I happened to be in northern Dodge county on Weds afternoon, running some errands.
I spied a pretty little pool by one of the roads that cross one of the branchs of the Zumbro, and decided to give it a shot, if only for a few minutes (my rod and stuff was in the truck – and I didn’t need to much coaxing w/ the weather as nice as it was).
Water was very clear, lots of rocks – but some deeper water too. My hope was to possibly pick up a SMB.
Since I didn’t have alot of time, I used the lure on my rod, a 1/4oz hammered gold Dr. spoon. Cast in to the pool, using a retreive just fast enough to keep the spoon out of the rocks. Had a bump in one spot – just where the rocks on the bottom went out of sight…fish?…rock? Threw back several times, but nothing.
Kept casting the pool. Then my line just stopped dead. I thought sure I had snagged in the rocks. Then the line started to move and the drag on my Okuma reel (from HOF of course) started to go zzzzz. Lots of zzzzz – put pressure on the fish – zzzzz. Still can’t see what I’ve got – I am a thinking bingo – SMB.
Finally, the fish surfaces – its long and narrow – a NP. Didn’t have my net (was in the truck), so I beached the fish. Using my thumb to middle index finger distance (not quite 8″), I counted off 3x, and about 6″ more – so call the fish 28-30″ and about 5# +/-. Released it, got the net
out (just in case) and went back to fishing.
4 casts later – same thing – line stops dead in the water, and then drag kicks in – zzzzzz – zzzzzzZZZZZzzzz – this fish was definitely better. Line was coming off my spool, and the fish was heading for the current – zzzzzzzz.
Finally got it turned, and brought it to the net. This was another NP, and definitely larger. 4X w/ the fingers, and 3-4″ more, call it 34-36″ – guessing 8-8.5#. Also released.
Fished for about another 20 min, but no more action. Sadly, no camera.
Later
UG
Guess we will have to follow him. 
Sounds like he will be there alot in the future. 
Nice fish. 
Chris