It's been a long time coming...

I've been working a bunch lately and not nearly fishing enough, so when my
friend and guide service partner Gil called today and asked "wanna go
fishing?" I jumped at the chance even though it was a lousy day for fishing.
We're at the beginning of a cold front, 52 degrees with winds from the east
gusting to 30 mph. The water temps ranged from 59.4 - 60.8 at the lake.

He wanted to fish a local lake for walleyes so we picked up a bucket of
minnows. When we got on the water, I couldn't stand the thought of fishing
walleye with a jig/minnow, so I grabbed a 1/0 octopus hook and a 5" GoTo
Bait Company Tournament Stick bait and rigged it wacky style.

I caught a largemouth, a northern pike, a walleye and three smallmouth
before Gil put away the livebait and grabbed a Tournament Stick bait from
his box. He caught three or four smallies and we decided to wrap it up for
the day.

On the way to the landing, I told Gil to swing by a rock/rubble shoreline
for a couple minutes. Tossing the stick bait, I let it fall, feeling
"something." I set the hook and the rod just STOPPED in mid-swing. I
actually told Gil "Hold on, I'm hung up," when I felt the headshake!

The smallie was either lethargic from the cool water, but I don't think so,
based on the way she pulled. All I know is that she tried to jump several
times and couldn't get half her body out of the water!

I put a lip-lock on the fish and greatfully swung her over the side. She
measured 19.75 inches and weighed just shy of 5.5 pounds.

You can read the same story here, but with a picture of the beauty...

http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com/of/i...hp?serendipity[subpage]=forum&boardid=2&threadid=90
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Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com