I makd two trips to Clear Lake (Skagit) last week. Some of us can not give up on catching bass in the winter - I am one of them.

12/23 - no fish caught - spent 3 hrs watching the electronics looking for deep water structure.
12/26 - First cast with new christmas reel - fish on! This was my first ever drop shot fish. I was using a white sniper bolt, #4 Gama d/s hook, 10lb mono w/ 8lb flouro leader, 3/8 weight about 16" below the bait. The fish came off an isolated group of piling in 25' of water. Water temp 39.5 degrees. I thought this fish was a goner. As I brought it to the boat it was almost lifeless, I un-hooked it while still in the water and tried to release. Thinking it was dead, I lipped it and brought it into the boat, it gave one tail wag as i got my hand into it's mouth. I went a head and photo & weighed it and tried to release again. As i was was trying to release it, it rolled over (mouth open) a couple of times. I placed one hand under the belly and the other under the head and gave a little belly rub and it finiall took off back to the bottom. Whew! I was worried for a bit on this one. No fizzing or foaming just a very cold and stiff fish. Weighed 3.9lbs on my new digital scale.

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