Fishing Forum

Got on the water at HBSP with James. Started to idle out to go to Chester. James's phone rings and he gets a very concerned look on his face. Hangs up and says, "Jim, my dad is heading to the ER, I have to go back and head there too." emoEek Turn around, take James back to the park, say a little prayer for his dad and I am rattled for the rest of the night.<br /><br />Had to fish this one alone now. I was just not myself, I think I kept thinking about James and his dad. Thoughts about loosing my dad a couple years ago started taking over my mind.<br /><br />I will say that considering what I had caught about a week ago I was really looking forward to this one. I thought James and I might win it. What a difference a week makes. emoConfused Went to my first three places and it was the dead sea. I could not even buy a bite. Nothing! Three hours into the tournament and I had managed one little short bass. Worst start all year. I had to scramble and just junk fish. About 10 o'clock I feel the line get mushy, realize it was a fish, set the hook and in comes one at 3/7. Yea! Finally one in the well. I had gone to the faithful shakey.<br /><br />About one short bass later and another hour, repeat, set the hook on a mushy line and in comes a 3/2. emoSmile Now about 11:00 and thinking one kicker and I might even get a check in this one. Next freaking cast, line loads up and I set the hook. It does not move! emoEek It starts to sound on me heading for deep water. I could tell it was a bass and really got excited. I will save you all the drama, about three runs later and drag pulling out I have the fish right under the boat. It has never jumped. I grab the net, see a submarine of a bass and.....MISS THE DANG THING!!!!! It pulls drag again, I have to put the net down, reel line in again and this time she comes up on top for the first time. I will guess a good 8+, I got the net extended out toward her, she is floating my way, rod in one hand and net in the other. I got her half way in the net laying on the net's edge, she flops, hook comes out, I try to net her and pick it up at the same time, SHE FLOPS OFF THE FRONT OF THE NET BACK INTO THE WATER!!!!! emoDoh emoBawl I threw the net down and cried! Did I ever need a partner on that one. I learned later that one would have been second place for me. emoBawl <br /><br />I was really screwed now. Lost James and now got to think about loosing the biggest bass I have had all year. emoMad About midnight now, feel a thump and in comes keeper number three, 2/7. Finally I am thinking to myself, I got a freaking three fish limit. Make a couple more moves, a couple more smaller keepers that won't help. Time running out and I am flipping some structure. Line hangs up, pull on it to get it free and my hang up pulls back! emoCrazy Set the hook, it locks down, I am thinking no way...I am going to have a chance for another big one. emoDance I hold on tight while it is bull dogging, make about two turns of the handle and she just comes unbuttoned. emoHoppingmad I was so discussed I wanted to just leave. <br /><br />Needed the points so I headed back to Chester hoping to at least get some decent points to maintain my lead on the AOTY honors. Got there and sounded like some cry baby because all I could talk about was the big ones that got away. emoRedface Thought the night was a bust for me. Patrick say they are paying three places and third place is, "Jmax, with 9 lbs even." What!!! Really!!! You kidding me!!! In my discuss of talking about the ones I lost I did not realize I got lucky and still got paid. emoTongue Just goes to show you that you never know. Put a good spin on a bad night.<br /><br />Thanks for putting it on guys, congrats to Bob and Billy on their kick ass win!!! emoWorthy <br /><br />(PS) got a text from James and it does appear his dad is gonna be OK. emoAngel Jmax