First Fish Of 2015
After several unsuccessful outings targeting stocked trout. I decided to go to my local honey hole and fly fish to get back my fishing mojo.
After assembling the rod and stringing up the line, I tied on barbless #8 Eagle Claw crappie hook that was already baited with a white Berkeley Powerbait honey worm that was worse for wear having already several handfuls of Bluegills and Pumpkinseeds.
I made a short cast close to shore, and as I was untangling some loopy line a bass attacked the little grub. Because I always have my forefinger securing the line to the cork fore grip, I instinctively set the hook with a flick of my wrist.
Once the hook was set, the fight was on! I must say this fish was surprisingly strong. He immediately, dove to the bottom and headed for the weeds. I used the rod to repeatedly steer the fish away and out into the open water. I let the fish run for a bit to take up the slack. Once I put tension on him again he made several furious figure eights before jumping three times. But my Bluegill dulled hook held fast in his mouth.
Then when I reached down to get my net to land him, he went right into the weeds and tangled up the line. Undaunted by this complication I proceeded to use the net part weeds, untangle the line and capture the fish.
He wasn't a very big fish (as you can see in the photo) but he had lots of moxie. If you look closely you can see the hook and lure sticking out of his mouth.
Anyway, after a quick photo, I returned him to the water from which he came.
I did not catch any more bass after that but I did catch my fill of bluegills and at least three golden shiners.
Golden shiners as some of the fiercest fish to catch on a fly rod. They attack the bait like a snapper blue and have all of the head shaking savagery of trout.
It felt good to get my fish catching mojo back.