Starting the day with a Smallie

I wasn't planning on it but I had the chance to stop by Coulon Park on the way to work this morning after dropping someone off at the airport.
It was overcast and cool and about 6:40 AM by the time I got there. Given that I only had about 30 minutes before going to work, I got started quickly.

I was eager to try the new Rapala minnow rap and after the first cast realized its castibility is lacking IMHO compared to the DTs or Xraps. That's a big minus, Rapala!!!

Time to switch to the trusty drop shot. I toss the first cast out from the benches toward the closest boat parking dock and felt a number of mini nibbles on the descent. Darn, small fish!

Another cast parallel to the dock resulted in a missed strike.

Then, I pitched it out and intentionally made the drop-shot weight smack the wooden wall just above the water's surface and on the descent, I felt the take and the fight was on!! It was a smallie for sure and it fought really hard for its size. He kept my rod bent in a nice arch and made a number of runs before I pulled him up.

One lady walking by was kind enough to snap a picture of the bass and me.

I only caught one small fish in that thirty-minute span of time, but I must say that it was a great way to start the day.


Location: Lake Washington, Coulon Park.
Conditions Overcast, Cool
Gear: 6’6”Rapala Spinning reel (Crappiest rod in the arsenal) mated to a Rapala 6Sxi (awesome reel)
Line: 6# Seaguar Invuzx Fluorocarbon
Lure: 4" coffee colored tiki stick
Attractant: CB's Hawgsauce (garlic spray)
Other: 6’6” Clarus/Curado D (for minnow rap

---