Had a few hours to kill this AM so decided to hit the Practice Pond. I call it that because it was the first place I took my first float tube - to practice. Last year I caught nothing but 1 pound dinks in here but I had a feeling today would be better.

Hit the water about 7:30am and didn't get a single bite for an hour. I was throwing watermelon Zero worms (weightless), buzzbaits (white), and spinnerbaits (firetiger, silver Colorado blade) and got nothing. Finally about 9am the bite picked up and I pulled two bass out of the weeds, each just over a pound. Caught them on the Zero worms. More dinks, I figured, just like last year.

Moved in close to the bank and tossed right under a little overhanging branch. By the time the Zero hit bottom the line was sneaking out toward the middle of the pond. I set the hook and my drag started screaming - this was no dink! Fought it for a good minute before it broke water right in front of me and tail-walked back towards to the bank. Got it landed and it tipped the scales at 3 pounds 2 ounces - easily the biggest fish I've caught in this place. I released her and watched her slowly swim back to her hidey-hole under the branches.

Caught 7 in all, with two just over 2 pounds (which was better than last year) and few more 1 pounders. I ran out of Zero worms and switched over to red shad 4" Senkos to catch the last 3 fish of the day. Gotta stock up on those Zeros - I like them a lot.

Good morning at the Practice Pond so I might hit it again this week.

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