I went to lake Amador on Sat. ready to catch on of the big girls, and hopefully join the 10lber club. I got to the lake around 7:30 and inflated my kick boat and got my rods riged up. One rod was rigged with a 8' Castaic Swimbait, one with a jig, and one with a carolina rig. Before I got into the water I wanted to make sure that I could I would be able to throw the big swim bait with out any problums, since I have never used it before. The first cast went nowhere,but after a reajustment on my reel the second cast went flying down the bank with no problum. On my retrieve of that cast WHAM, I get nailed. The fish imeditly serfaces and I am thinking "hello ten pouder club". After a short but exciteing fight (I had to jump down a steep bank to get into the water to land the big girl)I finally lip her. A boat that was trolling for trout saw the fight and I asked them if they had a scale (The first item I am buying on my next trip to fishermans whearhouse)The fish went 10lbs on the spring scale that they had in there boat.

Now comes the sad part of the story. The big girl COMPLEATLY swallowed the swmbait and the Gammie that I put on as a trailer was stuck in her gills. I tried to remove the hooks but they were not coming out and I knew that there was no way that I would be able to release her alive. I have not killed a bass in almost ten years and it made me sick not to relese her. After getting back up to my car I drove the fish over to the marina to put it on the scale they have there and get my picture taken.

On the certified scale she went 9.76lbs. and that was with the swimbait still in her, so I guess I will have to wait to join the 10 club. I want to thank all the guys who post here on this site for giving me the confidance to throw the big baits. The information that I have got off this site has been invaulable and I know that I wont be long befor I catch my ten pounder. I will post a picture as soon as I get acsess to a scanner.

Thanks,
John