Fully intending on starting to fish at 7am ..... I arrived at 8. Forecast was for some winds, but I had an itch I needed to scratch. Started fishing about 8:15. Turned right out of the launch and headed north, intending to cross over to the west side of the lake and spend most of my day in the SW portion of the lake. 15 minutes in to fishing, the winds really picked up, whitecap style. This wasn't going to work. Took me 15 minutes to get where I was, and 45 minutes to get back, pedaling by rear off. Legs are crying for mama now. Just as I get in front of the launch, fully intending on trailering the Hobie and heading home, I pull up along side someone trolling north, and he gets into a fish. Decent looking Rainbow. Dangit. I've already pulled up my gear. Just then the wind died down a bit. Decided I would fish for a bit more, upwind of the launch in case my first instinct to get off the water was correct. Gradually the winds died down and I was able to cross over to where I wanted to fish.

Ran in to a fellow NWFR member trolling in a kayak (forgot to ask his name) and watched him get into a nice Rainbow. I think by the time I talked to him, it was his 4th fish.

I was running a Mack's wedding ring tipped with a gulp worm with a 1/8th ounce lead on 1 rod, and the other on a downrigger with a Mack's Double D 4in dodger with a Doc Spratley fly. Moved the downrigger all day between 10 - 20 feet chasing marks on the sonar.

Day was very slow at the start. 1 hit on the downrigger that I lost shortly after popping the clip, and 1 drive-by on the long line. That was it until about noon. I was trolling south, when suddenly, here comes the wind again. Notice my speed had dropped to 0, and I was getting pushed close to shore. Started to try and cross cut the wind and pedal my heart out when the little trout pole with the surface line starts bouncing. As I am reeling in, I can tell it's heavy, and it's putting up a decent fight, but something doesn't feel exactly like what I expect. Finally get the fish to the boat, and it's a 2.11 pound Smallmouth. The wedding ring had sunk to the bottom, there were a few weeds in the fish's mouth. Wasn't expecting the bass. Released it and got back to fishing. At least I caught something right?

I fished until about 2:30, caught 5 Rainbows, all about 12-13 inches and fat, all released because I knew when I got home I didn't have time to clean and fillet. 3 came on the Doc Spratley, the other 2 on the wedding ring.

My legs are toast now.

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