Fellow writer Bob Johansen and I set out on a beautiful day to have ourselves a mini derby to see who could catch the most and the biggest bass of the day on two different lakes, Spencer and Phillips. Since the lakes lie right next to each other it's hard not to fish both lakes on the same day. We hit Spencer about 7:45 with Bob in his bass boat and me in my little aluminum boat and off we went. By 11:00 or so we counted up the score and headed for Phillips lake. Bob was in in the lead with 6 fish but his biggest was only 11 inches. I had 2 fish but my biggest was a nice 2 pounder that was 17 1/2 inches long. It was a bit skinny but hey, 2 pounds is 2 pounds. At Phillips lake the ramp was so rough I almost knocked my gas motor off the transome on one pot hole. That ramp just has to be fixed. If you have small tires on your trailer, use the bank next to the ramp. Anyway we finally got both boats into the water and headed for the far end of the lake. once there I discovered I was taking on water from the back of the boat and taking in on fast. I fired the motor back up and made a swing by Bob on the othe side of the lake and just barely made it back to the ramp without sinking. After bailing the boat out I quick like a bunny loaded it up on the traailer just find out the tongue of the trailer was bent. That is how bad the ramp is. We both ended up loading our boats, not from the ramp but from the beach next to the ramp. the shore is hard and actually has a better slope that the ramp. I have a GMC Jimmy, looks like a Bronco or Blazer, which has 4 wheel drive but I didn't use it. Bob's bigger boat came right out with his little Toyota truck no problemo. So that ended the the derby. Bob 6, me 2 but I had the big fish of the day.

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