We couldn't believe our eyes when we motored out to the main lake just now. It looked like something you'd see at Party Cove on Lake of the Ozarks – three boats so close you could step from one to the other – a Chick(amauga) party, so to speak.
But as we got closer Chris Lane set the hook and landed a 2 1/2-pounder. So there is some work getting done out here. Jeremy Starks and Cliff Prince had an up-close look at the bass. Fishing in a crowd is one thing. These guys are so close they can smell each other's breath. It's all friendly. There's plenty of chatter on the water.
A short cast away from the three bassketeers is Jared Miller. A long cast away is Boyd Duckett. Justin Lucas and Brandon Palaniuk are in the area too. Everyone is looking at his electronics while fishing straight down on one of the big bass schools that hang out on the river channel ledges.
"This is probably the biggest community hole on the lake," said Mark Grimsley, our boat driver.
Lane just landed another fish, this one about 3 pounds.
"On a freaking Carolina rig," shouted Starks. "You're the man. I don't believe it."
Seeing is believing here, for sure.