The 'Dead Sea' Bass

[Thudpucker]

Yesterday I had some time to go fishing and after some 8 hours of messing around in this Huge lake (Lewis-Smith lake,AL) I found a quiet place with no speed boats or PWC's racing about.

I should have been in a canoe. Brush abounds.
But I came across a stretch of shallow mud bottom. I would never have thought ther'd be a fish in that desert.
The water was clear and the bottom light color so I could see what my bait was doing.
I decided to try out some stuff where I could see how it worked in the water.

After a few spinners, n' Jigs, I got to an ugly Plastic worm.
It was the first worm I tried.
At the very first cast, the worm barely made it under the water when it just stopped moving.
I pulled a bit, thinking the worm was over the edge of a stick or something.
"BANG" the worm was stuck in a Large Mouth Bass's mouth. He just exploed. I didn't have a chance to set the hook, he almost took it up into the trees near the bank. I had enough problem hanging onto the rod. I just wasn't expecting that kind of fury.

I was using a 'Circle Hook' and just like someone else said, (in our Hook thread) the Hook sets itself.
It was stuck in the corner of his mouth. He wasnt gonna get off.
I think I'm gonna stick with those Circle hooks! (pun intended)

That was the very first Bass I've ever caught on a plastic worm. 4 lbs 19". I guess I shoulda left it in the Lake for other Bass fishermen, but I just couldnt. I'm gonna eat im'.

 

[Adjuster]

Enjoy your fish dinner! Wish I was with you!

 

[jmas]

Thud, You may forget Birthday parties, a date with your lady, a certain topic in school, paying the IRS on time, but you will never forget an important event as that.
Stay Happy.

 

[Thudpucker]

There's more!

Today a storm was forcast. It didnt look too bad, and I thought if it did, I'd just out-run it back to the ramp when the rain started.
Things were going fine. I cast and threw my rod into the water. While dredging for my rod, the storm blew in.
Finally got the rod and fired up the motor for the long trip back in the rain.

The rain came in hard. The wind began and I knew the Lightening would be coming in with the black cloud. I hurried.
I had the 25 cranked and up on plane, and in the middle of the lake, the motor just died!
Criminy.
Raining buckets. Thunder rolling in the distance and coming right at me was this terrible wind with the heavy rain.
I tried the motor a bit, fuel and electric is OK. No more time for that I better get to paddeling for the shore.

I sat down on the front of the Jon boat and began to paddle. My feet and lower legs are in the water.
Half mile straight line, but the wind is blowing me off course so badly I have to 'duck boat' to get toward the shelter of some guys boat house. If I went with the wind I'd be out there for a mile or more.
Any port in a storm eh?

Not bad for an old man. I did that half mile in 20 minutes. Drowned and chilled, the guy in the house met me at his boat house with a nice big towell. Boy you meet some nice folks under the strangest circumstances.

Up in his house, he made coffee and we talked till I warmed up a bit. Left the boat at his place, he took me to my Pickup and I hot footed it for a hot shower and some hot food.

I paused a bit at the ramp. Watching from the pickup as the guys who made it in, just left the boats where they could beach them and ran for their pickups. Lightening and thunder all around us.
Lordy how I love fishing and boating!

 

[jmas]

Im saving all your stories to tell my grandkids, my own experiences are to boring.

 

[Thudpucker]

I went back to get my boat today. Cool and breezy.
The engine quit because of "Operator error".
I had scavenged some gas from another boat's tank. For some reason that tank had some Kerosine or Diesel in it.
I dont remember doing that, but it was lighter in color than the mixed gas, and it would burn in my brush pile, so it wasn't water.

Any way, a fresh mix and blowing out the carb and it started right up and runs fine.

 

[Sandy]

Thud, You do know how to have more fun than the average bear! Thanks for our latest vicarious lake adventure. Nice work on that bass. Once again you have left us on the edge of our seats waitng for next week's thrilling episode . Glad you whipped some more odds AND retrieved the rod.