I usually try to fish Elkhorn either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, and with the cold front coming it had to be today. Couldn't convince any of my regular partners to go, and wow did they make a bad decision.

Drifting shiners under a slip bobber yielded 6 smallmouth on the first 6 casts. I went through 2 dozen shiners in less than 90 minutes, all from an area about as big as a double wide trailer. Caught about 15 total, biggest was a largemouth that had to push 3.5 pounds. Largest smallie was about 2.25 and had those beautiful red eyes they get when they get decent sized. Nice 1.5 pound spot as a kicker.

The fish were schooled up in about 8 feet of water in a slackwater hole just off the main flow. The way the first couple fish slammed my bait, I was pretty sure there was lots of competition.

2009 was a pretty crappy fishing year for me, but this was by far the best dead-winter trip I've ever had. I have to think it was the approaching cold front. Whatever it was, it sure was a blast.