I don't typically write secret lake reports, but this is more about how this fish was caught than where. My family and my wife's brother's family met at a local lake to hang out for the afternoon and cool off in the water. Their family brought a couple paddle boards. I often wondered what it would be like to fish from a paddle board, so took my spinning rod along and some Senkos. After we all exhausted the fun of swimming and just enjoying the sun and water I asked my BIL if he'd mind if I tried fishing from one of the paddle boards. He said go for it. My nephew and daughter (both 8yo) took one board and I took the other and we went searching for bass. I had rigged a single 5" Senko wacky style on a #1 finesse hook. Tried a couple of areas around docks and weeds to begin with, but the breeze was pushing me pretty well, so it was hard to stay in one spot long enough to let my Senko sink. Finally moved to a deeper more sheltered location along a lilly pad flotilla. First cast right along the lilly pads and no sooner did it hit bottom then I saw the slack line start to get picked up. I set the hook and it was fish on. I quickly realized it was a substantial fish and after it started peeling line I thought to myself, "What did I get myself into?!" The fish shot under the board, so I had to whip around to keep the line from fouling on the board itself and then the fish drug me into the lilly pads and right into my daughter and nephew on their board. Luckily the lilly pads slowed it down and the fact that I was using 30# braid with a 12# topshot allowed me to drag it and a dozen lilly pads back to the board. It was a healthy SM that easily topped 5# (~18" by my arm measurement) . A PB for me. I don't know who was more impressed me or my daughter and nephew! After it was safely returned to the depths (and explanations of why it was released given) I wondered how I ever managed to stay standing on the board during the episode, let alone land the thing. Very exhilarating. That was all we had time for and my Senko had been torn off the line anyway, so back to shore we went with our fish tale. Sorry, no pics as I didn't have my camera out there, but I did have witnesses!
If you want a rush, try bass fishing from a paddle board, but don't plan to take a lot of gear along. :)