22.April: Hey now, MikeV! Good call to keep the shad set-up handy in the car. They are showing up, and you're right, it's only going to get better with the mild temps.

cat_in_the_hat, good luck in your travels. Things are looking up all around.

I got out of work on time for a change, and arrived at Bissell about 4:20 pm. A small handful of regulars were taking casting practice as I set up. The water was clear, decent current, and only a little flotsam drifting by in the current. Surface temp was ~52º, maybe a hair more. The breeze was light, and out of the West, aiding and abetting casting distance.

Radio said they had good luck in the morning, he catching 3 or 4 himself. On my 3rd cast, I had a soft hit, and a couple of feeble head shakes. I figured a white or yellow perch, maybe a dinky bass. Until it put some back into it, and tugged hard. Fish on! It was far out, on the drop, and as the water got skinny it pulled out the stops, and ran off some line. I love the sound of the drag singing, and she made it sing a few times, 3 solid runs, and a couple of shorter ones as she tired. Radio netted her when I worked her in close enough. She was a nice fat roe, I'm guessing between 2.5#-3#. Radio is convinced she was over 3#. I'll never know, we didn't weigh her. She was slipped back into the drink after our Kodak™ moment.

About the time I landed and released the roe, a couple of other folx showed up with a kid, maybe 7 or 8 YO. One of the guys soon had a decent hookset that turned out to be a bronze-back. He let the kid reel it in for their own Kodak™ moment. The bass was only 8" or 9" long, but the kid's smile made it a lot bigger. And then it got quiet. About 6:15 pm another regular showed up, and hooked up a nice buck on his 3rd or 4th cast. About 6:30 pm I couldn't take the rumbly in my tumbly anymore, and headed home for supper.

The Surf-Nazis were not out in force today, only 2 showed up, and they had CT plates on their vehicles. They were considerate while launching, and motoring to and from the ramp. They played more than 1/2 way across the river. A tip of the CTF hat to them.

Much needed reel therapy this afternoon, with good company, and a couple of shad for good measure. I'll be back there again tomorrow after work.

Tackle:
Rod: one-piece Ugly Stik, 4'6" U/L Pro
Reel: Shimano Sahara FJ 1000, spooled with 15# Power Pro (Hi-Viz Yellow).

Terminal Tackle: 1/2 oz drail over a 4'+, 10# flouro leader, and a hammered silver willow leaf, in white with a red St. Andrew's cross.

Tight lines!