Fishing solo, I launched my small boat onto Horseshoe Lake - Not so much because its such a great bass lake but because it is close by. Only one person in the access area as I launched and she was bobber & worming for bluegill from the shoreline. The weather was slightly overcast with popcorn clouds with some light breeze on the lake. Fishing was tough but I did manage to catch a few smaller fish. Also saw a racoon eying a duck from the shoreline and got a long range shot with my camera. I think that old coon was thinking of a duck breakfast. Also saw a family of mallards, consisting of the drake, the hen and 2 half grown young ducks. That brood probably started with at least 8 or 10 baby ducks. The rest of the brood probably wound up as dinner for the many large bass that live in Horseshoe Lake. I also caught a little bluegill on a floating Rapala, size 11. Actually, I snagged the poor little fellow. He did strike at the lure but when I struck back I accidentally snagged him. He was subjected to the indignity of having his photo taken and then gently released. By the time I was quitting there was a troop of boy-scouts at the access getting ready for canoe training. I talked with the instructor and he said he had never heard of sitting in the front seat and canoeing backward when fishing solo. The center of gravity is greatly improved from sitting solo in the rear seat. He said he would pass the information on to the scouts. I probably used that technique for nearly 30 years. Overall, it was a nice morning to be on the lake.

---