Up Early

I couldn’t find it in me to not go this morning. I hooked up last night and knowing that I wouldn’t be late getting home afterwards and not wanting to clean fish, I left the cooler home. That might not have been the smartest thing I’ve ever done. I was the first one in the parking lot and no one else at the ramp, the sun was just getting wound up but I still had to run my lights, it’s just 6:30.
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I began working through the junk where I was and found the crappie cooperative. I could have had dinner in the first ten minutes and most of a limit by 8. Got broken off by a dinner plate crappie that didn’t even say goodbye. Pulled off and went to play with some other fish that might have been there, maybe not. I wasn’t going to post pics of the 6’ Fenwick UL that I just finished until the reel for it was received and ready to fish. I guess I lied cuz there’s a few pics underneath. The 2lb Sufix nanobraid doesn’t cast near like the Nanofil but it still did very well. No regrets building both of the rods. First cast with the 6’ got its first fish, a nice coppernose gill that fought hard like they all do at that size. A little drag music and a trip around the boat and he posed for a pic before going home.
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I got about 15 of those with some on both of the newly built rods before I got hung and had to go after it, shutting them down. That was OK cuz I had one more place to check before I left about the time the crazy people show up. Picked out at few crappie with a few that could’ve been part of dinner before I packed up and made a lunch date with my Queen, it’s now 10:30. A good relaxing morning in near perfect conditions. The only thing that didn’t work today was the fly rod. I brought it along to try for one of those gills but it never happened and it was nothing but frustrating for me today. Oh well. Hope y’all get out soon and find a few, and hers a few pics of todays friends.
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Great fish, great looking gear, great adventure!

Thanks for the ride along. Beautiful sunrise photo and the fish were big and chunky!
Bob

Great looking fish and those are some very nice builds on the rods.

And I forgot to add that the new rod was sporting one of my rubber leg hand ties. They really liked it. It’s on the carpet near the fish.
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Great looking rod builds and catches .
I’ve built a couple of flyrods , a couple 6’6” 2wts. .
Although fishable I wouldn’t post a picture of them.
You do nice work !

Thanks chaser. I looked like a rank amateur with the fly rod today. Tangles, wind knots, snags and break offs, I mean REAL bad. Mine is a 4wt 4pc Fenwick. It came out nice but I guess I do t use it enough. I had a pretty good day!

Beautiful sunrise. Nice catches

Very nice catches sir. You build some beautiful rods as well. Thanks for taking us along

Nice work on the rods and thanks for the fishing trip. Those are some nice fish you have there.

Nice rods, nice fish and an excellent trip