Never

In my fishing life I’ve had a lot of different rods and reels. Starting out the reels that I had utilized a one piece wire bail. The rod was a two piece solid glass medium action with a metal ferrule. I learned the basics of doing everything with one rod. Nowadays I wouldn’t consider doing everything with one rod but if punch came to shove I could get it done but might need an extra spool or two. Technology and availability has drastically changed what I fish with. I couldn’t hazard a guess as to how many I’ve had, but I can today, right now, make this statement with complete confidence. I’ve never owned a rod and reel combo that makes me happier than the Finetail Banshee 6’ and the Presso 1000s loaded with .15 Varivas braid. Today I picked it up and had to tell myself to use the others in the boat. I brought 6 and used 4 of them. None of the others compare for casting, sensitivity, overall function. It takes minimum effort to cast like the others I own that I have to work at. Lightweight and effortless to use.

But on to the trip this morning. Started from the house just before first light and for me , it was cool. The sweatshirt barely kept up and wasn’t enough when the wind picked up. My queen had bought me a frog togs raincoat a couple of years back and it usually just rides the storage box, but today it was just the ticket and I was glad to have it. Eventually the sun came out and it warmed up a little but the wind still had a bite.

The fish were kinda non plus today. If you dragged it across their nose they would eat but I don’t think chasing was in their things to do today. First fish was a 10” or so Crappie with no shoulders. Second was smaller than that but the third would’ve kept. I kissed him on the nose and flipped him back. Several places I worked through in the next 45 minutes only gave up a couple of tiny gills and the Crappie was gone. Disappointed I laid the rods down and stowed the electric and fixed the outboard for the first time today. There’s been an island in my mind for a few weeks now and I went to go see who was home. Second cast the line came tight and the rod bent serious. This fella had come to meet me.

Two casts later I got a serious smack and then my line started going everywhere. Very respectable.
Not long down the bank I wasn’t getting much interest til this one sucked up my curl tail and really gave me a fun time. Rod tip in the water a few times and wanted no part of the net.

And of course, no trip around here is complete without the pretty boys showing up. I got a few of these but this was the star. Made the drag speak a couple of times.

It was about 10:30 and I had promised to be home early so I picked up and ran back to where I began to see about another crappie before calling it a day. And I found just one, but he was a good one. He rode the box for a few minutes but with no friends to join him I cut him loose.

The temps had risen and the crazy people were showing up so I was happy to call it done. I’m hoping that some of y’all’s weather is giving you a break and letting you get out some. Be careful when you go and tell us all about it when you’re done. Been a good one so far and it’s not done yet. Til next time……Skeet