I got off work at 7pm and decided that I would try fishing Larson for the first time. I have wanted to try fishing here for the past year but never did because I didn't want to park far away and walk in. Well I decided to go with it today and headed in.

When I got there, the water was glass so I figured I would try some top water to see if I could get any action. I had 3 strikes at my popper but no hook ups. The bites were very subtle and small top water splashes. I actually saw a couple of black crappie come up to investigate then back away. I then started throwing my spook and walking the dog along the edges of pads but no luck there.

I then switched to a jerk bait and was working it close to any structure I could see. Within about 4 or 5 casts I had a follow and a strike from a small largemouth but no hook up. About 4 or 5 casts later I had another follow and a strike but this time for a black crappie but no hook up. Then about 10 casts or so later as I am working it back and it's getting close to shore I see a largemouth dart out from nowhere and smack my jerk bait! So I set the hook and bring it in. It's not a big one but it was my first largemouth out of Larson and on my very first time fishing it so I was happy. It weighed in at 10 oz.

I then switched it up and started throwing all sorts of lures from spro & koppers live target frogs to buzzbaits to lipless cranks to shallow cranks, etc. The sun was starting to set and I decided to tie on a spinnerbait. I'm glad I did because about the 5th cast or so, I'm reeling it back in past a log and I get a solid hit! I set the hook and this fish is pulling pretty hard, desperately trying to run for the pads. I bring the fish in and it's not a giant but it sure had the heart of one. it weighed in a 1 lb 11 oz.

As the sun continues to set and it is almost dark, I switched back to my popper. After 6 or 7 casts in I get a MASSIVE Top Water BLOW UP! I set the hook and the fish feels pretty heavy but doesn't feel like I bass. I start thinking to myself, no way this is a crappie. I bring it in and as it gets close to shore next to the tall grass, I lift it up out of the water and it is a huge SLAB crappie! This thing was literally bigger than my head and had to be pushing 1 - 1.5 lb at the bare minimum, maybe even close to 2 lbs. I'm super excited to land it and weigh it when all hell breaks loose. Even before I can fully lift it out of the water and onto shore, it shakes really hard and spits the hook. Back into the water and away it went to fight another day.

Damn those crappie and their paper thin lips. My heart sank immediately as I have never caught a crappie even half that size. Perhaps I will come back to Larson and catch something close to that size again and actually land it.

But, I was still super happy that I managed to catch and land 2 largemouth on my very first time fishing the lake. I will be back but with actual panfish gear as well.

Oh yeah, I read the info about the lake and it says that there are largemouth and crappie. But in case anyone didn't know, there are also pumpkinseed sunfish. I know this because one of my crankbaits snagged a broken off line in the water. Out of curiosity I pulled on the line to see if anything was there. To my surprise was a pumpkinseed sunfish that had completely swallowed a hook. The line was also cut clean so it sure as hell did not break off.

People, if you are going to try to save a fish by cutting the line, please cut the line CLOSE TO THE FISH'S MOUTH! DON'T LEAVE 15 FEET + OF LINE so that it can tangle all over the pads and leave the fish stranded. Unfortunately, the fish was dead when I pulled it out of the water.

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