It was the usual opening day at Braidwood, fog rolling off the hot side on a north wind.

The cooling lake in the southwest corner of Will County opened with less fanfare than it used to a decade or so ago. But by the time I left, the lot was full at the south and nearly full at the north end. More shore fishermen than boaters.

6:40 a.m. first fish, a fair catfish. Caught eight in half an hour, then it took another hour to reach 10. Most came on a Mini-Mite and spikes, the rest on a jig and crawler piece. Only one was a truly keeper-sized, two others were close. The rest were the usual fiddlers.

I never got my first topwater bass of the year. But I only had a few hours to play.

Walking back to the car, I saw David Wright catching a batch of keeper bluegill, on a basic wad of waxies 1 1/2 feet under a float.

For Braidwood info, click here. Hours are 6 a.m. to sunset daily.