Just one more cast!

Usually Sundays are Family days, usually being the key word… Ya know a day of rest, stay home, not really doing too much etc,. Especially it being a little overcast. When we got home from church, I thought I would be content doing just that, nothing! Catch up on my recorded fishing shows, etc. But after watching part of a fishing show, wrestling/chasing/playing with the kids for a bit, I found myself pretty “rest”less… So I mentioned to my wife, “I was thinking about going fishing..” she said, “Ok” have fun. Off I went, this time I left the boys at home. Besides, They were building some cool track in the dirt for their cars anyways and weren’t interested in going.

I was looking forward to fishing some water I had not fished before and ventured around a couple points. Along the way I passed a group of bait fisherman (looked like minnows or shiners) with all the poles set up etc. “catch anything yet?” I get the typical answer, “naw, just got here.” (More on that spot later.) Away I went of to some solitude…

I fished several spots, enjoying the solitude, the scenery, and my Bud Light along the way… (I know, Bud Light? eww) But it’s actually not bad for light Beer. Plus the wife says I need to start drinking light Beer. I eventually did end up catching a nice little spotted Bass and for as small as this fish was, he even managed to pull a little drag. Nice!

It was starting to get a little dark and the clouds were getting even darker so I decided to fish my way back to the car. Plus I wanted to fish the spot were I saw the bait fisherman. I did not catch anything on my way back and eventually reached the cove I wanted to fish (where the bait fisherman were earlier?),.. It was almost dark, had started sprinkling, and I had already said to myself several times, “this is my last cast…”

I usually carry two rods, this time of year, one light 6-8lb for worms, and a 8-10lb set up for topwater, jerk baits, spinnerbaits, etc. But today, I brought a 15lb set up with a swim bait tied on.

Ok, “last cast” for like the fourth time… As I was slowly reeling in my lure, about 20 feet from shore, felt a slight almost weed type snag feeling, then Bam! HARD TUG, I really didn’t even need to swing (set the hook), just loaded the rod! Head shake, I was not ready for that! Zzzz, Zzzz, (I need new drags) I knew right away it was not the 12-13″ers I had been catching all week, no this fish was big! Plus I knew it had to be a bigger fish because of the bait I was fishing. To be honest after the couple pulls of drag, it was not much of a fight. Once I got her up where I could reach her, I grabbed my camera and while I was lipping her, she flopped off the hook and momentarily I did not have a hold of her, fortunately she was only in about a half inch of water/grass and couldn’t go anywhere. I grabbed her with both hands (somebody watching would have been laughing),.. anyone who has ever caught bigger fish, has had a moment like this… I finally got a hold of her lip and man my heart was pumping! Nice!!! I was absolutely stoked!

I still have a few fish in the freezer from last week plus I hope she goes a breeds MANY more of her strain! A very brief revive and off she went! I believe she had to go 4-5lbs, not a pig but still a very nice fish! My personal best so far at Folsom lake.