07-05-2009, 01:23 AM
Spent a couple hours Friday morning in the reeds south of the airport. Soaked pieces of white bass under a bobber and chucked plastic with another rod.
Early on had a take on the white bass meat. The critter headed straight away pulling line. My rod was doubled over and the drag as tight as I dared with 6lb test.
After quickly taking about 20 yards of line, I think it realized it was hooked. A flip of the tail and I was left to wonder just how big it was.
Had a couple more timid inquiries on the bait and one whitie who couldn't stay away.
Meanwhile I was trying different shapes, sizes and colors of plastics on the other rod. Picked up a few crappie but never on the same lure.
At one point I was retrieving a tandem with a 1 1/2" white curly tail jig and a small dark tube when I hooked something big.
This rod was also an ultralight with 6lb test. Right away the fish made strong line-stripping runs towards heavy reeds. Both times I managed to turn it before getting there.
Although it was probably only a couple minutes, it felt MUCH longer, I finally pulled in enough line to see a big forked tail and let out a couple yells.
More fighting until it came up enough to get a lip grip. The little white curly tail jig was stuck firmly in the jaw.
Unfortunately, I hadn't considered how to get good photos without extra damage to me or the fish so I just took a couple quick pics, got it back in the water for a moment or two to recover and watched it swim away.
I can't believe how tired my arm got. My little rod was bent double almost the whole time and I had to work to keep it out of the reeds and such.
Those cats are strong!
I'm guessing it was in the 28" range.
Fun times.
[signature]
Early on had a take on the white bass meat. The critter headed straight away pulling line. My rod was doubled over and the drag as tight as I dared with 6lb test.
After quickly taking about 20 yards of line, I think it realized it was hooked. A flip of the tail and I was left to wonder just how big it was.
Had a couple more timid inquiries on the bait and one whitie who couldn't stay away.
Meanwhile I was trying different shapes, sizes and colors of plastics on the other rod. Picked up a few crappie but never on the same lure.
At one point I was retrieving a tandem with a 1 1/2" white curly tail jig and a small dark tube when I hooked something big.
This rod was also an ultralight with 6lb test. Right away the fish made strong line-stripping runs towards heavy reeds. Both times I managed to turn it before getting there.
Although it was probably only a couple minutes, it felt MUCH longer, I finally pulled in enough line to see a big forked tail and let out a couple yells.
More fighting until it came up enough to get a lip grip. The little white curly tail jig was stuck firmly in the jaw.
Unfortunately, I hadn't considered how to get good photos without extra damage to me or the fish so I just took a couple quick pics, got it back in the water for a moment or two to recover and watched it swim away.
I can't believe how tired my arm got. My little rod was bent double almost the whole time and I had to work to keep it out of the reeds and such.
Those cats are strong!
I'm guessing it was in the 28" range.
Fun times.
[signature]
