Sunday evening I got the call. Norton (Keith Sebelius) lake in Norton Kansas. Norton!?!? Ouch, I haven't been on that lake in over 10 years. No sweat, I started my research and preparation. I found the water to be very low, but I figured I could find a creek bite as there are 2 creeks that would still have enough water, along with the river (where the tournament 3 weeks prior was won - although at 2 feet higher water). I looked over my lake map, Google Earth and other Satellite imagery over several years. I had a plan.
Friday: I arrived at the lake, prepped the boat and launched at safe light. I took a stroll (slow drive) around the lake to acclimate myself with the low water. Once I felt comfortable, I went to my first creek. I immediately caught a short and then got broke off on a big top-water strike. I ventured further back and caught 2 shorts and then back to back keepers flipping a tube. Great, my plan was coming together. I left the creek and started making my way up the river. Keeper here, keeper there, found a solid pattern of keepers on transition spots of channel swings. I spent the remainder of the day visiting other spots that were similar. I caught a few and shook off a few. I had a plan, this is the GOOD!
Saturday: Ever have a day that spirals down hill fast? I drew a late launch position, but hey, no big deal. I ran to my starting point, hopeful I could get into the creek. I was the first in. I immediately started catching fish. Short, short, short, short, you get the picture. Now the BAD, I started hearing a thump, thump every time I hit the trolling motor. A little panic crept in, could my motor be going out? I lifted it up to find my transducer broke clean off. The thump was the prop blade hitting the transducer. Fortunately, I have electrical tape in the boat. I taped the transducer to the shaft and proceeded on. I stayed in the creek, expecting the fish to cooperate. I expected that the fish must have been pressured heavily the day before. I'm sure many others fished it as well, but I figured if I slowed down and was deliberate, it would pay off. I caught plenty of 13 - 14 7/8 inch fish, but no keepers. Getting late, I figured I could resort to the channel swings. I ran spot to spot and found short after short, even a huge Wiper (they don't count). I eventually managed 1 keeper. I decided to run back to the lower end and finish on a spot that held fish in shallow weeds on a point. I found fish breaking on shad in a foot of water, I started catching them. Short, short, then I saw bigger fish up shallower. I moved closer and I missed a huge strike. The wind was now blowing me past, so I tried to turn to get back in position. No deal. The wind pushed me up on a shallow root wad. I tried and tried but eventually I had to get in the water (the UGLY) It took me 30 minutes or so, but I finally managed to clear the root wad. I had 20 minutes left. I ran back to the weigh-in and fished until time. No more keepers.
Hind sight: In retrospect, I failed to adjust to the conditions. Yes, the fishing was tough and the weights low. However, others found a few keepers on the shallow flats away from the deeper swings. The overcast skies allowed the fish to move way up on the flats (despite the lower water) and I failed to recognize that. Congratulations go out to the fellas that figured it out.
We all have bad days, and this was mine. I just hope I got it out of the way. I don't like struggling to adjust. I don't mind getting beat, but I do mind failing to execute. All you can control is how you react to the situation you find yourself in. In the end, you keep your head up, congratulate the others and move on. So I'll log my lessons learned and prep for the next one.
Redemption: I had a chance the following day to get back on Harlan. I didn't fish long, maybe two hours and caught a couple nice ones. That always helps.Until the next time, good fishing and God Bless!
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