Post by chefjim on Apr 1, 2008 17:54:37 GMT -6
Here's one from my archives last season........
Night before last, I was set up on a tributary to the Ohio fishin for Flatheads. I was all by myself, which I enjoy sometimes. Just me and nature and some peace and quiet.
Then one of my clickers started that slow, steady run that Flatheads do. I picked up the rod, clicked it into free-spool, and allowed the line to continue to feed out for another 60 seconds or so until it stopped.
I locked in the gears and got ready for a good fight. After another 30 seconds the line started to stretch out again, and WHAM! I set the hook.
It felt like a good hookset and a pretty good fish, too. I fought her for about ten minutes, with her going on a couple of pretty good runs.
Then she started coming in, feeling like I had worn her out enough. I got her to my feet and there she was. Probably 40 pounds or so. Not bad at all.
But wait! She wasn't hooked very well, and she snapped her head to the side and the hook ripped out. She didn't move though.
I wanted that fish. I REALLY wanted that fish. Whenever I am fortunate enough to catch one that big, I always C.P.K.R. (Catch, Photograph, Kiss, and Release), But I hadn't WON yet! I thought for about 3 milliseconds, and then instinctively dove right in on top of the fish!
For those of you that know me, you'll agree that I'm about 30 years too old to be doing stuff like that. Heck, it takes me a full 30 seconds to get out of my fishin' chair even on a good night.
But now I was commited. SPLASH! I felt the fish under me for a few seconds, but she wriggled out and was gone. I gathered myself together and climbed out of the water. I was now soaking wet and cold. I had blood streaming down my arm from where I must have crashed my elbow against a rock. I took the bandanna off my head and wrapped and tied it. Gathering more presence of mind by now, I considered what I should do. Get my injury looked at? Continue fishing?
Easy decision. I re-tied the bandanna and baited up again and threw out.
I blew the fish a kiss and said out loud "OK. You win. This time."
I then settled back in my fishin' chair and kept on doing what I love most............
Night before last, I was set up on a tributary to the Ohio fishin for Flatheads. I was all by myself, which I enjoy sometimes. Just me and nature and some peace and quiet.
Then one of my clickers started that slow, steady run that Flatheads do. I picked up the rod, clicked it into free-spool, and allowed the line to continue to feed out for another 60 seconds or so until it stopped.
I locked in the gears and got ready for a good fight. After another 30 seconds the line started to stretch out again, and WHAM! I set the hook.
It felt like a good hookset and a pretty good fish, too. I fought her for about ten minutes, with her going on a couple of pretty good runs.
Then she started coming in, feeling like I had worn her out enough. I got her to my feet and there she was. Probably 40 pounds or so. Not bad at all.
But wait! She wasn't hooked very well, and she snapped her head to the side and the hook ripped out. She didn't move though.
I wanted that fish. I REALLY wanted that fish. Whenever I am fortunate enough to catch one that big, I always C.P.K.R. (Catch, Photograph, Kiss, and Release), But I hadn't WON yet! I thought for about 3 milliseconds, and then instinctively dove right in on top of the fish!
For those of you that know me, you'll agree that I'm about 30 years too old to be doing stuff like that. Heck, it takes me a full 30 seconds to get out of my fishin' chair even on a good night.
But now I was commited. SPLASH! I felt the fish under me for a few seconds, but she wriggled out and was gone. I gathered myself together and climbed out of the water. I was now soaking wet and cold. I had blood streaming down my arm from where I must have crashed my elbow against a rock. I took the bandanna off my head and wrapped and tied it. Gathering more presence of mind by now, I considered what I should do. Get my injury looked at? Continue fishing?
Easy decision. I re-tied the bandanna and baited up again and threw out.
I blew the fish a kiss and said out loud "OK. You win. This time."
I then settled back in my fishin' chair and kept on doing what I love most............
Good Story! 
