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I headed out to the lake over my lunch hour today.
Temperatures were in the mid 70's with a slight
breeze. Too nice to stay inside.
When I got to the lake the place I normally fish
from, had someone already there. I decided to go
about 50 feet down the bank. I know that the water
is shallow in that area but then it drops off to
about four feet. If nothing else I would get some
practice casting. If you saw my casting, you would
know I need more of that.
I had on a red and yellow Skip Morris Panfish fly.
This is a Clouser variation. I cast it out and let
it settle a little way. As I started to retrieve
the line I felt some weight so I sat the hook. I
had a bass on that did not like the feel of the
hook. She went airborne four times before I got
her in. She was 15 inches long.
I was not real popular with the folks down the bank
when I released her. I cast out again but about ten
feet to the side of where I had cast before. I am
not sure if this was by plan or just the way that
I cast.
The fly had just hit the water when there was a
large swirl. For a change I let the line tighten
before I sat the hook. I had another bass that
did not jump but kept heading for the bottom. I
know there is a lot of wood debris and rock on
the bottom on this pond. I had the rod very high
in trying to keep her up in the water column. After
several exchanges of line I began to get the upper
hand. I started to gain line and somewhat control
the direction that she headed. I was wondering how
I was going to get her through all the vegetation
at the edge of the pond. This stuff extends out
about eight feet and I had not even though about
hooking a fish this big.
The next thing I hear was a voice from on high.
There was a guy standing on the bank above and
behind me wanting to know if I would like to
have him net this bass when I got it close. He
had a net that could telescope out to a ten-foot
handle. I told him that would be nice. He told me
to let him know when I wanted him to come down.
Otherwise, he would stay out of the way.
I finally got this fish to where I could control
her. I had him come down and put the net into the
water. I then turned the fish and lead her into
the net. He flipped the net 90 degrees and then
pulled her in. She was 21 inches long but weighed
just under six pounds. Quite a surprise to come out
of shallow water.
We put her back in the net and he moved the net
out and then turned it over to release her. She
slowly swam for a few feet and then dashed off.
I hope to tangle with her again sometime. I thanked
my fellow fisher for bringing the net. He said he
had fished the lake for four years and never caught
a fish that big. He just wanted to use his net on
it. He said it justified the price of the net.
By this time it was time to head back to work. I
also think that all of the other fish were gone
from the area with the commotion of the fight.
Great way to spend a lunch hour.
Hope you can get out on the water. ~ Rick
ziegeria@grm.net
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