shortly after our arrival at this location. However, these waters were no different from the first spot we had fished as they appeared desolate of black bass.
But we remained steadfast, in spite of the rain's refusal to relent. However, we resorted back to floating worms, as we continued deeper into the large pocket.
Well, I guess there's some truth to the adage, "persistence pays off," as the bass eventually started to show a little interest in our presentations. They certainly were not in a feeding frenzy, but we were at least catching a straggler here and there.
There was no set pattern. We might coax one off a point and the next fish might be browsing for it's next potential meal alongside a steep bank. I can say with confidence, however, that few to none of the fish we managed to catch were on a nest.
As the day progressed and the temperature began to drop, we eventually opted to call it a day. While backing the trailer into the water, I was more than happy to be out of the rain. And although it would take a few hours to warm my bones, I considered the outing as a success.
We had managed to boat ten bass before the day's end. But I most appreciated the opportunity to fish and fellowship with a good friend.
Sports on 04/14/2018