From "Tough" to "Frustrating" in Two Days

That's how my friend, Jim Bauer, summed up yesterday and today on Lake Gaston. The 2-lb. bass in this photo, which he caught yesterday, was his best fish of the past two days. Yesterday's totals also included a 1-3 and a dink.

Today, he caught a 1-1 and a dink.

Jim still is shaking his head over all the missed strikes in the last two days, along with the many times he had fish on, only to have them come unbuttoned en route to the boat--sometimes right at the boat. It's happened so many times that he's beginning to think, in his own words, "someone must have put a hex on me."

This whole trip has been absent any topwater bite whatsoever, which has only added to his frustration level. By and large, his only productive lures have been a French fry and craw.

Today on Gaston started chilly but warmed up close to 80. "It was breezy, too," said Jim, adding, "we're in for hot weather the next two days and high winds tomorrow. There's a chance of rain and storms, as well"--not exactly the kind of weather he was hoping for on the day he has to pull his boat out of the water and start cleaning it up before the trip home on Friday.

In closing out today's report, Jim offered this apology of sorts, "Sorry I didn't have any exciting fish takes, but that's how it goes with fishing. Maybe tomorrow."

Here's wishing you a banner day, my friend.