Photographer Todd after a long string of no bookings lands two stripers. Capt. found out what fish actually look like on the fishfinder, jigging a hopkins spoon was successful again.

Another trip on the 'Rock n Real' was full of whining till this striper close enff to 6 lbs. took the bait.

Many hours on the lake this day only to find this lonely striper. Saw some birds dropped some bait, but this bass was caught on a jigging a hopkins.

Wind was blowing a bit today, an approaching storm and no luck out in the great wide, windy open, sent this crew back to the ole hole. The superstitious capt. had to fight off some banana like comments from the crew and ordered the lines a few feet deeper. Low and behold the capt. beat the curse and the over confident crew fulfilled their boasting by reeling up two nice stripers. One of these bass is going to make a mom in-law a nice dinner.

Into the great wide open...

Into the great wide open our charter goes today. Is the lake is full of these fine striper creatures, or is the capt. just really good? Both fish were caught on free lines. Charter business is heating up...

Mr. Tebo booked a search and recovery charter this am to locate his lost cell phone on one of the islands up north. The capt. obliged but said we must fish 1st, after landing 5 stripers successfully, we also recovered his phone. This creme filled charter was delicious!

This morning we tried a new spot. Started off great with this bass, but he apparently had no friends.

A father son doubler header striper landing. Mr. Dino with another fine striper, although he would have been smiling for a pic twice if the new mate had proper training in tying a knot...

Capt. Dad is town hoping to show the kids how to fish. Apparently he knows what he's talking about. Although he would have had another striper if his mate skills were up to par in the knot and/or line dept.

Well Mr. Dino has been getting a little tired of the early am charters, so it didnt take much coercing to get him on an early evening beer-throw-out-a-line cruise. Before we could finish our 1st, both poles bent over. We juggled the poles to land the fish and pic, beer sure tastes better after a doubleheader.

Pretty warm this am, low pressure moving in, couple fiesty largies, Mr. dino's ran his head right into Mr. Dick's ole pontoon. Came back around and pulled yet another striper from underneath the pontoon. Mrs. Pam, claims she's gonna start charging us for these fine catches...

Well folks it certainly has been quite a while. This capt. generally puts down the fishing rods and picks up the coozies in the summer time. Now that the weather has finally started to turn charters have started to book. Cuz Dino has been hearing and seeing all about the mighty striper and finally he had his chance. Now if that aint one of those sh#@t eatin grins...

Bro Jeff almost knocked the Capt. outta the boat for a successful catch and release of his first striper of the year. A leader grab counts officially for 5 points. Apparently the 'release' compromised his photo, capt. had to remind him its not so much in the pic, but more in the ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. And maybe the release was more like a bad knot on the leader to powerpro. But hey his charter was free at that point and fortunately he didnt quit only to land another stripe who was waiting to smile.

`DA JITTERBUG doot... doot...` Sorry bout that, couldn't resist singin the tune after the spot sucked down Mr. Hatley's ole jitterbug. Shout out to the days of Lake Riveria. Bro Jeff bagged his with a shiner.

Lots of large fish on top this am. Bro Jeff nailed this one using a floating plug, pretty much hit him in the head.

Capt. had a hunch that the stripers were hiding out somewhere around the dock. We threw a roadrunner and silverbuddy and jigged them up from the bottom, this technique yielded 3 fat ones! Catch and release rules explain that a fish is caught when the leader is touched. After Mr. Tebo fumbled his 1st one, the capt. asked to have his netted, as a result the capt. missed an opportunity to smile next to his stripe. Oh well. Don't think this capt. will be calling for the net anytime soon.

Water temps are pushing 70 so it seems the stripers have headed for deeper water. In the meantime Mr. Tebo decided to throw ye ole electric blue jelly worm to entice some largies. While the capt. was hoping his new rig trolling slowly behind the boat would find some stray stripers, he instead landed a healthy largemouth on a floating plug.

Just back from vacation in Marco Island in search of redfish and tarpon. No capt. down there was able to find em. We ended up catching a bunch of snook (out of season), jack crevalle, spanish mackeral, a couple whiting, pompano and waaay too many bonnet-head sharks and sailcats. (pics soon coming)

Took a solo trip this am had a nice 5 min. conversation with Mr. Gus as he awaited his late charter. He gave the capt. the scoop and soon thereafter landed one of the larger stripers of this year. Too bad the photographer wasn't around to get a better pic...

Wholly Crappie! Thats a big one for cuz Dino, referring to his smile...

Seen a lot of big largemouth on their beds prepping for the spring spawn. This one was attracted away in hopes of meal, instead he looks surprised when capt. papparazzi snaps his pic.

Apparently the stripers and spots had enff already with the plastic plugs, they'd much rather munch on a tastey shiner. Apologies to the photographer, as the photos of his many silver perch did not develop.

Rolled over twice after looking at the fog and still managed to go on a solo mission. Found one in less than 10 ft. that took me bow to stern, that finally surrendered and smiled for a pic! There's been some question on the pic to the left, its a shoal marker in the heavy fog.

A wonderful way to start off a Monday. Two fine stripes on topwater using ultralight tackle. ahhhh.... unfortunately only enuff battery for one pic!

Mr. Noe, still pale from his last trip, and the capt. enjoy a double hook-up. Thanks to the good looking and lucking wives for booking the sunset charter.

The word was out from last week's flurry. Mr. Noe booked a gorgeous afternoon and landed a fine stripe after throwing at a big swirl. Apparently this striper had decided he too was fishing, but for captains. The fiesty captainerman embedded the barb of the capt. own treble hook securely in the index finger, sending a message that he'd been catching too many of its fellows. Unfortunately the capt. was too busy contimplating his fate with the pliers to take a photo for evidence.

Still excited from yesterday evenings charter, Todd booked another and sure enff same spot and better results. Fish seemed to be everywhere, we landed 3 stripers and 1 spot, I like these ratios better. Hope all of 2005 goes this way.