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I have a question for the SU family - is my Baby Possum dead? The other night I hit a local pond for what I hope would be an epic night bite - the last time the 'toon and Baby Possum got together on the pond, I landed 10 fish in a torrid session. That was about a month ago and with the slightly cooler temperatures, I figured the CO bass would be getting into their fall feeding binge (I am, and it's not even Thanksgiving yet). Anyway, the night started well - within 10 minutes I had a hit (and miss), and then landed this chunky, if ambitious bass that wanted a possum, with a side of salad. That was fun, even if the bass wasn't a beast, and as I approached the next productive section of the lake, I had high hopes for a repeat of the last trip. Sadly, it wasn't to be. On my first cast past a prominent point that almost always has a fish on it (along with an angry Canada goose), the Baby Possu touched down as it has so many times before. I cranked up the slack, gave the lure a couple of quick jerks to try to stimulate a strike form any bass that might be eyeballing it, and then started to wake it back. Something was wrong though - there was little resistance in the line and none of the characteristic throb-throb-throb. Weeds? Maybe, but then there should have been more resistance. Instead of weeds, when I brought the lure to hand and flipped on my headlamp, I was shocked to see that the bill of the Baby Possum was gone. I had repaired it months ago, after getting advice from Clayton Bryant on how to do so, and the Baby Possum had been laying the 50-toothed beat-down to fish up and down the Colorado Front Range. Now the bill was gone. I kept fishing, with other lures, but the mojo for the night had sunk into the ooze along with the Baby Possum's bill. No more fish were caught - heck, I don't even think I had a hit! Here's a head-on shot of the Baby Possum - she looks sad without her bill. Here's a side shot of the Baby Possum - other than the bill, she looks like a seasoned veteran who's ready to go a few more rounds. Anyway, after I got home, I figured I'd contact CL8Baits to see if I could get a replacement bill. With a new bill, she'd be back in action and the bass would again be given the opportunity to show their hatred of all things Didelphidae. Then, while I was texting a friend about the woes of being an aquatic possum in Colorado, I looked closely at Baby Possum's face, and my heart just sank. Not only was her bill, missing, but her face was cracked. Running from the bill slot to one of her eyes on the left side and from the bill slot to halfway to her eye on the right side was a hairline stress fracture. Left side showing the crack. Right side of the crack. I guess the life of a Baby Possum was stressful, what with largemouths (lots), smallmouth (one), tiger musky (one), and northern pike (two) beating on you. Her face, or at least the business end of it, was about to crack off. That would have been even more traumatic, especially if it happened while the hooks were attached to a big bass, or must, or pike. So, I think that Baby Possums days have come to an end. Do any of you know if she can be fixed? If not, she's earned a spot on my wall of fame, so she'll still hang out in the fishing room. If she is toast, then I guess it's time to place an order with CL8Bait!