Defeated

The match is over and the verdict is in - I came in deal last.  I also came in second I suppose.  That's not so bad, right?  No, it was bad.  Todd pulled in way more bass than I did.  He is officially the spinnerbaiter master.  That SOB was throwing SOB spinnerbaits into tiny holes and pockets (quite deftly I might add) and was whacking 'em.  I started out strong on the first day, using a Chatterbait and a Swim Jig, but lost my mojo by Friday night. 

If the pike counted in our little contest, I would have had the heaviest bag for sure.  Those dang bait robbers were following everything we were throwing.  We must have landed 5 or 6 of those carnivorous torpedoes. A northern pike’s brain is 1/1305 of its body weight, btw.  It feels hungry and it eats - whatever is close by and moving. One wrecked a prized Honeybuzz that had been rigged on the same rod for over 2 years.  It very well may be the single most fish-catching bait in my entire collection.  I was able to bend it back with the pliers, but it's not straight and will never run like it once did.  Same thing happened to one of Todd's SOBs.  Although, I will admit, there was one hit, on a Dahlberg Diving Frog (Thank you for that surprise Buddy!) that was so spectacular it left me pumped with adrenaline for the next 20 minutes. But Largemouth was what we were after dang it!  And the largemouth were doing a good job of not being caught.  Well, at least by me. 

All-in-all, it was another total great trip.  There's not much better than a few days of nothin' but fishing; except nothin' but fishing with a friend like Todd.  The SV-3 also made it's first voyage rigged up with electronics!  The Mrs. gave me an early birthday gift - a spankin' new Humminbird sonar. What an unbelievable fishing tool that is.  (Thank you, Thank you Baby! That sonar is awe-some.)  I already began scouting next year's destination lake.  It's been a few years now, so I think it's time to change things up a little.
  

So bask in the glory of this year's win, my friend.  It was hard earned, and won't happen again next year. Congrats!