Fishing By the Light of the Moon.

And Venus.

It's the Little Things That Count

The day is in the 60's but with a cool edge to it, especially on the breezy lake.

Red bud is popping out all over, a sign that spring is ready to pop, too. Weather report says mid to high 70's ever day next week.

On the west side bluegill are flipping out of the water. That's good to see. They're going after a hatch of midges that drift in the air like dandelion fluff.

Some decide a fat stimulator is worth chasing as well.

I kick for the dam trailing a bead head leech. I get some yanks.

I work the dam with the leech and get a couple hookups that come undone. I think they're bass, but they might be crappie.

Then I catch a little bass. Maybe those others were bass. Or maybe crappie.

I cross in front of the spillway and cover the last stretch of shoreline before the take out. That's where I caught my lunker bass. I get another couple of hook ups that come undone. Then, just before I reach the ramp, I get a big yank that bends the rod double. I'm thinking big bass, but then pull this thing in.

I'm not certain what it is so I look it up. I find some photos of identical fish taken at Lake Monroe. They're labelled striped bass and they're just this size. I didn't know striped bass came in this size, but I'm happy to catch a new species at Yellowwood.

The lake is waking up, and I enjoyed breaking the skunk. The best part of the evening, though, was breaking in a brand new pair of waders. For the first time in months I was completely dry on the drive home. It's the little things that count.

Keep On Trying

Sebastian and I take another chance to go fishing. This time we go to Yellowwood. We're optimistic: we have beemoths this time! We hike up the dam and come up on a beautiful view--and a stiff chilly breeze blowing right in our faces.

That's disappointing. Every time I've been there this spring the wind was out of the south, but now it's out of the north. It keeps blowing the bobber back into the weeds. We stick with it for awhile then give up and head for the trail.

Sebastian is off like a shot.

I lag behind looking for wildflowers.

We hike back out and decide to go down to the spillway. It's one of his favorite places.

The sound of rushing water goes well with the early spring day.

Many rocks are thrown. Sebastian has recently learned about skipping rocks. I limber up and get a nice flat piece of shale to skip five times. I think he's impressed.

Many dandelion boats are launched, some for the pleasure of seeing them sail away and some to be used as targets.

Before we know it, it's way past time to go get some lunch.

After lunch we have one more thing on our agenda: hit the park.

He keeps me busy for awhile, then makes friends with another kid and runs around with him until it's time to go.

I'm trying to steer him to the truck when he looks over at a climbing tower and says "I want to try again to get to the top." He had tried earlier and given up. Too "slippery."

Now he grabs on and goes. No stopping and thinking about it too long this time. Before you know it he's way up there.

He's been having fun all along but this really makes his day.

Nice going, kid!