Winter Bassin....Monkey off my Back

[Panthrosan]

Tried to make it out on Sunday but the pond was frozen over still. Fast forward to today, I dip out of work early at around noon and head over to the pond. Only a small sliver of water was open but I figured I was here so I might as well get the lines wet. Nothing was biting on drop-shot or Float 'n Fly so I broke out the Ugly Stick ultra-light rod and Abu Garcia small spinning reel spooled with 4lb Berkley XT to try for some Crappie. Was throwing a small jighead with a Panfish Assassin 2.5 inch curly tail and got a few small to midsized crappie and then something SMASHED the lure about 15 feet from the shore and I start to fight it. It was a huge crappie that once I got a glimpse of it ran right to the bottom and then wrapped himself around an old dock piling and snapped me off. I was dissapointed but encouraged nonetheless as I knew things would be biting. In my haste to get out to fish I forgot all my other jigs and stuff so I tied on a pre-rigged Road Runner. Cast out a few times and landed a small 1lb bass which was fun on 4lb line and decided that I would call "last cast" and get out of there. No sooner does my line hit the water and I reel 2 times my Ultra-Light rod is bent in half and drag is peeling out. After a good 4 minute fight I lipped this bad girl and let out a shout that scared the Geese off the pond. 4lb3ounce Largemouth Bass on 4lb test with a Crappie lure on an ultra-light. I still have this goofy *** grin on my face and just wanted to show off. I hope everyone gets a chance to get out there and slay them soon and get that first big fish monkey off your back.