NCangler

Originally Posted by Spider Crack

some quick notes: got my deep crank in the water before 8am. bouncing it slowly over rocks, and scored a 7lb 7oz bass at 7:50am. Then caught a 4.7lber at 7:58. So thought it was gonna be a tremendous day, but once sun burned off the cloud cover, the crankbait bite died almost completely. I'm slow, so it took a few more hours before i gave up on the crank and switched to a drop-shot rig, and started to catch fish immediately. focused on areas where i had caught fish with cranks earlier -- figured the fish were still there/nearby, just wanted a slower presentation. found i almost had to dead-stick the lure -- just an occasionally jiggle every now and that would be enough to get an almost undetectable "tap" -- i'd set the hook, and often have a fish on. caught multiple fish, but no real size. but eventually did manage two 3lbers in the PM (3.7lbs, 3.2lbs).

did manage to catch one of the afternoon 3lbers on a crank (i just wouldn't give up!). but first time this has happened: crank got tangled up in the braided line from a carolina rig i broke off on an earlier cast (assume it had a nick in the line). crank felt strange, then felt like i was snagged -- then realized i had a fish on. once i netted the 3lber, noticed braided line was tangled up in the treble hooks -- and when i started to drag in the line, i realized there was a 1lb bass hooked on that carolina rig i dragged in!

very, very hot day. took what i thought was a surplus of water, but drank it all and had to bum some water off a friend. after a recent visit to the dermatologist, really tried to cover up from the sun, but the long-sleeve fishing shirt and UV buff were just too much. had to just pour water over my head several times, but that didn't help too much as the surface temps are prob 90 degrees!

So great start early in the day, but the sun and heat forced me to really slow down my presentation. even then had to work hard for each fish, and could no longer get the really big gals to come out and play.

photos below.

FWIW // joel

PHOTOS: 1. 7lbs 7oz (DT16); 2. 4lbs 7oz (DT16); 3. "battle weary" VMC SS treble hook; 4. 3lbs 7oz (DT16)