Hooking Moby Dick

[Arkie John]

Today, October 21, 2008, I was on Lake Ouachita (Arkansas) and was in the process of longline trolling Bandit 300s for crappie. I had out 75 feet of line on two different rods, minding my own business.

I noticed that for a Tuesday, the lake had a LOT of traffic. Soon a hugh bass rig pulled up alongside and asked, "Hey bud, is there an Academy Sports in Hot Springs?" "Sure not. You'll have to drive to Little Rock, 70 miles east." With that he said he and his buddy were pre-fishing a tournament to be held this coming week-end. (You can bet I'll be hunting and will let them have the lake)

We said our good-byes and he drifted astern of my boat and before I knew it and unknown to them, they had caught BOTH of my lines!! One line was cut immediately the other....well. The boat took off like a bat out of hell and my drag about BURNED up...like I had hooked a whale or sompin'. It burned up all the way 'til the end of the 160 yards of 12 lb Fireline....then S N A P !!!!

So, the way I figure it, I'm out of the trollin' busines for the day. Let's see, that's two Bandit 300s at 5.50 each, and a spool of Fireline, $13.00. Twenty-five bucks is twenty-five bucks is twenty-five bucks. Geeesh!!

I hope those Bandits and that fireline wound so tight around that Yahama that they had to remove the prop to free all that mess. lol

What a day. To add insult to injury, the crappie bite was crappy today. But it was altogether a marvelous day on beautiful Lake Ouachita. I'll just be glad when it cools another five degrees and maybe gets a little stain to it. THEN....then...maybe the crappie bite will come alive.

Thanks for comin' along. <><

aj