Finally had sucess w/ a spinner bait

and it was a SW!

Went to Lk Zumbro this morning w/ my son Alex and a neighbor. Zumbro
is a older (dammed in the 1930's) impoundment in SE MN, about 4000
acres in size. It holds both LM and SM, as well as several other
species.

We start off on a steep bluffed shoreline - lots of rock / boulders in
the water, along with a good amount of wood extending from the
shoreline. I use a 3/8 oz Rock Craw (old body style), that I bought
from Bob R. some years back, w/ a single #5-6 gold willow leaf blade.

We started off near a twin floating dock, where I threw several times
- had a hit, but no hook up. Working down the shoreline a little
later, there was a sensation of weight on the line, I set the hook,
and the rod bowed. Several runs later, I brought in one of those
"other" species - a 30" N pike. I released this one. Guessing the
weight at 6-7#.

I know its not a bass - sadly - (no other activity) - but I've not
had any sucess w/ spinner baits in the past - so this summer I'm
forcing myself to use them. Fished for another 1.5 hours on this
shore - nothing doing, so we moved to a small bay with a creek
entering it. Also tryed some xyz brand soft plastic baits T rigged -
no joy that way either.

We had spotted some fish on sonar in 14-15' of water - so we
made several sweeps over them drifting. I had switched to a
crappie pole tipped w/ a leech on a #6 gold hook, as my neighbor
got a couple of nice panfish on the previous drifts. I felt a solid
hit - and thought bass - I set the hook, and the pole bent, but the
rod tip didn't come up. I kept steady pressure on the rod, and slowly
my fish came up - it turned out to be another N Pike, about 25" long.

The line (#6 test) was so taunt you could could here it vibrating /
humming. The fish basicly went were it wanted to - to the extent of
the line I had (about 14'). Got it to the boat - made a net attempt -
missed - so we started over - and finally got to the boat and netted.
That was fun! This one went home for the frying pan. This one
weighed 4# on a spring scale, the weigh w/ a ruler charts say
4.5-5#.

Did see another fisherman pitching / flipping(?) a skirted jig at the
shoreline - he did bring in a LM of about 14" - if nothing else - it
was a good practical demo to me on how to do it w/ a baitcaster.

J.