Timing is Everything

[Hoop79d]

I wheeled on over to the lake again today, arrived about 10AM. I worked my way through my usual spots over two hours. I started with a chartreuse spinnerbait since it was still on the line. But no takers. I varied my retrieves from burnin just under the surface to a nice slow roll bumping and crashing through all the weeds. Tried a few Rapalas; original floater perch, jointed rainbow trout, and firetiger, also to no avail. I figured it just wasn't my day (except that I was fishing! ) and headed for home. Along the way I decided to stop at my local sporting goods emporium to replace some MIA lures. Picked up two: Rapala shad rap ssr-5 bluegill, and the same but the 7 size in the alewife pattern. Well, that was enough to make me steer right on back to the lake, just to make sure the new lures ran straight I made my way to my favorite spot, and this is when I learned about timing. As I approached the water, I noticed the telltale signs of a school of bait milling around. I threw on the bluegill rap and gave it a toss. Third cast in and I was hooked into a nice fish. Turned out to be an 18" bass, maybe two to two and a half pounds estimated. Boy was this fish fat fat fat! All the hooks were set pretty well, but I got her loose and took the time only to measure the length. My camera was still in the box and I didn't want to make her wait too long just to get a picture. Go make more bass, girl! One more fish after that, 12.5" black crappie and then I was off for home, grateful and