After reading Trent's success story on Long Lake, I had to give it try. Fishing solo, I launched the old Bass Tracker onto Long Lake about 7:00 AM. Weather was sunny with no wind -- lake was flat as a mirror. Fishing conditions were perfect except for the thick aquatic weeds everywhere. I started fishing on the North West side and fished back to the boat launch area. I was tossing a jig, a 10 inch worm that Trent had given me, and a frog into the sweet water weed where I had seen some fish action and even a Rapala in some areas where the weeds were not so thick. Finally after about a thousand casts, I cast the 10 inch worm up into an area I had never fished before (secret spot for now) and the battle was on. The big fish fought very well considering she was probably post spawn. She looked huge in the water and I was sure she was at least 6 pounds. I finally lip landed her and put her into the livewell of fresh water. I readied my scale and tape measure and was a little disappointed that she was only 5 pounds 6 ounces. She was a big fish though and measured 22 1/4 inches. Probably would have been 6 pounds prespawn. She was also a tagged fish and I wanted to get the number without removing the tag. The tag was covered with a lot of moss and it took a few minutes to scrape the moss off with a finger nail. The big bass was amazingly patient while I was doing this. I left her in the water so she could work her gills during the entire procedure. I wrote down the number and will check with the WDFW as to her stats when she was tagged. I found a photographer that took a photo for me and she was released (tag intact) at the same spot where she was hooked. The big 10 inch worm was rigged with a 2/0 Tru-Turn hook and a 1/8 ounce bullet sinker. I know this report pales in the shadow of Trent's report but any day I put a 5 pounder in the boat is a good day for me. Thanks for the big worm Trent! PS. I have no explanation for the quality of the photo.

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