Went to Banks lake on Sat. First time on this body of water. Pops and I launched on the South end. Water temp. 44, and warming the further North we traveled. Started trolling on top for bows along S.W shoreline. About 15 Min. into it Pops hooks up with a BIG fish. He gets the rod out of the holder and this fish is taking some serious line, drag a screaming. He gets about one crank on it and off she comes! We made a couple more passes with no strikes. Cruised North where I noticed a stretch of rip rap a little South of steam boat rock along the highway. I thought it looked like a good spot for the smallies to warm under the sun. I boated three smallies all in the 2 - 2 1/2 pound range. Hooked up with another but he threw my lure as he rocketed out of the water. They were all caught on an X-rap (jerkbait). Bite died and we trolled some more. I hooked up with a thick 2 1/2 pound bow, nice fish. Pops hooked up again, and the fish came off again! Guess it just wasn't his day. Ended the day jigging bottom for some walleye. I hooked into one nice eyeball, about 17 inches on a plastic grub tipped with some worm. Spent about six hours on the water. Will be returning to this lake soon!

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