Bass fishing blues
August 20, 2005
I wrote this last June 29 on the old web site:
As I cast my plastic worm toward the shoreline rocks at the Lake of the Ozarks, enjoying the cool of early morning, I wonder why I don’t get discouraged this time of year when I probably average no more than one bass-bite an hour. I think it’s because I don’t have a clue whether there is a fish within casting range. This makes a bite, when it comes, a total surprise. Is it a tiny fish or a monster fish?
I categorize bass caught as dink, small, or large. A dink is less than 12 inches long, a small 12-16 inches, and a large over 16 inches. If it breaks my line or my rod, it’s a monster, which usually happens a couple times a year. (One snapped my line this morning.)
Dinks account for about a third of my catches, smalls one-half, large one-tenth. That’s as good as this old man with a weak back (and weak head) can do, but it is enough to keep him going.
I provide those around me with many reasons to think I’m a couple of bricks short of a full load, but bass fishng must be at the top of the list. I fish from a tournament-class bass boat, but I’ve never fished in a tournament. When I surprise myself and boat a fish, I never keep it for dinner. I kiss it and release it back to its natural element. I’m not satisfied with a simple fishing pole, bobber, and nightcrawler; I have a rod locker full of expensive rods and reels. Worms or minnows? Nah, I spend five bucks for a Cabela’s RealImage Jointed Rad Shad crankbait.
Go figure.
Angler Dave, yearning for the lake
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2 Responses to “Bass fishing blues”
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I’d sure like to see the look on the fish’s face when you give it that kiss! The kiss of life!
Well, Leslie, what can I say? Better than spitting on a worm.