I made the first cast this morning in the private hole with a Cripple Killer topwater bait. The bait had gone about 10 feet before there was a blasting strike. I was afraid that I was going to be a victim of the “catch one on the first cast” Hoo Doo. I was. The fish was a grinner.

I hoped maybe a Grinner Hoo Doo would be on and I’d see no more of them .  Continuing down the bank, it was quite a while before a bass hit and that one missed. Finally I caught a couple on top but not before some more misses. It was so much fun fishing on top I kept on even though probably more fish could been caught with other baits. Finally I put on a DT-6 and quickly the 4-10 FOD showed up. It made a pretty picture.

I kept alternating baits using the Cripple Killer when there was cover (logs) and using the DT-6 on the bare banks. The CK caught one by a leaning log stuck in the bottom in 20 feet of water. It was 4-6 and it caught another 4-6 not too far away right off of a little bush on the bank. That fish, as it came to the boat, had another about the same size trying to take the bait out of its mouth. Two four pounders fighting over your bait gets things kind of exciting. I caught two more good fish about 3 3/4 each. Both were caught on a Strike King Series 5 XD. One was caught dredging the bottom in 14 feet of water and the other was caught when I saw some bass knocking bream up on the bank on the other side of the hole. I put the trolling motor on high and took off and made a cast out the back of the boat to troll on the way across. The bait came off a shelf and into open water and then went across a secret sunken tree. At first I thought it was hung up but when it pulled back it was game on. I went back and tried the same thing and had another bite but this time it was about a 5 pound flathead catfish. Later in the morning the bite had evaporated so I broke out a swim jig that Hal and Richard have been having such good luck on at Beaverdam. No luck so out came a shakey head. Got a bite, set the hook, and up comes another grinner. I got out my cut off hoe handle and went to work on his head so I could get the hook out without a hassle. This is how I like to leave a grinner.

Final count was 13 bass, 2 catfish, and 2 grinners. Best 5 bass weighed 20-13.  Next I left to do what I came to accomplish and that was find a good place to bow hunt. I found three good places with acorns, honey locust beans and plenty of tracks.