Had a few hours in the morning before a scheduled church picnic, so got up early and headed for Gissberg to see if I could hook into a big one. Arrived about 5:00 AM, lines in the water by 5:20, fishing the south shoreline. Overcast, not a breeze... lake a flat calm. Air temp at 54 degrees, water temp off the shoreline, a warm 66 degrees. Started off with fl. orange Power Eggs and 5' leader on one rig, chartreuse and 4' leader on the other. Five minutes in and rod tip goes down... began reeling in a 9 1/2" stocker, then the other rod tip starts dancing... reeled in a 10"'er... looks like an early limit... Not!!! Re-baited and five minutes later rod tip goes down hard. Bigger fish on, catapulted out of the water three times before bringing it close to the net... about 14"... then another spectacular leap and he threw the hook. Caught my third about 6:00... this one with some drama. Ospreys had been fishing all morning, with very little luck. One was using the tall Douglas Fir above me as his look-out perch. When the fish I had hooked came to the surface, the osprey made his dive, getting one talon into the side of my fish, but not able to grab it (pic clearly shows the wound). With that fish landed, the bite was off... had a couple of hits but no hook-ups the rest of the morning... left the lake about 10:00.
By 7:30 there were dozens of other fishermen, women and children on the shoreline. Brisk wind came up for a bit, then off-and-on rain showers until I left. Saw maybe six other fish caught, but all of them before 8:00.
A wonderful way to spend a morning, reflecting on the sacrifices our military men and women have made. Couldn't help but think of my father, a decorated WWII veteran who entered heaven on this date, three years ago. Happy Memorial Day!! PTL!

---