More of this Feature • Part 1: Day one • Part 2:Day two • Part 4: Day four coming soon   • Part 3: Day three

Join the Discussion "Have you ever had boat trouble?  What was the worst time, funnies time, most expensive time?  How do you prepare so it won't happen again?" Ronnie

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A good start to the fishing day

Fritz and I had to leave my house at 5:00 AM to get to Sinclair in time to put the boat in the water and be ready for the 7:00 AM blast off.  We made it without any trouble and were ready to go on time, dressed in snowmobile suits and knit caps against the cold.  

The sun was just coming over the tops of the trees so we ran across the river and started casting to a rocky point where I had caught one keeper the day before.  Nothing bit there or in the small pocket where I had missed a strike beside some grass the day before, so we cranked up and headed up the lake.

At the railroad trestle where I had caught a good keeper the day before the current was running up the river strongly.  Trash was moving upstream from the release of water at the Oconee dam on the other river, so we tried to fish it accordingly.  I started with a crankbait and also tried a spinnerbait but nothing bit either one.

After working if for some time I switched to my Rattleback Jig with the Yamamoto trailer and soon caught a small 1.5 pound keeper.  It was much smaller than the bass I caught there the day before but I was sure it was just the first of several.  

A good while later another boat stopped and started fishing the rocks.  We talked to them and found out they were fishing another club tournament.  Those guys said they had caught a bunch of fish the day before - I assumed right there on the riprap - but nothing was biting for them that morning.

Fritz and I stayed after they worked to the other end of the bridge and I missed a bite when a bass picked up my jig and moved out.  On the very next cast I caught one about 12.5 inches long.  The day was starting out slowly but I had two in the livewell and was confident bigger bass would bite later as the sun warmed the water.

Next page > Part B - Motor Trouble

The Rest of the Trip - Day One >  Day 2, Day 3, Day 4