Headed over to a local pond after work this evening. Except for one small bass at Beck in May, and couple of pond bluegill last week, this has been a very slow start to 2021 for me. Trips to Beck, and various trips to the DPR haven't yielded much of anything. I didn't have high expectations tonight but I wanted to try a Loon WP (90) I just picked up. Nothing on the WP and nothing on a spinnerbait. I Texas rigged a Zoom Grn Pumpkin red trick worm on my light rod and a Zoom salted "Bluegill" trick worm on the medium. I started out with the light rod, casting out parallel to shore and slowly bringing the worm back in. On about my third cast, maybe six feet from shore, I felt a light tap and a tug. I thought it was a snag or maybe even a bluegill nibbling at first but I pulled back and then the line went sideways as the bass tried to dive into some weeds. I had last used the rod for bluegill and forgot to tighten the drag. Felt like a decent size and I fought him and tightened the drag at the same time. He hit pretty close to shore and I finally brought him up the bank. I removed the hook and thought I had a good grip on his lip, but he suddenly thrashed and slipped out of my hand onto the grass. I used that opportunity to grab my tape measure. He was a shade over 17". Seemed pretty chunky and he was definitely one of the better sized bass I've caught in a while. A bass like that is a lot of fun on a light rod. I gently released him and made a few more casts along the bank, but I didn't get anymore hits. It was close to 8pm so I packed it in and headed home. It was a real nice sunset and for a quick after work fishing expedition I can't complain. I'm hoping this is the end of my slump and the beginning of tying into more fish.
Steve Gubin 17 in LMB by Steve, on Flickr
Largemouth Bass 6-15-21 by Steve, on Flickr
Zoom Grn Pumpkin Red Trick Worm by Steve, on Flickr
Pond sunset by Steve, on Flickr
Steve Gubin 17 in LMB by Steve, on Flickr
Largemouth Bass 6-15-21 by Steve, on Flickr
Zoom Grn Pumpkin Red Trick Worm by Steve, on Flickr
Pond sunset by Steve, on Flickr