We launched out of Cusick at 6am. This is only the 3rd time I have been to this location so I did some searching around picking spots to fish. The sloughs were showing water temps from low to mid 60's till later in the day, then I saw water as warm as 72. I hit two big sloughs and lost one small pike. The main target for the day was pike but I was switching to the senkos looking for bass if I didn't find any pike. Senkos dissapear fast when the pike hit them on mono line. Slough number 3 was the ticket. I found a little deeper water with some structure. Two fish on two casts. One about 5 lbs and the other in the 8 to 9 range shown in the photo posted. Both fish hit a blue and chartruse spinner bait with a white trailer. The pike I caught were very aggressive and put up a great fight. I lost another in this slough, about a 5 lb'er that cut off my senko on mono line again. After that we moved south of Cusick. I found another slough and lost the biggest and most freocious smallmouth I have ever seen, he appeared to be about 6 lbs or better. This fish hit the senko under a log and busted my line. I retied and dropped in the same spot. BAM there he was again. I know it was the same fish. My line had broken off about 4 or 5 feet above the hook. When this fish came out of the water, he had that line comming out of his mouth. This thing faught like you can't believe. He finally got me back to the logs and broke me off. I didn't get him in the boat but that is one smallie I will never forget. In fact, I will remember him and where he was when I go back next week. The next log produced the LMB in the second photo, on yet another senko. On the day, I hooked 7 pike and only boated 3 of them, all fish were C&R. Here's a tip for you. The weights I mentioned are estimaates from an experienced angler, me. If you go to buy a digital scale, don't buy the $20 one from Cabelas. This is the first use for the second scale and again it didn't work. Mine is going back and I'm going to throw in another $20 to get a better version. Here's another tip for you. Take your wife fishing with you. That way you don't have to get home early to keep her happy. LOL

Happy fishing

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