Friday night my weather app predicted ESE winds at 5 -10 mph. I figured early morning winds would be near calm and decided to take out the 3 wt. Saturday winds were 13 mph before day break. I decided to take the 6 wt, but took along the little rod too.

The top water bite I had been getting wasn't happening. I had a #4 muddler minnow with a Cypert minnow dropper on the 6 wt and a cypert minnow on the 3 wt. All I managed were some big green sunfish on a narrow channel between 2 parts of the pond.

The wind died down some and I went to the other side of the pond where a culvert drained into it to cast the 3 wt for some more sunfish.

I wish I could say I identified a likely bass hangout and made a precision cast to it to catch my bass, but the truth is I stripped out about 10 feet of fly line and cast it and my 8' leader and started stripping more line to cast to a weedline when I saw my line start to move.

I expected another greenie, but when I set the hook I knew it was a bass. It was in the drain and moving back and forth near a bunch of weeds. I always have a net but this was the first time I really had to use it. I missed it on my first try and figured I was going to lose it, but the 2nd stab I got it.

Put a tape measure on it and it was a little over 15". Not big by most standards but my best bass (so far).

Dang that's a nice fish, and right when you least suspected it. Funny how it works that way!

Thanks. And you're right about catching them when it's least expected. Some on casts that have gone horribly wrong, quite a few when I'm reeling it in to move, and hits on poppers when something else has my attention to name a few.

Pretty fish - congrats.
I've caught a lot of fish when I casted line out to reel it back up so I could change locations. I've also caught some bigger fish when I let a clouser sink while I was untangling fly line from my trolling motor. I would get everything straightened out, strip up the slack and there's a fish on.

Good catch. Congrats.

Beautiful fish for sure. We call this retrieve the "oops I caught a fish".

Very nice bass , congratulations ! Wish I had it on my dinner plate tonight for supper .

Nice fish. Congratulations on your PB!

Nice fish on a 3 wt.

Nice fish glad to see your on them!

Plus #1.