For the Week Ending Sunday, May 19, 2019

Monday, May 13 (from Ron, in Nawney's Creek)...Fished from 5 p.m. 'till dark. Water was flowing out at a good clip in the cool north wind, but it didn't seem to help. Got saved from the skunk with a pole-bending, drag-screaming, 7-pound bowfin. Also caught one dink white perch that barely put up a fight.

Tuesday, May 14 (from Dave & Ken in various locations)...With another tournament in the offing this coming Saturday, we decided to go on another scouting expedition. Can't say the results measured up to last week's standard, but we did catch fish (as evidenced by the accompanying photo of Dave holding up one of the largemouths he boated today), and that, after all, was our goal in the first place. At least now, we know what our options are and will finalize our plans come Saturday, after we get a look at all the conditions that greet us. The weather folks certainly had today pegged correctly; there were several tiny showers that lasted, at most, five minutes. Our bigger concern was those occasions when the wind would shift and start "blowing cold." We both appreciated the fact we had left home this morning with our jackets in tow.

Tuesday, May 14 (from Ron in Milldam)...Fished from 6 to 8 o'clock tonight, and the bite was very good. Was chasing panfish for the first hour, with way too many white perch in the 8-to-10-inch range. Surprisingly, caught two yellows perch at 10.5 and 12 inches. Got a couple crappie to 10 inches. Bass were hitting the SwimSenko; caught five at 1-1, 1-3, 1-7, 1-11, and 1-15. The bites were very subtle. At first, I thought they were nibbling panfish. Had to wait what seemed like forever before the line would move. Lost several as a result.

Thursday, May 16 (from Skip)...First, I received a text from Skip this morning, telling me how much he hates "bluebird" days. A little later, I received another text from him, showing off the 3-pounder (pictured at left) he just had boated. And finally, I got yet another text, explaining that he caught his first fish at 10:45, and then, between 1:05 and 2:30, he boated a total of six fish. Not sure if these numbers have changed Skip's opinion about "bluebird" days, but I certainly got the feeling he was more than a little satisfied with the day overall.


Friday, May 17 (from Ray in Albright's)...Spoke briefly with me after he had come off the water today. Said he used a drop-shot rig to elicit two strikes and land two bass. Couldn't get a strike on anything else. As I told him, at least he batted a thousand for the day and, most importantly, dodged a skunk.