I started out with Senkos while it was dark because if there’s one thing I don’t feel comfortable with yet, it’s using a baitcaster in the dark. I like to see where the lure is so I can start applying my thumb to slow it down before it hits the water which of course helps prevent overruns. That’s a little hard to do in complete darkness when I’m lucky to see where I’m walking so Senkos it is.
As you can see, the dinks are still out there and that’s what I was catching on Senkos, both on the 5-inch and 4-inch sizes, both black and black with blue flakes.
As soon as it was light enough to see, I switched to a white/red Karu Lures Vibraschock for about 30 minutes, with no takers so I changed rods and started throwing my favorite, a white/red spinnerbait and after a few casts, I was rewarded with this bass. If you look close, you can see that there’s no line attached to the lure and that’s because I violated one of the cardinal rules of fishing; you do NOT pick up the fish using the line. You bring the fish close and then bend down and lip it. I know this. I’ve learned it the hard way in the past but in the excitement of bringing in a fish, I threw what I’ve learned out the window and grabbed the line and picked the fish up. The bass shook itself and the line snapped, with the fish falling into the water. Fortunately, I was able to grab it before it swam off with my spinnerbait in its mouth. And, I guarantee you that in the not-too-distant future, in the heat of battle, I’ll forget and do the same thing again.
LOL, and congratulations Nomad.
Guaranteed – within one month, I’ll pick another bass up, using the line.
LOL Nomad… Fishing follies, gotta love ‘em.
Been there, done it, will do it again!!
Nice catches Nomad, but now I am home and will be fishing next week!!!!
Welcome home (again), Steve!
Yes, welcome back Steve!!!!!
Thanks fellas. I didn’t fish much last time I was home, so I will try and make up for it this time. The weather is great and I hope the (big) fish will be biting.
It sure seems like the fishing is starting to pick back up, the best of luck to you. I didn’t make it out there this morning…I had a really bad headache yesterday and had to leave work to go home and lay down/sleep. My wife immediately said that it was probably because I’m getting up so early to go fishing (at which point I was thinking, “oh-oh, this can’t be good”) and sure enough, she told me to sleep in today so I could get some rest. And of course, me being the manly stud that I am, I said “yes, dear, anything you say, honey” and slept in.
In her defense though, I felt like a million bucks today. I guess I need to start realizing that I’m not a spring chicken anymore and I need to treat my body a little better than I do. 
Word out of Andong this weekend is that it’s still pretty rough down there, but the lake is turning over so that probably has a lot to do with it.
Nomad, you’re one of the most healthy people I know!! Trust me, you’re going to lilve to be 100 years old, and will probably still be fishing!!
I know I’ll get slammed for saying this but my thinking has always been; why drive all the way down there, when you can get skunked right in your own backyard?
Actually, I hope everyone keeps going back down there every single weekend, because that means less fishermen up here, and more bass for me! Hopefully,I’ll have an inflatable next spring (trailers are out, with the ramps all being blocked on the river 
) so I’ll be able to do a little exploring on our river. If I do get a boat, it’ll (probably) only have a trolling motor so I won’t be able to run up and down river all day, but at least I’ll be able to expand my fishing areas quite a bit. And Rob, if I do get one, you’re welcome to hop aboard any time you want as long as you bring the sammiches and beer 
Good deal on getting a boat Nomad, you will love it
I love you philosophy on skunking also 
I am thinking about getting rid of my portaboat and just fishing out of my inflatable boat only also. Not sure yet.
LOL Nomad!
For me though, there’s something about Andong that the river will never provide, so I’ll definitely go back down there, skunk or no skunk.
And there’s still hope for a ramp up here. It’s not over yet!!!!!
Steve,
Why are you thinking of getting rid of your pimped out portaboat? From the pics I’ve seen, that thing is sweet!
Rob,
Yeah, you really seem to enjoy going down there so I don’t blame you one bit. I hope you’re right about the ramp situation…
Nomad,
I doubt I will get rid of it, I have put so much time and effort into it. I was just thinking of pimping out my inflatable and freeing up some space. We will see.
Well Steve, if you do decide to get rid of it you shouldn’t have any problem selling it. That’s a damn nice boat.
Thanks Rob. I’d bring it up to the river when we all meet up, but not sure if there’ll be a ramp for it
How heavy is it with everything attached as is? Too heavy for a couple of people to carry about 15-20 feet?
Nomad,
It’s not so much heavy, but with it being a flexible portabote with outboard on one end, a trolling motor on the other end and 2 batteries in the middle along with the deck and all my other tackle and stuff, I fear it would twist and buckle too much and maybe tear a seam or 2.
If there is a ramp open somewhere, then I will bring it.
Had some experience with the Angletowners carrying a portaboat a distance after the tide went out and we stopped fishing. You would have to move the boat, motor, etc. separately. The boat is like Steve said much to flexible. Max you could leave in it would be the rods/tackle.