FML Outdoors.com

A quick trip to the lake pays off

It was the first warm day in weeks. I’ve been down to the lake numerous times, but haven’t found fish in the shallows – until today!

I wasn’t alone

I was working in the yard all day, while thoughts of black shallow Crappies flashed in my mind. Could the Crappies be in? It was the first warm day in about three weeks. I’ve fished my, “hot-spot” numerous times but with no success. By the end of the day, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I grabbed my gear and jumped into the truck. Within five minutes I was at the lake. Normally, I put on my waders and walk down to the lake. This time, I sprinted down the path.

Today, I brought my fish bucket. A good sign that something was about to happen!

The sun was going down fast. It was already behind the trees. I was surprised to see that the cattail bog, normally attached to the shore, had now floated out to where I cast. If there are fish to be caught this was the spot! I made a few casts, but with no success. ”Come-on!” I said.

As I looked up and could see the soft thumbprint of the moon. The air was cold and dense as ducks and geese flew all around me. It was like my own personal aeriel acrobatic show. Further in the night sky, I could see and hear Snow Geese cutting their way through the cold night air. All of a sudden, a splash of a muskrat startled me — “Hello GOD,” I thought to myself.

Just at that moment, I felt a tug on the line. Quickly – I set the hook. Oh baby! My line began to cut a “V” in the water like the Snow Geese overhead. It was either a large Northern or big Bass. All of a sudden, this “Hawg” of a Largemouth Bass came leaping out of the water!

I’m now standing chest deep and totally submersed into the fight. “If I’m going to land this big fish with any success, I’m going to have to tire him out.” I thought. Before long, I had him up-close and could finally see just how large this fish was. I reach down and grabbed his lip. Gotcha!

A quick 20-minutes of fishing proved to be well worth the time!