This one's for you Washington!!

Tied for first of AOTY w/ EO wasn't quite what I was hoping for when I got my personal best perch. It sure did make things interesting for me. To have any chance of winning I had to at least upgrade one of my fish and being so late in the year it was a head scratcher of which fish to go for. I have gotten some decent smallmouth mid-winter so decided to give that a shot. Looking ahead at the schedule for the last week of Dec. I only had two days free to fish. The WX forecasts didn't line up and it was low pressure system after low pressure system. Not so good for smallie fishing. But you gotta take what you're handed so the night before my first day (Wed 29th) the forecast was 38º w/ wind and snow.

Got to the launch, unpacked and just as I was ready to push off it started snowing.

I was really happy I had my thermals, fleece dry suit liner, and fleece on top. Scraped and scratched against the wind and the drifts were too fast so I had to pedal into the wind to hover over spots while I drop shotted. Had some bites here and there but spent a lot of time searching just to find where they were. The wind continued to batter me and wind was gusted pretty hard. Glassed off in the evening and pushed it until I just had to throw in the towel w/ 8 hours of self punishment and who knows how many miles pedaling and paddling.

Forecast for today looked ok but dern right cold. 26º in the AM w/ winds to 10 mph topping out at 36º. Got to the ramp to smoke on the water and a frozen dock.



Hit my usual spots and only had some perch bugging my plastics. Moved and moved and was still having trouble trying to find them. Shot over to the other side of the lake where I usually don't fish to check it out and after 20 min. had no confidence in the spot so shot right back. FISH ON!! Picked up a small cutthroat right when I got back which I took as a good sign.

10 min. later the line got heavy. It felt like I could have snagged a log or bush but gave a hookset anyway. Was reeling and then finally headshakes! FISH ON! And it felt like a really good fish. I couldn't tell what it was and didn't want to get too happy too fast because this time of year I've been fooled picking up trout or squawfish. When the fish turned and zingged the reel it was a smallie for sure. When it came to color I was stoked because it looked to be a personal best for me. Got her on the trough and went 18.25" and somewhere around 4#. Definitely made my PB. Took a pic then back in the water where it whizzed back to the depths where hopefully he'll/she'll make more babies. I looked to the sky, screamed, hooted, hollered, had my moment, and paddled back home.

Z

Beauty smallie.  That pig is fat. 

Were you fishing structure or trolling open water?

That is a QUALITY Smallie any time of the year but for the end of December it is truly a trophy fish!  I bagged on AOTY this year but this heated end of year competition makes me think I might need to get back in the saddle in 2011

I would say 4lbs is about right! Awesome way to finish out 2010, and congratulations on a job well done!

Nice football! Great report Zee!

Way to leg it out.  Maybe I should go fishing tomorrow.  It's supposed to be a high of 23 degrees maybe the bass will be biting

Way to finish strong Bryce!  Talk about 4th and 10 with 2minutes on the clock.  That was a hail mary pass from the fish gods.  Glad your fingers weren't too frozen or icy to grip that football of a SMB.

Dang glad it wasn't me in that position again this year!!!!

Now we're down to 1min on the clock with EO and CBY behind by 4.  Will one of them be able to find some magic of their own....

-Spot-

hardcore!!

++hardcore  great pics, and awesome!

This goes to show you that it isnt over until the final second of the year. Congrats Zee!

Awesome bass Z.. It looks like it's about to explode! I wonder where EObasser and CBY are fishing at right now???  7 hours of day light left in 2010. Congrats!!!
Cheers!

Z -
You get my hardcore vote also. Congrats bro! We've got some fine fishers in this group.

6 hours to go.....attway Zee!!!!

Sweet fish Roy!

Way to fight to the finnish!

-Spot-

that's a nice fish Z. Way to pull it out in the end. You killed it this  week!!

Unless EO pulls a magic fishcicle out his arse, Let me be the first to congratulate you on a great AOTY. I gave it my best this week and upgraded a little today, but just a bit short...Good job man!