DAUGHTERS, BIG BASS, PICTURES, AND STORMS

"Dad, I've never caught a big fish.  I want a picture of me with a big fish," my 22 year old daughter announced during the Christmas holiday season.  I told her I would give it a shot, but I didn't have some sure-fire way to catch a big fish in mid winter in North Arkansas (I knew she wanted it to be a short, easy fishing trip).  I pondered the challenge a few days, and settled on bass fishing at Swepco Lake near Gentry, Arkansas as our best shot.  Swepco is our closest "hot lake"- water from the lake is used to cool the coal-fired electric generators that produce electricity.  The lake remains relatively warm during cold winter months and has a good population of above-average largemouth bass.

My son was home from Los Angeles on a holiday break from Dental School and so the three of us struck out on a rainy, unusually warm late December afternoon for a few hours of bass fishing.  We sat in the parking lot in my old Suburban for at least an hour listening to the Razorbacks play Minnesota in the Music City Bowl, while we waited for the lightning and the rain to let up some.  The Hogs weren't doing so well, so at the first break in the storm, I launched my bass boat.  We were the only hearty souls out that afternoon.

Light rain fell on and off during our brief 2 hours of trying to entice a big bass with our little baits.  We were fishing with 6 lb. Maxima line on 6 1/2 foot All Star Medium Action Spinning Rods using 1/8 oz. PJ’S Watermelon Seed Worm Heads with open hooks attached to 7 ½ inch Zoom Green Pumpkin Worms.  Our technique was to let the bait free fall until it hit the bottom, then pump it and drag it, watching our line for a strike.  After about an hour, our concentration was interrupted by a huge dead oak tree splashing into the lake fifty yards from us. 

After we recovered from the scare, we realized that this was not a lightning strike, but just a dead oak tree sliding down an eroded bank into the water.  We all thanked the Good Lord that we weren't underneath it and we kept fishing. We caught several bass in the 2-3 pound range, but just as it was getting dark and the rain was starting to seep through the seams of our rainsuits the big fish "turned on".  All three of us landed at least one bass in the 4-5 pound class and sure enough Jordan caught two good ones.  The largest was a hefty five pounder.  The flash worked on my disposable camera and she got her picture.  We loaded the boat up in a hurry as the rain, wind and darkness descended on Swepco Lake.  I felt blessed that we got to make a memory together and we headed home for dry clothes and a hot meal.  Sometimes it all works out like you hope it will.

Jim Hall

January, 2003 

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