Although the weather here has been unusually warm I had not fished anywhere but
in my ponds this year. Yesterday I went to Jackson to practice a little for a
Sunday club tournament.

I got to the lake and in the water at 11:30. Had on a long sleeve shirt over a
short sleeve shirt and it was a little warm until the wind started blowing at
noon. Water temps were 50 to 53 and the water was stained. It was hazy/partly
cloudy. Air temps were in the 70s.

Running around a shallow cove with some wood and rock cover, I did not get bit
on spinnerbaits, crankbaits or jig and pig until I got to the outside point
that had some rocks on it. I threw a # 7 Shadrap right on the bank in about
two feet of water and something thumped it. When I set the hook a wash-tub
size boil told me it was a good fish, and I fought it till my hand started
cramping. I was using a light spinning rod and 8 pound line.

The fish got to the boat and ran under it. When it headed back toward the
motor I put as much pressure on it as I could to keep it out of the motor, and
it pulled off. I never saw the fish so it could have been a carp, but is surely
did fight like a bass.

A little later I was fishing a steep rocky bank and felt a bump on a Fat Free
Shad. The fish fought pretty good, just like the last one but not nearly as
strong, and I landed a 3 pound largemouth.

I ran up to a cove with a rock pile in six feet of water. I was not sure
exactly where it was with the water down and wanted to locate it for the
tournametn, so I cast a Carolina rig with a 4 inch white Senko to locate it.
The first cast hit the rocks and a bass hit immediately. I landed a solid 2
pound largemouth after a short fight.

Across that cove on a sandy bank a fish hit a Fat Free Fry and I landed a 13
inch largemouth. I fished on out and some move coves, but it was getting
late. On a rocky point on the main lake I landed my last bass of the day, a 2
pound largemouth that hit a Bomber crankbait.

Four keepers landed, three on different crankbaits and one on a Carolina Rig,
and one lost big fish. Not too bad for January fishing for six hours. Hope I
can catch some of those fish Sunday. I would be happy with the four I landed,
about 7 or 8 pounds, and would be thrilled if I landed a big bass if that is
what got away.

Will practice again tomorrow!
Ronnie

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