Bass Saves the Day

[sean kerley]

So my son and I have decided on our new house...the one that I will retire from the Army in. And of course, I need to find the best Chinese takeout, pizza delivery, grocery store, and fishing spot within a few minutes of the new house. I keep going back to this particular pond that has given me a few nice 'gills and one baby bass so far.

Today, the pond gave me nothing using my normal techniques. So I decided to try dropshotting for the first time in my life. I must admit, I had little faith in the technique, especially from the bank.

After tying my rig, inspecting it (as if I know whether it's right or not), and feeling several distinctive bluegill taps with no fish landed, I began to lose what little faith I had. Practically as a joke, I tossed the rig right into the middle of the thickest patch of lily pads I could find.

Now, this was my first time dropshotting, so I wasn't aware that the bite I had wasn't a 'gill. At first I thought that if it was a 'gill it might have a shot at a state record...many state record bream come from small ponds. But then I saw her...certainly not a bream, and yeah for a split second I was disappointed. But once I got her in my hand (after a near catastrophe in the reeds on the shoreline), I quickly made peace with it.

This is certainly not my best ever LMB...but it's the best one I've ever caught on a 1/16th oz jig on 4lb line!

As for the 'gills...I reckon I'll get a few tomorrow!

[Leo Nguyen]

Great catch!