Took out 10 year old neighbor Alex again today. The weather forecast said cloud and rain all day but it was almost 50% blue sky with only the occasional sprinkle. We decided on Wildcat lake because he had never fished there and wanted something new.

As usual there were about half a dozen people fishing from the beach and having decent success. Alex had been to a garage sale earlier in the day and wanted to try a new Platinum Sparkle Gulp nibble on an olive Wooly Bugger. Too big I thought and that turned out to be the case, but he did have some success. Luckily I was able to talk him out of a large-ish Red Devil with a big treble hook! Pink Gulp fake maggots on a black Wooly Bugger did the trick for me.

We had regular hits by the stocker-sized plants-of-the-year. I didn't play mine hard and most got off before they reached the boat. The others I let off using pliers to grab the hook, never touching them with anything. Alex wanted to keep his and managed to get 4 into the boat. His 3rd, had second thoughts though and flopped back out of the boat, much to Alex's shagrin. We got rained on a little, 2 or 3 times but never enough to get off the water.

We salvaged a fishing day out of a weekend that was supposed to be a bust, thanks to Alex's enthusiasm, and for that I'm grateful. I think though, that the next time will have to be alone for bass. Eleven to 12" rainbow trout just aren't doing it for me these days. Plus I have several vacuum sealed in the freezer and a decent smoked stock.