Started with a 1/4 oz chartreuse buzzbait with a trailer hook on my medium St. Croix rod and Pflueger President XT (30lb braid, 10lb fluoro leader). A lot of fallen leaves collecting near the shoreline and those were about the only things I caught on the buzzbait. I switched to my light rod and Revo Ike and tied on the same old Pond Magic spinnerbait (3/16 oz) in Craw pattern that's been my most successful lure at Beck this year. I was casting into the wind, but I have to say that Revo Ike with the 15lb braid cast like silk. I have it on a 5'6" light Ugly Stik that I originally intended to use as my bushwhacking rod when I make bike trips up to the Goons.
My wife was with me again (we went to Beck at her suggestion) and, just like last Sunday, she didn't dress warm enough for the strong wind and went back to the car. I told her I would pack up and leave with her. It was a pretty steady wind whipping up the shoreline and I didn't think there'd be much action at 2pm. She insisted I fish a bit more. That's when I put on the spinnerbait. The usual inshore weeds were there (someday I'm going to learn the name of some of this aquatic vegetation. Milfoil maybe?). The pattern of the strike always seems to be the same. I get the lure closer to shore, start to bump through the vegetation, pull the rod to clear the snag and a second later there's a bump pulling back. Lean into it to set the hook, and try to keep him out of the jungle. I had never used the Ike before and I forgot to set the drag. It was a little bass, but he was pulling line out until I tightened it slightly. There was a woman walking by with her dogs who said, "Oh! That's a big fish!" and kindly offered to take my photo. I wish it had been a big fish, but for a quick 40 minutes of fishing under those conditions I'll gladly take it.
Beck 10-10-20 3 by Steve, on Flickr
Little Beck LMB 10-10-20 by Steve, on Flickr
Booyah Pond Magic, craw pattern, 3/16 oz by Steve, on Flickr
