The latest flashback via an excerpt from the original report posted on March 31, 2005.

Upon catching a fish, I wanted to brag as well as let Dad know that I’d found something the bass seemed willing to hit. However, he was a couple hundred yards across the lake as we had headed in opposite directions upon arriving. With the wind screaming, there was no way to give him a yell but I did have my cell phone in my pocket. Upon dialing what I thought was the number, I got no answer and put the phone back in my pocket. The entire time from when I caught the fish through making my call, Dad had been in the timber with his back turned and had no idea I was trying to get his attention. I thought he had got a lure snagged in a tree or something but such was not the case. No sooner had I put my phone back than it produced one of those annoying tunes indicating an incoming call. It was Dad, who had been trying to read the display on his phone the entire time he’d had his back turned. A combination of glare and no glasses had made the task a bit more complicated but he got through. I relayed my info and in a matter of minutes he was on my side of the lake and casting a Rat-L-Trap. As it turned out, I had called Mom’s cell phone anyway as I didn’t realize that Mom and Dad now have their own phones. Nevertheless, a first, cellular communication to share the day’s fishing tips.

Dad 1-14 on a Rat-L-Trap

Turns out my generosity cost me Top Bass. A few minutes after Dad arrived on “my side” of the lake he caught a 1-15 and later reeled in a 1-14 to push me to third place on the list for 2005. I did manage to catch three more bass but the best of the bunch was a 1-5. We headed for a pothole that I think is called Axle Lake after wearing out our welcome on Hopper. I had one good strike on a jig but missed and Dad ended up donating his jig to a tree before we decided to call it quits. The stop at the last lake was essentially exploring, as we weren’t sure if the lake even had a bass population. Final results for our day were nine bass with eight coming on lipless crankbaits in a brown crawfish pattern and one on a jig (black/blue). Three additions to the record book was also a pleasant surprise and Dad’s 1-15 established a new lake record for Hopper Lake besting Tim’s 1-10 caught on 3/10/04.

Dad 1-15 on a Rat-L-Trap

Short and sweet on the outro as lots of blogging and more going on these days. Talk to you later (and soon). Troy