Well I finally hit the water for the first time since May and it has been too long. My buddy Hens (Chunknwind) and Mike (3sons) hit the water early thursday morning to what would turnout to be the greatest day of floating the fly that has ever been in my boat. We put in at Pleasant Grove at daybreak and I ran to the first spot that I had picked out on the map on the lower end based on the current water level and how lucky was that. I shut her down and get up front and it literally did not take but a few minutes before I landed the prettiest 12" Smallmouth of my lifetime. Hens busted one a few minutes later, then Mike, then Me, then Hens, then Mike, then Me again then Mike went out of turn and we had 8 fish on this one 70 yard stretch of bank and point. The last two caught by Mike and me were a double. 8 fish in the first hour or so and I knew it was going to be a great day. I set the goal of 15 total before we hit the water which I changed to 20 after the first bank. Mike caught a few more including a 4-8 that just touched the 21" mark and eventually had me down by 4 and the pressure was on because I had never been beaten in my boat EVER (until today). Hens warned Mike that he had better catch a few more bonus fish because I do my best work under pressure and he was correct. I caught a couple before noon to cut his lead to 2 and the bite slowed a bunch. We had 15 by noon and I was pushing HARD for 5 more to make 20. Around 1pm I landed a 20 1/2" 4-9lber that was a BUTE and around 2:30 I landed a 21 1/2" 5-9 FATTIE. That made 17 for the day with 2 over 21 and 3-4 that went a perfect 15 1/2 to 16" tourney fish. Easily could have weighed in 14+ for 4 fish and I have never heard of that in any tourney at Dale Hollow. I was still pushing for 20 even though I know Hens was ready to go by 11am and Mike was ready by noon. It had rained and snowed ALL morning long up until past noon and was miserable weather but PERFECT FNF conditions. These type of days are the days I sit and dream of all year long to have in December and January. All fish caught on the fly on banks and points next to the creek and river channels. Fly had to have chartreuse and duck feather, fish dope the head only, boat in 30-35 feet of water casting up into 12-15. After the first 8 fish bank we runned and gunned the pattern to scratch out 1 fish here and there. Caught fish from First Island down to Horse Creek with many spots in between.

Friday was a different story. Usually I LOVE the day after a cold front in the winter and thought we would hammer them again but how wrong was I. Just Hens and I put in at daylight with a boat that was COMPLETELY froze from all the rain the day before. Every compartment was froze shut, ignition choke froze, could not get any rod locker open at all. With my boat having an electric wench I need some power to losen the cable to get my boat off the trailer. I could not get either of my battery storage compartment open due to them being froze solid. We ended up taking my sportcat heater and turning it upside down and practically burning my carpet all around the compartment to get one open to get power to get my boat off the trailer. Needless to say I was not a happy camper about my boat, you can take this as my opinion of my boat. We go back to the same 8 fish spot and Hens lands one pretty quick and I think it is going to be another great day, WRONG. Hens does not get another bite all day and I tinkered with jigs, depths and everything else and finally land one about 10am to tie him. We fished another couple of hours with nothing and put her on the trailer with 2 fish for the day. The greatest day in by boat to one of the most frustrating days, but that is Catchin one day and Fishin the next.

GREAT to be on the water, especially with my BEST BUDDY Hens and another guy that is becoming a very good friend in Mike. Thanks to both of them for a great couple of days and taking good care of me. I made it back in one piece and better than I left. Looking forward to going back on the 15th for another week with Hens and can only hope for 5 straight days of thursdays weather.

Elnutsmalljaws
"Certifyable Floatnflyable"