To set the scene - Carters Lake, Georgia. 12-31-10. Overcast, warm (50's), and a small breeze.
I have been kayak fishing since the beginning of this past summer and finally talked my dad in to getting a yak. He picked up a Manta Ray 12 a few weeks back and we took it to a small local lake but didn't catch anything. Some of the guys I fish with form Georgia Kayak Fishing were planning a final 2010 romp and I jumped at the chance of getting my dad back out on the water.
My dad and I showed up a little later than everyone else. We ran in to a couple bumps along the road before we even got to the lake. Once on the lake we ran in to a friend of mine. I got my dad set up with a trout downlined to about 35'. As I'm looking at my FF and generally screwin around, my dad says, "WHOA!" I turn to see his rod starting to bend and I said, "hold on, let him take it." The rod tip hits the water and he starts reeling. Fish OFF
. I told him to check his bait to see if it was still there. Sure enough there is a pretty PO'd trout on the end of his line. He starts to drop it back down and BOOM!! As he was letting the line out (with a spinning set up) he got a crazy backlash wrapped around the top of the reel. "Reel up!" I yell. "I can't!" he replies. Next thing I know he starts methodically grabbing the line up with one hand and then holding it in his other hand. Whats this I see? A spot on the end of the line?! YESSIR!!
Thats right gentlemen (and ladies)... Not only is that his FIRST fish from a yak, HE DID IT WITHOUT A REEL!!!
I got about six hits myself today but they were all spots and none were interested enough in taking my bait.
I hope you all enjoy this story. It's great to see someone introduced to this sport in such a fashion (even though I'm still green myself).
btw, Happy New Year!
