Saturday, November 22, 2014

Landing The Big One

Fishing is a hobby that I thoroughly enjoy; all of the fish I catch are described in exact detail without any exaggeration on my part, and I always catch my limit each and every time I go out, but I suppose just that last statement sounds a bit fishy doesn’t it.

I own enough fishing lures to start my own bait and tackle shop, Cindy’s Dad gives me a hard time about all of the rods, reels, and tackle I have accumulated, I suppose it took me way too long to realize that fishing lures are not necessarily manufactured to catch fish, they are actually made to catch fishermen.

My love of fishing began when I was a young boy, I remember some of the fishing tackle that I had back in that time, I never owned a nice rod then, I do remember actually cutting down a piece of cane and making my own rod, the reel was non existent at that time just a piece of line tied onto the end, I actually caught enough fish then with my limited supplies to get me hooked on fishing for the rest of my life.
I try to go out fishing at least a couple of times a month, Cindy’s Dad and his brother are my fishing partners, between the three of us we carry six rod and reel combos, three tackle boxes, three chairs, one ice chest, two thermos bottles, a net to land the big one, and a cart to carry all of our goods, I always say if you are going fishing you may as well come prepared, Cindy’s uncle says we may not catch anything but at least we look good doing it.

My brother had an old reel for a number of years, he offered to let me have, I bragged that if he sent it to me, with it I would land a bigger fish than he ever had, the reel arrived and I immediately took it apart, cleaned and oiled it, added new line and attached it to one of my favorite rods, all my brother asked in return was a picture of me, the reel, and the first fish that I caught with it, in my mind he was truly going to be impressed.

After several trips of fishing strictly with this reel I finally got the strike I was looking for, the rod tip bent just as I walked away to refill my coffee cup, spilling my coffee and diving for the rod I began the first fight with my brothers reel that landed the picture that he still gives me a hard time about today.
A Bluegill which was returned to it’s natural habitat was the big one that day, I decided to retire the reel until my luck begins to improve, I really don’t want to use it up as it is older than I am and parts are extremely rare, so for now I am breaking in a new reel that I acquired while we were in South Carolina, I attached it to the same rod and began plotting in my mind landing the next “Big One”

Bass fishing is another legend of my mind that I have been bragging to my fishing partners about, they just smile and nod their heads as I tell the stories of the monsters I have landed in the past, they sit in the fishing chairs and relax while I walk around and plug my lures into the water in hopes of catching my first Bass since we moved to California.

My Bass catching dream finally came true just last week, we went out to Fisherman’s Retreat which had been stocked with nice trout, and along with the stocked trout this place is known to hold some nice trophy Bass, I was ready.

Walking around the lake and plugging my blue and silver Kastmaster lure towards all the trophy Bass I imagined were hiding under the banks and brush, I finally got a strike, it may not have been the earth shattering, water splashing, fish jumping into the air strike, but I finally had some action.

I fought and maneuvered the line to guide my catch through the brush, knowing that I had wandered too far away to expect any help of someone with the net to help land my trophy bass, I was left to my instincts, and with these instincts I knew as the fish got closer exactly what I had.
My first bass caught in California, although it may not have been a trophy, at least it was a bass, I did my due diligence and released my catch back into the water, he splashed the surface a bit leaving a small wake behind as he swam away.

My luck at fishing may not have been the best in the world lately, but they do say, “A bad day fishing is better than a good day doing…most anything else.”

Do you like to fish, and have you ever made a quote about something you are good at only to come up short when proving it?

26 comments:

  1. sort of like 'it's not the destination, it's the journey'. it's not the catch but the day spent fishing. :) glad you enjoy it and have some well-prepared fishing partners, too!

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    1. That is exactly the way I look at it, it is a lot of fun to catch fish, but even when we catch absolutely nothing it is so relaxing just being able to go.

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  2. I don't do it often enough. I do surf fish in the summer and have even caught one or two. Then there is fly fishing with my buddy Frog. Nothing tops frustration quite like fly fishing.

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    1. I never have gone fly fishing myself it looks like a technique in which I may hurt myself or sombody with all of the rod whipping ha ha, I have a lot of respect for those like you who can master it.

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  3. Loved to fish when I was growing up! My Dad helped to instill the love. My husband is not a fisherman, and we've only been once in 38 years (at my urging) and he was less than enthusiastic. I miss it and I miss my Dad, too!

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    1. Yes mam it is hard to instill the love of fishing into someone who has no interest, Cindy has no interest in going with me either, I am sure that you have good memories of going with your Dad and I know that you miss him, hold on to those memories because you and he will always be able to go fishing whenever you think of him.

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  4. I don't fish anymore but we did when I was a kid. I've written a story about my experience called Supertrout and I'd like you to read it sometime.

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    1. Hi Stephen, It seems like I remember that post, I will have to look back on it.

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  5. I haven't really ever fished but enjoyed hearing of others adventures that pursued it :)

    betty

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    1. Hi Betty, It is really relaxing for me, sometimes an adventure and other times not so much, but always a good time in just going.

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  6. CONGRATULATIONS on catching your first bass in California, Jimmy! And I think it's so awesome that you released it back into the water!

    I used to fish a lot when I live in Florida with my brother and father. We had a speed boat that we would take out into the ocean. Fishing is so relaxing and almost meditative.

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    1. Hey Ron, Thank you so much my friend, now that the pressure is off I should be able to catch one that has some actual size to it, would like to have a picture of a bigger one.

      "Fishing is so relaxing and almost meditative." Yes sir you are so right about that.

      Good to see you Buddy

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  7. Not a fishing person here. I always joke that if I had to kill my own food, I'd be a vegetarian.

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    1. Yes when it comes to killing your own food, vegetables are the easiest ;)

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  8. I shall think about you next time I have sea bass for dinner. I once accompanied a fishing party but the wives soon got tired of sitting around doing nothing. I can't remember if the fishermen had any success but we certainly did. New outfits all round from the local town... grins.

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    1. Hi Valerie, this sounds like a fishing trip Cindy would be right with you on, new outfits from around town and no memory of if I had any luck fishing :)

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  9. Great fish stories, with photos to keep you honest :)

    I actually enjoy "fishing". I use quotes because I have actually never caught a fish. My first trip was when I was very young and I tried all day and never caught a thing. Now we go with our sons, and I just watch rather than waste the cost of a license for myself. But I enjoy being at the lake, with no electronics, with other fishing folk. Maybe someday I'll actually catch something.

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    1. Hi Abby, Just getting out to the lake is relaxing for me also, if you ever do decide to throw a line in you just may catch more than the boys, tell them you are saving them the embarrassment of Mom showing them up next time you go ha ha

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  10. I went fishing a total of two times when I was dating my spouse. We only ever caught bluegill, if I'm remembering correctly. It was fun and delicious. I'm just nervous about the water quality here to go anymore.

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    1. Hey Bijoux, Yes you do have to be concerned with the mercury content and such anymore, Bass here are usually high in content but not the trout they stock, I still love catching the Bass but most always release them anyway.

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  11. Some of my best memories are the days I spent on Winyah Bay fishing and camping on sand bar islands. The best camping adventure was when I couldn't have been any older than six. My dad and mom, his best friend and wife, along with their boy crossed Winyah Bay and camped out on one of those sand bar islands facing the open ocean.

    My dad and his best friend decided to do a little night fishing on the ocean leaving the ladies and us kids in the tent. Being a little kid a few hours after going to sleep I had to step outside the tent to water the sea oats and that is when I looked up and saw the stars. This would have been the late 60's or very early 70's so there wasn't any light pollution from Georgetown. Dude, I'm not religious but it was truly like looking into the face of God. It would be an understatement to say seeing the Milky Way for the first time in such pristine skies changed my perspective ever since.

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    1. That is an amazing memory to have my friend, the Good Lord does paint a pretty picture and what he did when He gave us the stars on a clear night like that is indeed enough to change your perspective for sure.

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  12. Fishing is pastime I've never engaged in. The idea of being out in the peace and solitude of the countryside does appeal though. Maybe I should add it to my "things to do" list.

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    1. Hi Bryan, This is definitely something you should try, pardon the pun but you just may be hooked.

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  13. Another great story Jimmy! My granny taught me how to fish when I was a kid. Not so much for enjoyment, but because she wanted me to be able to survive in the wilderness. Sometimes when we were out there, she would send me out to catch our dinner. If I didn't catch anything, we didn't eat. Later she taught me to do it without a rod and reel. If I wasn't so darn ADD my whole life, I probably would have enjoyed fishing for pleasure. I never did though... Maybe now, I could...

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    1. Thank You Pat, Fishing for food is one thing and for pleasure another as you pointed out, if we were fishing for food we would have all starved to death by now, I bet your Granny could have given us all a few pointers especially when it comes to catching them without a rod and reel. You will have to give fishing another try one day, you just may enjoy it :)

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