As February nears its end, another year of “Friday Flashback” begins. 2020 marks the third year of revisiting some old outdoor adventures. Since kicking off the series back on March 16, 2018, its 80 posts and counting as I do some reminiscing. The concept is to go back 5, 10, 15, 20…35 years or more with a pic from the archives and tell the tale with words, additional pics and/or assorted memorabilia (even had a new wrinkle with a guest blogger last year).

So, here we go again…

Date: February 21, 1995
Weight: 3-14
Angler: Brent Jackson
Location: Emstrom’s Pond
Lure: Jig & Pig
Structure: Beaver Lodge

Not the Emstrom’s Beaver Lodge but a similar setup from the strip mines

The flashbacks for 2020 kick off with a step back in time to 25 years ago and my brother, Brent, with a catch from a spot we called “Emstrom’s Pond.” Both the angler and the pond have been featured here before and will be again. So, I’ll just sum up those aspects by saying that both the fisherman and the fishing hole are top notch and leave further details on each for another time.

“Another time” also pertains to this catch in the fact that we were not long into our efforts to take advantage of some early season, ice out, cold water angling. Most years through the 80s and into the 90s we didn’t get the poles out until April. One could have categorized us as “fair weather fishermen” although factors such as school and baseball also played a role during that time period.

In the years since this catch, we have learned to get the gear out early in the year and keep on casting until open water disappears late in the year. Looks good on paper but other factors such as responsibilities can still make us fair weather fishermen these days despite our best intentions.

Today’s catch is a thumbs up for the jig & pig in late winter/early spring

Today’s fish would be the first entry into the record book for 1995 and would wind up as our fifth largest bass of that year. Of course, those other bass are tales for another “Friday Flashback” post, as is the bass pictured below. It was caught in 1992 by the same guy on nearly the same day on the same pond with the same lure while sporting the same (but less faded) hat. I guess you’ll have to wait for the 2022 version of the series for the scoop on that catch.

Talk to you later. Troy