For the last few days, I’ve been going out at lunchtime to wet a line. The first two days, I had one bite each time, but missed both fish (It’s rust – that’s my story and I’m sticking to it 
). Yesterday, I went out as well but threw a spinnerbait almost the whole time with not a single bite to show for it. I went back out again at lunchtime today, and finally caught my first bass of 2009, on (you guessed it) a 4-inch, black Senko (let’s take a moment to praise Gary Yamamoto).
The water is still pretty cold…when I touched that fish, it felt like it had just come out of a freezer and when it took the worm, the bite was so soft and lethargic, I barely felt it and originally thought I had brushed the Senko against a rock or something on the bottom. Once I set the hook though, the fish was quite energetic for the dink that he was 
.
If that’s a dink as you say, then that is a very deceptive photo. That looks like a pretty nice fish. Looks kind of fat too. If your hand weren’t in the picture to compare the mouth to, that would pass for around a three pounder in my simple mind. Way to go. I can’t wait to start hauling ‘em in again.
Mike,
I think that fish was somewhere around a pound, give or take a few ounces
It was odd how lethargic it bit, but it sure got its energy once I set the hook LOL. IMO, the water in the river is still too cold and I don’t think the bass have started coming into the shallows yet except for the lonely straggler or two but it won’t be long now!
WTG Nomad, your first of many 2009 bass
Feels good dunn’it!!
I agree with Mike, that’s a good sized dink. I’d have to say that it’s a good 12 incher looking at the size of it’s mouth!!
Nice bass Nomad.
Things should start picking up rather quickly in the next few weeks.
Hey,
I agree with Mike, I’d have guessed the fish at 2 1/2 lbs. Maybe your internal scale needs calibration??
I wish it was 2 1/2 pounds….maybe this will give a better perspective. Here’s the same fish laying on a rock:
Pics can be misleading, eh?
A fish is a fish is a fish is a fish, especially in Feb….
But yea, fish pics can definitely be deceiving. You and I have talked about it many times before. I’ll catch what I think is a really nice 3 pound bass or so only for it to look like a dink in the pic, and I’ve also had the opposite happen. Weird…
Yes, that is true…it’s really nice to be able to get out there this time of year AND catch fish.
Nice catch and I will go out on a limb to say you will have another great year as you did last year. That bass did look big on the first picture but on the rock it appears to be a different one. Still, it breaks the ice and now you know you can catch them Just wondering when you will start doing the 0400 fishing trips every morning like you did last year.
Tex Mex, Nomad has so much comp. time coming to him that last year is going to pale in comparison to what he’s about to unleash upon us this year.
And yea, I’m jealous and not afraid to say it!
Tex Mex,
Still a bit too cold to be out there at 0400 (it snowed this morning)…for the next month or so, I’ll be happy to get in the occasional lunchtime/weekend trip.
Rob,