Started early this morning, and thank goodness for it. Ran into some small ones with a 1/2 oz. redeye shad to get things rolling and was feeling some slight optimism. Then I went all the way down the 70 bank without a bite both deep and shallow. That put things back in perspective. On some very good places I just sat on with a DT-6, 10 and 16, a Carolina rig, a worm and a 3/4 oz. jackhammer, casting it out and letting it sink to the bottom and pulling it slowly up the drop off. Nothing. Finally, I stumbled onto another small one with the redeye. Tried one more good spot and then quit. I did see something this morning to foster a little optimism. When I launched there were a good many 3 to 4 inch bass swimming around harassing the little minnows in the shallows. Until they grow up I’ve got to figure where I’m going to go fishing.

Hal had an interesting morning on Arkabutla. When he arrived at the landing there was a line of boats, trollers for crappie , waiting in line. Not wanting to wait for that mess to unravel, he headed for another landing 15 minutes away. On the way, he had to stomp the brakes to avoid hitting a deer but the deer’s pal ran into his boat. We all hate the unpleasantness of hitting an animal, so after stopping and looking without leaving the vehicle, he continued to the landing. When he launched, he found a reel handle in his boat from his worm rig. None of the other six rods on the deck were hurt. On the way home he stopped by the scene and found the remnants of his rod and reel.