Ryan with Glenn Lake Smallmouth

Only a fishing dad would ever understand the thought I’m going to express in this blog. My son likes fishing. l love and always have loved fishing. He is not as “into it” as I ever was. You know you have a fishing addiction when you can fish all day and night and the next day and the day after that your thoughts are only, when can I go again. This describes me and those that are like me and LOVE fishing. If you don’t get it, don’t try to. It is a passion that I cannot explain.

I have always taken my son out as much as he would allow me. Wife is also over-protective – these trips need to be documented with a US Coast Guard trip planner and check in calls to the boss for confirmation that not a hair on this boys head is bothered in any ways shape or form. So you see there is a layer of politics (ok, she calls it love) that I need to always deal with.

So anytime I get with him on the water – I cherish.  Any experience we share -I cherish. I have fished with a lot of friends and very fond of our trips together however; this person is special – he is my son, best friend, and fishing buddy (even if he is not as “into it” as me).

After a good hard skunking on a striper fishing trip last night, I needed to rinse the boat after her salty excursion and trailer this morning. Took the boy out with me for this and made a few casts. Within about 5 minutes his drag is screaming and he is all smiles and excited as could be. I coached him as I always do to keep the rod tip up, keep the line away from the motor, and to go easy on him. He did all of this and I know we shared a proud moment that we will never forget.

He always likes to catch fish and who doesn’t? What he did next was kind of cool though and capture my heart in a way that I never would have predicted. We bumped the trolling motor into high speed to hit a cove that we know has some good largemouth. When we got there, I quickly spotted a carp that must of pushed the 20 pound mark. I gave him my sunglasses and he was very excited. He instantly casted to this big fish and spooked him but I consulted with him that, “carp don’t like senkos son, they like doughballs made from bread”. Manning the trolling motor I turned the boat and nearly slipped on some of the items that my son was emptying from the cooler. I asked him what he was doing.

He replied, “looking for the sandwiches that mom put in here”. Nope, no sandwiches. He then took a cookie and told me that this should work. He saw her make them and it has flour in it, same as bread. Too funny. But the ambition and effort that he was applying to want to catch this fish that we saw was outstanding. Reminded me of myself when I was his age wanting to catch everything that swims.

We did try to catch the carp after a few casts with his cookie, but did not land a fish with it. Point being that it was AWESOME to see him so “into it” and have such a great time with him.

Curse of the big net – the one that got away (winni derby story)

We got up to the lake Thursday night kind of late. I had one brother with me and the other was waiting for me up in Paugus bay to launch and dock at the house we were staying at. Arriving late 9PMish, we decided a night time launch was not in our best interests. Windy that night too.

Next day we were out trolling my favorite big fish waters and within an hour one of the leadcore lines whipped off of it’s clip on the starboard side planer board line. Here comes a new boat – we both thought! This being my 1st time out this year (latest I have ever waited) I grabbed the rod and started on the fish. I was so excited that this was only going to be the start of the day; I decided to be a good brother and handed the rod to my younger brother.

After moving the inside downrigger rod and line out of the way I ran up to the front of the boat to grab the net. I picked it up and then hear my brother shout, “get the big net.. this is a good fish!” Cool beans. I get to use my big net I thought. This big net as we call it is a deep wide net with a 6 foot handle. I could probably net a striper with it if I wanted to.

As I return I hear some splashing and then my brother in distress with some choice words. I then asked, what is wrong. He pointed down to about 6-7 feet out from the boat and there swam a giant pig of a salmon parallel to the boat about 6 inches down. The line from the rod was wrapped abound the downrigger line after the fish lunged for the boat and wrapped the line.

It is like the task that no netter ever wants. The chances of loosing this fish were greater than landing it. Reaching out for the fish in efforts to net it, it rolled and swam down into the water breaking the 4 pound line like it was a planned tease for what would then become a long weekend of smaller fish for us to only remember being close to such a big fish.

All stories should have a happy ending though so on a positive note we all had a fun time just fishing for the weekend. Each year this derby puts us together to fish without excuses of busy schedules or other venues that interupt what we so cherish in life.

 

-Brian

August 2nd, 2008 – Glen Lake

Just went to rinse the boat off from the saltwater trip and brought the dog so she could swim. Brought the jigging rod too though.

Two fish fairly quick on cover. I noticed they were relating to the weedlines near deaper water so I targeted that for a few minutes. Just as I was about the leave (20 minutes into it) I see my line moving. I tightened up and set the hook. Wow, I thought - good fish. Around the boat the fish swam and had me running to the back of the boat like I did the night before for the big striper. Got to the back and landed a nice 4.5 pound largemouth bass. Wow, another good fish.

Left with a smile shortly after that. August is a better month so far.