Catching a bass on my hand-tie when everyone else was skunked...
I had a few minutes to try out my new Shimano Sienna 1000 on a spare 4'6" ultralight rod I had laying around. So I stopped by the lake just to try a few casts. Three other guys were casting from the docks but they were having no luck whatsoever.
I tried a few casts because I wanted to see how the combo casts (quite well, but it would benefit from 4# line instead of the 6# that I put on it). Then I walked to the foot of the docks where the depth is only 18" and jigged my bait in the shadows of the docks. Got a 16" large mouth bass within about 30 seconds!
Everybody wanted to know what I was using so I showed them my chartreuse and red marabou jig. I think I mentioned that I tied it. 
Of course, the only reason I caught a fish was because it was one of those intensely sunny days and the water is still winter-clear. On our lake the fish aren't going to be in 5 feet of water when the sun is so intense. They're chilling out in the shade.
But you know bass fisherman. If it isn't a long cast, it doesn't count.
Anyway, it's fun catching fish on your own ties.
"I care not for a man's religion unless his dog and cat are the better for it." -- Abraham Lincoln