I'd have preferred a morning trip but slept in 'til 8:30 having not really set a time with my neighbor /fishing partner. By noon I was raring to go but still had to clear it at home. When I said something about going she expressed surprise that I wasn't already there. The trip to the river didn't take long and I was fortunate enough to pass muster as I blew by 2 speed traps.
Phil brought his youngest along and as we launched I mused how little johnny was the one that would catch not only the first but largest as well It only took him 15 minutes to hook and land a fiesty 11"er.
Phil quickly followed with a 10 inch fish that wouldn't quit.
As they each landed their second fish each I began to wonder if my new yak would ever get slimed. Casting a spinnerbait at every seam within reach wasn't working for some reason. I tried a reversed tube and proceeded to miss one strike after another. what's wrong here? -- mid river/ bright skies- I'm in the wrong place.
Add a crankbait to the arsenal (rod3) and start beating the shaded shoreline . swing
and a miss
back to the spinner- it's a hit a nice 12'er comes to boat
followed by a 14'er that shook the hook after a nice tussel and a few jumps.
Back to the crank and I get a freight train of a hit and a different feel to the fight- but I lose that one on a head shake. A quick adjustment and a short paddle back upriver- got to to hit that spot again.
Bingo!
in the 16" range
a solid 13"
This trip made it worth the month long wait to christen the new baby in the river
Field and Stream Eagle Talon 12
