"Sure Was a Beautiful Sunset..."

That's how Ron characterized this photo at right. He took it as he was getting ready to wrap up last evening's fishing trip.

I was reading somewhere online the other day that no two sunsets ever are alike, and no one appreciates that idea more than me, as anyone who follows my blog likely already has figured out. I frequently use both sunrise and sunset photos with my posts when an opportunity such as the present one presents itself.

As Ron acknowledged, the sunset was probably the best part of the whole evening. "The bite just wasn't there," he explained.

Between 3:15 and 5:15, he only managed a small chain pickerel and the 1-10 humpback bass pictured above. "I had something slam my XTS Minnow, but then the line just went limp," he said. "As I was re-tying a new lure, the XTS popped back to the surface, so I was able to get it back from whatever toothy critter had cut me off."

Wednesday, Nov. 9th...A quick trip after work to Lake Smith this evening (from 3:45 to 4:40, since they close at 5 p.m.) had to do Ron. Two dink bass and an 8-inch crappie was the best he could muster during the abbreviated trip. "The bite always picks up right when I have to transit back to the launch site," he said. Productive lures this evening were the Whopper Plopper and a beetlespin.

Since Oct. 1, Ron only has missed two days, and his last skunk occurred at Sandbridge Pier while trying to catch drum. "Can't complain," he noted.

My friend now is looking forward to a long morning Friday in a creek somewhere. "Haven't been to Pocaty in more than a year," he said. "May do a long trip there or perhaps to Alton's. The weather should be good."

Thursday, Nov. 10th...Ron fished Tecumseh from 3 to 5:20 p.m. today because of the low water everywhere else. He managed to boat a 2-4 on the Whopper Plopper, but the real story of the day was the huge crappie that got away.

"The biggest crappie I've ever seen" is how he described it. "Just as I was trying to grab hold," he said, "the monster, easily 16 inches plus, broke my heart."

Ron said the bite didn't start until just after the sun had dipped below the tree line. In conclusion, he noted that it was a bit chilly as the sun set this evening... and that, as always, he's looking forward to tomorrow.