Fishing Trip #30 April 17, 2015 5:30 AM

Went fishing for about an hour on my way to work this morning. Perfect weather conditions. The lake surface was calm and quiet and the fish were surfacing for their breakfast. I had 6 fish on but was only able to land 5 of them. The mosquitoes were starting to hover around the shore.

Weather conditions: 59 degree air temperature with no wind. The sky was dark changing to the light of dawn.

Caught 5 largemouth bass using an H2O XPRESS Shallow Running Jointed Square-Bill Crankbait.

Catch and Release.

First catch

Second catch

Third catch

Fourth catch

Fifth catch

Pre-dawn sky

Getting lighter...

Beautiful colors!

Fishing Trip #29 April 14, 2015 6:45 PM

Went fishing with Mary tonight for about 90 minutes. She bought a new rod and reel combo at Academy Sports along with 2 new H2O XPRESS Shallow Running Jointed Square-Bill Crankbaits. 

One of our favorite spots was taken by another angler, so we moved up and down the north shore. Mary's new rod has great action and the reel is very smooth. I had three fish on but one of them spit the hook before I could land it.  After our favorite spot opened up, Mary moved into position and started getting a number of bites with the Midnight Special Spinnerbait and caught a "sweet bass" just before dark. It was great fishing tonight. Mary continues to be the "bassmaster."

Weather conditions: Weather 65 degrees with 10 mph ENE winds. Partly cloudy skies with rain clouds passing through.

I caught 2 largemouth bass using an H2O XPRESS Shallow Running Jointed Square-Bill Crankbait and Mary caught 1 largemouth bass using a Midnight Special spinnerbait.

Catch and Release.

Rain clouds forming

First catch—note Mary's new lure

Second catch

Daughter and Dad!
My fish looks bigger because it's closer to the camera

Beautiful sunset!

Fishing Trip #28 April 14, 2015 4:05 PM

Went fishing for about 30 minutes after work this afternoon. Quiet at the lake.

Weather conditions: 67 degrees with 17 mph ENE winds, with a mostly sunny sky.

Caught 1 largemouth bass using an H2O XPRESS Shallow Running Jointed Square-Bill Crankbait.

Catch and Release.

Fishing Trip #27 April 14, 2015 5:45 AM

Went fishing for about 20 minutes on my way to work this morning. On my first few casts the fish were hitting my lure sporadically. I had one on for a few seconds before spitting hook. There were several good solid strikes. I was able to land one, take its picture, and then release it.

Weather conditions: 49 degree air temperature with light winds from the north, with a cloudy pre-dawn sky.

Caught 1 largemouth bass using an H2O XPRESS Shallow Running Jointed Square-Bill Crankbait.

Catch and Release.

Fishing Trip #26 April 13, 2015 5:50 AM & Personal Best So Far This Season

Went fishing for about 30 minutes on my way to work this morning. It had just stopped raining and the air was humid. The lake surface was a little choppy from the wind. The fish were hitting my lure like crazy! I had about 6 to 8 solid strikes and 2 that were on for a few seconds before spitting hook.

The first 2 bass I landed were a little on the small side and the second one put up a pretty good fight. After about 20 minutes I started heading back to the vehicle to go to work but decided to cast out one more time. BAM!! I got a massive strike and when I started reeling the fish in, I knew it was a big one. The pole bent way over and the drag started pulling out. I tightened the drag and played the fish a little bit until it got to the shore. I lugged it up on the bank. It measured 19 inches long and had a large girth. I'm thinking it was a mama bass full of eggs. After I removed the hook (solidly lodged in the lower jaw), I took a few photos and released it back into the lake. This is my personal best for a largemouth bass. Last year I caught an 18 inch bass in the same lake, but this one was not only longer but also remarkably heavier.

Weather conditions: 58 degree air temperature with 14 mph winds from the north, with a pre-dawn sky.

Caught 3 largemouth bass using an H2O XPRESS Shallow Running Jointed Square-Bill Crankbait.

Catch and Release.

First catch.

Second catch.

Third catch and personal best!

It measured 19 inches long

Fishing Trip #25 April 11, 2015 7:55 PM

Went fishing with Mary tonight. She bought me a new H2O XPRESS Shallow Running Jointed Square-Bill Crankbait. This one looks like a blue gill. It was great fishing tonight. Thanks Mary!

Weather conditions: Weather 61 degrees with 6 mph winds from the southeast. Dusk sky turning to night.

I caught 2 largemouth bass using an H2O XPRESS Shallow Running Jointed Square-Bill Crankbait and Mary caught 2 largemouth bass using a Midnight Special spinnerbait.

Catch and Release.

Fishing Trip #24 April 10, 2015 5:55 AM

Went fishing for about 30 minutes on my way to work this morning. The temperature was cool for fishing (33 degrees with the windchill). The lake surface was calm. Coyotes were howling in the meadow just before the dawn sky started lighting up.

Weather conditions: 39 degree air temperature with 8 mph winds from the southwest, with a pre-dawn sky.

Caught 3 largemouth bass using a spinnerbait (midnight special).

Catch and Release.

First catch while the sky was still dark

Second catch & the day is dawning

The sky is beginning to light up

Third catch

6:30 AM and time to head to work

The meadow at Johnson Lake just before sunrise