I posted yesterday that I would have a special guest today. I'm sure by now most have figured out that I had the head Guber along for a trip to an area that has been good to me of late. 0630 at the ramp as planned we headed out and thankfully no one had arrived before us. I have to set the stage now so the rest makes sense. On the ride there I explained the differences between what he was used to and what we would be using today, and the subtle differences in the take and almost imperceptible thump that a jig this light generates. In past weeks I have had several Liftbites, but don't think that happened today at all. 4 rods were on deck;2 light rods spooled with 2lb and 1/48, his mono and mine Nanofil, a 6'6" with 4lb Nanofil and a 1/32, and a 10' SHSS for dipping when needed with a 1/16 and a BGBS. So everything was way smaller and more sensitive than we usually use, let the games begin. The weather man said the winds would'nt build after 9 so we had to get after it. Throwing this stuff in the wind is tough.
Shut down, drop the TM and ease into position and point out the finer points of the particular spot and promptly got snagged and had to retie while Slab is busy putting fish in the boat. 2 on the first 3 casts, one for the live well. Finally back in action, I started pitching, a few swings and misses, while the Boss is showing me how. The clicker kept building with no help from me. Slab had a 1/48 ball head hand tie of mine on with some fuzzy chenille that had it falling slower than anything else I had and they were loving it. 30 minutes or so later I was finally able to get the skunk out of my end of the boat. We moved around some and found a few fish here and there and then it would slow, move a little more and find another and so on. We switched rods some and tied on a new jig and somehow I wound up with the rod Slab had been using while he had mine. We ran back to an area we were letting cool down a while and I pitched it where I have done well before. Good cast, let it slow fall, turn the reel a half a turn and thump----Here we go! Set the hook and the drag squeaked and I didn't move the fish. THAT is what we came for! Got her away from the trouble stuff and asked for the net. Now netting an average fish can sometimes be a chore. Now take away some of the control that a heavier rod gives and it becomes a dance. About every time the Boss would get close the fish had other ideas, pulling drag and running under the boat, and I was just along for the ride. I couldn't see the jig, had a 4lb leader for abrasion and was hoping my luck would hold, and I think on the third or fourth try we hit pay dirt. We both just admired her for a while, these don't come often, and agreed that we would weigh and measure later. Several of the fish made the cut and went into the box, none had to be measured. If it was anything close they went back for another day. I'm sure we released some skinny fish over 11".
We weren't after a live well full today, or even a limit, just a few for me to drop off at some friends on the way home. What I wanted more than that was to show the boss another way to enjoy the day and share his company. He really is very easy to be around. What we did today can be done on most any lake or river, with the right approach. I would try to explain something to him and he would finish the sentence. He was ahead of me, understanding what we were doing before I spoke. I'll be the guy sporting a big ol smile for a few days when I think of this. The final number on the clicker was 23, and I think I missed clicking a few but not too many, and a whisker trout about 3 or 4lbs on the dipping rod was an extra that we gave to some folks on second shift, them arriving as we weren't far from leaving. 8 fish were in the box that made my friends happy when I delivered, and they headed inside to put some grits on the stove. The pics tell the story of the big fish today, 2lb 5oz. I checked twice, just couldn't believe it when I saw the numbers. Best this season. The wind drove us off and the bite slowed about the same time so we put her on the trailer at about 10 and shot the bull in the parking lot for a while before parting ways and heading home. 1030 on the clock as I headed out of the parking lot. Most everything went as planned except one. I would have had the big fish caught by my guest. The good part of that is there is always the next time. I'm looking forward to it. This won't last much longer and we'll be dragging around trying to find em on the big lakes. I had a great day in good company and we caught fish to boot. Who can argue. Thanks for taking the time to read this and taking the ride with Slab and I. I have to depend on his selfies to show some of the ones he caught, I just didn't think to pick up the camera. Take the time to go, there's one just like it waiting for you and your guest. Enjoy the pics and til next time........Skeet.
