For the Week Ending Sunday, July 28, 2019

Monday, July 22 (from Ron)...Fished Ashville Bridge Creek, and the very high water was intimidating;  I never do well there with high water. The mercury was even higher than the water! But, there was a stiff breeze, and I didn't launch until 7 p.m., so the blazing sun was getting below treetops. Tried some plastics and spinnerbait but couldn't find a bite. Tied on a Pop Shad Z and caught a dink and a 1-3, followed by an hour's lull.  About 8:35, the sky darkened, and I saw some distant flashes of lightning, so decided to bug out. As I headed back to launch, made that one last cast adjacent to some cypress and got a little blow up on the Whopper Plopper. The fight that ensued was epic, a real drag-screamer, and ended with my happily landing a stout 20-inch, 4 lb. 8 oz. bass. Recovered before the maelstrom. As I drove away, the severe thunderstorm warning came over the radio.

Wednesday, July 24 (from Dave & Ken)...The day started extremely slow but improved hour by hour. At day's end, we had boated 22 keepers, plus another 15 to 20 (as Dave calls 'em) "nonreportables." We also each lost a few enroute to the boat. We fished three different locations today, none of which we plan to visit during Saturday's tournament. Caught some fish in all three spots. Considering the weather conditions around here for the past couple of weeks, today was a royal treat. I think Dave and I only required one bottle of water apiece today. If the predictions for Saturday hold together, we all should have another nice day to be on the water.

Wednesday, July 24 (from Ron)...Was nice to be out this evening with the cool temps. Fished Back Bay from 6 'til dark. Caught seven bass but nothing over 1-5. Bunch of dinks were taking the fluke, and had a couple on the Whopper Plopper. The gauge should drop a bit more, and I look forward to tomorrow.

Thursday, July 25 (from Skip)...Fished Godfrey's today. One fish was it for me. Also lost a couple more. I'm thinking Godfrey's might be done 'til fall, unless we get some really high water.

Thursday, July 25 (from Ron)...Gauge fell almost a foot, and as I predicted, the bite improved. Fished Milldam from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Started with the micro spinner and caught two each white perch, sunfish and crappie, as well as a dink and 1-9 bass. Shifted to a fluke and landed a bowfin and a couple more bass. Ended with a Whopper Plopper and caught a few more bass, for a grand total of two dinks, a 1-2, 1-8, 1-9, 2-0, 2-4, and a 2-8. Another perfect weather evening.

Friday, July 26 (from Ray)...Met up with my friend while at the marina a little earlier. Stopped long enough to find out how his day on the water had gone. Said he had found either three or four bass (don't really remember which), plus a sampling of panfish. Caught everything on a dropshot and a small spinnerbait.

Friday, July 26 (from Ron)...Fished upper North Landing from 7 to 8:30. Caught four dink bass, a 1-4, and a little bowfin. They were all that were biting, well, except for the bugs. Another nice evening, and the gauge has settled out at a nice level. Forgot my measuring board. U Vibe worms and Pop-R were on the menu.

Sunday, July 28 (from Ron)...Fished Milldam this morning from 7 to 10 o'clock. Caught seven bass, including three dinks near a pound, plus a 1-3, 1-7, 2-3, and a 2-9. They were in the grassy areas of side creeks, and the Zoom worm was the ticket. No luck with topwater or flukes.