Fish\\\\\\\'n Magician
08-10-2005, 01:22 PM
Greets Yonder IFISH Friends -
I've got a tale to tell, and must admit - damn near wrote a ditty! I've only ever had one question about fishing from a tube - what the hell do you do when you tie on a MONSTER?
First, for those that don't know me its important to understand my IFISH handle and what it means.
fish•ing
The act, occupation, or sport of catching fish
mag•ic
conjuring tricks performed to entertain. mysterious and enchanting quality. informal exceptional skill or talent.
FISH•N•MAGI•CIAN
An enchanting and mysterious angler who can conjure entertaining fishing trips by employing exceptional skill, laughter, and song.......and once in a while catches fish!
It was HOT yesterday as I hauled my brand new float tube, new chest waders, three fishing rods, and tackle box down to Henry Hagg Lake (not saying where this time.....but maybe somewhere else...you'll have to fish for it). About 91 degrees at 4:30PM and I had the drink all to myself. MUCH more wildlife to be seen/heard when the suburban denzians aren't burning fuel.
Ok so first time in a float tube - managed to situate and get out without much hassle. MY problem is the old "kid in the candy store" routine......Senkos? Rapallas? Spinnerbaits? Lizards? The more I pondered the longer it took to get my line wet so - began on a 5" Senko weightless.
Area I was fishing had plentiful undergrowth and weedless was mandatory. Managed to nail about 6 LM (no larger than 10") before I landed in front of an exposed island (water is dropping incredibly FAST!). Bingo for 4 smallmouth (no larger than 10").
By now the surface water began breaking all around me - and not just from fish! Bald eagle, osprey, and herons were dive bombing dinks. Now I had told a fellow IFISHER fish'n pal that I was bringing my fly rod on this trip - and I'd even bought new flies, leader, and tippet. In the end however I only brought my spinning gear.
My line-sight was quickly disappearing as the sky darkened hue and I was assailed by both bat and prey. Fishing the Senko was not easy and thus I hurled it out 40' behind me and tucked the rod while I rigged a second.
First bat hit my tube. Next one almost took my hat off, which would have freaked me out if I wasn't busy inhaling swarms of gnats while tying a fisherman's knot while kicking my fins. THESE are the trials and tribulations of a lone angler (man what a great IFISH handle!). I grinned like the chesire cat, knowing these would be the memories I would cherish as an old fisherman......then bellowed laughter as I realized I turn 40 in 3 months!
My tube jerked...or.....poked me? I caught a glimpse of my line (still in water) as loop morphed to taunt. I grabbed the rod (rigged with Senko) and brought the tip down so I could catch a glimpse of the line by the reflection of the moon. The line went tight and I leaned back hard. My Ugly Stick bent like a reed of grass in the wind........drag was unforgiving because I was fishing so much damn cover.
So you HAVE to picture this in your mind. Its pretty much dark. Here I am a float tube green horn weighted down by all that gear and this monster LM hits my line and, because it was dark, I wasn't sure where the fish was when I set the hook. Turns out the fish was about 45 degrees to one side, so when I set the hook and she pulled back - it sent my float tube into a spin. I ended up backwards with my rod held high. Kicking my feet as hard as I could - one fin popped off as I managed to spin around to see the fish break water.
I screamed words you'de never use around Mom, and when that fish landed back in the water she hit the throttle. Did you ever realize that when your fins are facing forward and you get PULLED forward that they act like an anchor? Shifting my weight I was able to keep from tumbling out of my tube but now realized I was being dragged.
"YAHOOOOOOOOOO GOING FOR A RIDE" I screamed like a kid on a roller coaster. I don't think the fish liked this because my ride stopped and I cranked the reel...realizing he was heading straight back at me....AND a jungle of submerged bushes. I stayed on that [petunias!] (thats right.....I said it!) the best I could, but the environment was too treacherous. I lost the fish and reeled in a clump of whatever it was the lake offered up instaed.
Yet all I could do was say "Ya Ya ya!!" over and over again. I did not need to thumb that fish in order to put her on my memory mantle. Indeed, this was the best ride of my life and I will never forget it.
Does anyone ELSE have this fever? I'm sacrificing work and family cause I just can't get it off my mind.
So back out again this afternoon - always glad to meet IFISHERS so look for the knucklhead in an aussie hat (black toyota pickup truck with yearly hagg parking permit in window).
Grant Lansing
I've got a tale to tell, and must admit - damn near wrote a ditty! I've only ever had one question about fishing from a tube - what the hell do you do when you tie on a MONSTER?
First, for those that don't know me its important to understand my IFISH handle and what it means.
fish•ing
The act, occupation, or sport of catching fish
mag•ic
conjuring tricks performed to entertain. mysterious and enchanting quality. informal exceptional skill or talent.
FISH•N•MAGI•CIAN
An enchanting and mysterious angler who can conjure entertaining fishing trips by employing exceptional skill, laughter, and song.......and once in a while catches fish!
It was HOT yesterday as I hauled my brand new float tube, new chest waders, three fishing rods, and tackle box down to Henry Hagg Lake (not saying where this time.....but maybe somewhere else...you'll have to fish for it). About 91 degrees at 4:30PM and I had the drink all to myself. MUCH more wildlife to be seen/heard when the suburban denzians aren't burning fuel.
Ok so first time in a float tube - managed to situate and get out without much hassle. MY problem is the old "kid in the candy store" routine......Senkos? Rapallas? Spinnerbaits? Lizards? The more I pondered the longer it took to get my line wet so - began on a 5" Senko weightless.
Area I was fishing had plentiful undergrowth and weedless was mandatory. Managed to nail about 6 LM (no larger than 10") before I landed in front of an exposed island (water is dropping incredibly FAST!). Bingo for 4 smallmouth (no larger than 10").
By now the surface water began breaking all around me - and not just from fish! Bald eagle, osprey, and herons were dive bombing dinks. Now I had told a fellow IFISHER fish'n pal that I was bringing my fly rod on this trip - and I'd even bought new flies, leader, and tippet. In the end however I only brought my spinning gear.
My line-sight was quickly disappearing as the sky darkened hue and I was assailed by both bat and prey. Fishing the Senko was not easy and thus I hurled it out 40' behind me and tucked the rod while I rigged a second.
First bat hit my tube. Next one almost took my hat off, which would have freaked me out if I wasn't busy inhaling swarms of gnats while tying a fisherman's knot while kicking my fins. THESE are the trials and tribulations of a lone angler (man what a great IFISH handle!). I grinned like the chesire cat, knowing these would be the memories I would cherish as an old fisherman......then bellowed laughter as I realized I turn 40 in 3 months!
My tube jerked...or.....poked me? I caught a glimpse of my line (still in water) as loop morphed to taunt. I grabbed the rod (rigged with Senko) and brought the tip down so I could catch a glimpse of the line by the reflection of the moon. The line went tight and I leaned back hard. My Ugly Stick bent like a reed of grass in the wind........drag was unforgiving because I was fishing so much damn cover.
So you HAVE to picture this in your mind. Its pretty much dark. Here I am a float tube green horn weighted down by all that gear and this monster LM hits my line and, because it was dark, I wasn't sure where the fish was when I set the hook. Turns out the fish was about 45 degrees to one side, so when I set the hook and she pulled back - it sent my float tube into a spin. I ended up backwards with my rod held high. Kicking my feet as hard as I could - one fin popped off as I managed to spin around to see the fish break water.
I screamed words you'de never use around Mom, and when that fish landed back in the water she hit the throttle. Did you ever realize that when your fins are facing forward and you get PULLED forward that they act like an anchor? Shifting my weight I was able to keep from tumbling out of my tube but now realized I was being dragged.
"YAHOOOOOOOOOO GOING FOR A RIDE" I screamed like a kid on a roller coaster. I don't think the fish liked this because my ride stopped and I cranked the reel...realizing he was heading straight back at me....AND a jungle of submerged bushes. I stayed on that [petunias!] (thats right.....I said it!) the best I could, but the environment was too treacherous. I lost the fish and reeled in a clump of whatever it was the lake offered up instaed.
Yet all I could do was say "Ya Ya ya!!" over and over again. I did not need to thumb that fish in order to put her on my memory mantle. Indeed, this was the best ride of my life and I will never forget it.
Does anyone ELSE have this fever? I'm sacrificing work and family cause I just can't get it off my mind.
So back out again this afternoon - always glad to meet IFISHERS so look for the knucklhead in an aussie hat (black toyota pickup truck with yearly hagg parking permit in window).
Grant Lansing