I havent wrote any reports on Meridian on my last few outings. Honestly, because there really wasn't much to write about. Sure I caught fish, but they were nothing of size. 13" or less mainly. Just couldnt find the big ones. Best was a 16" LMB at 2lb 8oz a couple of weeks ago. Also, I had trouble finding the SMB. I could find the dinks all under 10", but that's it.

After work, I figure I had about 3 hrs of fishing. Turns out, only 2.5 hrs.

Anyways, get on the water and work my usual area. I wanted to try something a little different. I bought 2 new spinnerbaits early this year to try them out. I haven't had a single bite on any of them. I put them in the tacklebox and haven't touched it since.

I figure, might as well tie on a spinnerbait. I also have never used my tubes , so I tied one of those on. 3rd rod, I went with plastics

I spent too much time working this area. I wasted about 1.5 hr working it very throughly with my gear with not even a bite. As I was getting ready to get away from this area, I did manage to catch my first fish on the tube. It was a little 8" SMB. I let it shake off on boat side.

This area is not producing. So I decided to putt down the lake to a different area that I remember I lost a decent SMB on a couple of weeks ago. As I get near the general area. I start off with the spinnerbait. 1 spin of the handle and it feels like I have a fish on! Since I'm a noob with a spinnerbait, it felt like a HUGE fish. I was having a hard time pulling the fish. At first I thought maybe it was because of the blades of the spinnerbait making it feel heavy. That's when I realized the weeds are kinda high in the area. So the fish was kinda caught up in the weedy area. I get fish to boat side and lip it.

Snap a quick pic and weigh. My very first spinnerbait fish. 15" 1lb 12oz.


I work the spinnerbait around some more. Alternate with my other setups. I get to this area that I always assume would hold a fish, but never had much luck. Always little fish nibbling. I threw my plastics first and didn't feel anything. I then threw the spinnerbait a few times. All of a sudden, I felt the spinnerbait tug..... Oh wow, this is definately a big fish since I knew there were no weeds in that area. I get fish to boat side and see it. Yep, definately need the net. In the net it goes. Snap a pic, and weigh. Released to hopefully catch another day.

19" 4lb 1oz. Fatty. My biggest fish in a couple of months. Felt awesome. I threw a few more casts, but daylight is fading quick. I had to head in. The bite was just heating up. Too bad.

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