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Camryn and Papa---Hammer Time!!
Earlier this week I received the request that no man with a brain would even think about turning down. "Papa, can we go fishing?" Only took a second for me to agree, if she could get a kitchen pass from the appropriate women in charge of both households. That given, this trip comes with an overnight stay to make it easier to get moving in the morning. At 12years old I thought that there would be a minimum of prep before we got going in the morning. That just tells you how much I have forgotten about raising girls. All good though. These are times that I look back on with a big smile. There will be a time very soon when we will both look at these in the rear view mirror and laugh together, remembering the times we had. All that said, and as well as I have been doing lately, I had a hard time falling asleep last night anticipating our time together today. I talked with a couple of older gents at a convenience store on Saturday morning as I got a drink and something resembling breakfast. I asked if they were up this early to go fishing, they said "No, but what about you?" I said that tomorrow I would be fishing with my granddaughter. Both said "Oh no, tomorrow I'll be in Church." Without hesitation I told them that I was about Gods work also. They hesitated and I finished saying "If we don't spend the time with the young ones, talk with them and show them the way, they will find it on their own. And chances are it won't be what's best for them." They both smiled and agreed. We talked a bit more and I went on to work, but I was already on the water.
0500 I answered the alarm and began the process of getting her moving and the boat uncovered and so on. Gas, a stop at the clowns for breakfast, and off to the ramp we went. Second trailer in the lot, still pitch dark, and not a breath of wind. Everything is working out well so far, now lets see what the fish have to say. Cam and I had the talk about what these light rigs were all about, and how tough to cast and feel the fish thump, and we eased up to spot one. Gar and stripers and LMB were busting bait in a nearby floating weed pile, but they weren't feeding where we were. Eased around, doing the deal, but still coming up dry. Somewhere about an hour later I got a hard thump. Set the hook and figured out real quick that this crappie had whiskers. About 4lbs and a good fight and hard time getting into the net, we looked him over and set him free. Just not what we were after, but the ice broken. As time went on, the bite got better and the clicker started to move right along. Several made the box and a few got released, and down around 0800 we both noticed the bite had slowed down. moving around some did nothing to improve it. Too early for them to just go inactive. I started thinking of what kind of magic I could find up my sleeve to make things happen. Even the jig that did so well for Slab and I wasn't doing anything. Been preaching for years, when the going gets tough, the tough get small. Slow down and downsize. With 16 on the clicker, it was about to get interesting.
If you don't have a real tiny rod and line like we were using, it would be hard to do this. Last trip to BPS I had picked up some Itty Bitty Swimmers by Bobby Garland. A 1/64 no collar head and one of these bodies had us back in business in short order. I have 3 colors, but the one that really shined was monkey milk. The head had a sickle hook no bigger than a #8, but I think it's more like a #10. Did the job famously in sickle style, touching little of nothing and holding on. That bite that`was going away before was now coming on strong. And it wasn't just me. Cam was holding her own or moving right on by me. Before we made the change, there was one good fish in the box with several other smaller cousins. It didn't take long for the better fish to find what we offered and giving us the fish in the box we looked for. What did change as we got closer to leaving was the bite got softer. Already hard to detect with the small jighead it now became a game of line watching. The day got warmer, the fish showed no signs of backing down, but we just ran out of time. The old guy was getting hungry and with rain in the forecast I was thinking of getting the boat covered before I had to get a shower doing it. Fish after fish had given us a hard time coming to the net, Cam was now casting and netting fish like she had been born to it, and the traffic was getting tough so I knew what the ramp would be like. Wrapped and stowed all the rods and gear, we headed for the ramp, and the fish were still biting. Hard to leave fish like that.
My expectations had been high and I was not disappointed. The clicker said 35 as we headed in, and there was 17 good fish in the box. 10 of those fish were either pushing or over a pound, and Camryn had a hand in a lot of those. She and I started fishing together by trolling and at first she didn't want to try the one pole casting thing. I believe she has changed her mind. I had a great day doing what I love to do with my Best Fishing buddy ever. At the house just about noon, boat put up and fish cleaned, and a fish dinner in the making as I type this. If you didn't get out today, I hope you get out soon and have a day like I had today. I've added a few pics, including the now famous Four Fish Hold by Camryn for the first, but not the last time. Thanks for taking the time to visit with Camryn and I, It's been a very good day.......Skeet.
