Puddingstone 3/5

[Bendo]

I had my first epic session at Puddingstone in several years. Last year was lost to a persistent Algae Bloom that just seemed to kill the bite and I’m not into 2 fish days. Thursday started slow I was throwing Jigs at a Rocky Wall that leads into a nice Spawning Area, for not a touch. Generally, early in the day I like Sun soaked shorelines that get the first light, heating up the water a little more than the surrounding area. Didn’t work for me today. Nothing on the wall and nothing on the Spawning Flat. I was Trunking it in my Tube as I had left my bag with my Waders, Boots, and Fins in my buddy’s back seat at Canyon Lake last trip. I had been sick all night but got up and made it to the Lake, was able to get out on the water and even dump a nice Bass, deep in the trees, before I couldn’t go any longer. I couldn’t find a comfortable position or concentrate on fishing as my stomach churned and a blistering headache ensued. Rick was nice enough to realize I needed to go and he took me back to my Truck. In the mess I broke my favorite “Kill Stick” a Rod that had caught literally 5000 Bass on in its life since 1985. I hopped in my Truck, drove home and was sick as a dog for four more days. Fast forward to Thursday. The water wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be, I had my ”Loaner Fins” on and they are slower than my Force Fins. It takes about twice as many kicks to get where you want. So I kicked abound the Rocky Point to the Shady side, that was full of trees in the water to about 8 feet deep. It looked perfect for Flipping a Fluke and I switched over to a ZMan Streakz and a 4/0 Spearpoint EWG Hook. Those Spearpoints seem to hook about 20% more bites than my Gamakatsus can. On the third skip cast way back under the canopy, I got swirled on and the battle was on. She came up hot and dead branches broke on her first jump, I was back kicking hard to get her out away from the trees and grabbed my first Puddingstone Bass in two years. I took a picture and sent it to my buddy Ian, “ I’m on the Board!”. Getting back to business, another cast back into the mess. There was a nice channel thru there and my 5 inch floating Fluke thrashed the surface, making some rings and then it was gone. No swirl, no nothing. Well, my line was taking off for deep water, kind of like a Senko Bite, I wound down to tight line and set the hook. This Bass played the deep tuggle war and finally came up for a quick thumbing. Number Two! Quick picture and back to fishing. Then one after another until I ran out of trees in this area. I had 8 at this time. I had tried to call my buddy in but he said he was fishing a good area and declined. I kicked across the Cove to another tree filled area and it was on again. I had attracted some attention by then. When I took a moment to notice, I had a Bass Boat and three Kayakers watching me from a distance. The Sunny side of the Cove held all Males, and they weren’t quite as big, but they were aggressive and I was getting one on virtually every cast. No one had pulled up to my first area and I was looking forward to hitting it again after a nice rest. I was sitting on 16 Bass so far, it was 11 am. Wind was forecast to be fierce by 11 but it was flat calm. I was kicking back to the my first area as the Bass Boat and Kayakers descended on my last spot. Then my Phone rang. My buddy Ian had been Drop Shotting in the next Cove over and his Daughter had some emergency and we had to go right away. First thought was Damn! But I had been sick for a week and it was probably best if I didn’t overdo it. We kicked back to the get out spot. Ian had hooked and lost one, I told him of my adventure. His mouth hung wide open. Maybe next time I call him in, he will come. Either way I was happy.