Some fish, like little dogs, aren’t aware of their size limitations in relation to their aggression. So they take on things they shouldn’t and get into some trouble for it sometimes. But all fun for me, nonetheless.
A man serious about the prospecting of ditches needs a shorty. As discovered researching ”A Brief History of Ditch Fishing” a 7’6″ snub-nosed can be a deadly weapon at close range. My dad’s old Horrocks-Ibbotson is to me a ranking northeast small stream trout rod (bought in his time for $12). But for my ditch forays I wanted a 6w with extra mustard. I tried two less expensive commercial rods under eight feet: the Redington Predator and the Temple Fork TiCrx 6w. I’ve fished both of them in close quarters north and south since April, and used an anonymous 9′ 6w as the field test control. Here are my thoughts: REDINGTON PREDATOR 71064: 7’10″ six weight. The Redington Predator has backbone. It’s 4 inches…
Mom died of pancreatic cancer and there was nothing any of us could do about it. We could sit in the hospital room and hold her hand. We took shifts to make sure she was never alone. I kept rods and a fly bag in the trunk of my car. My shift would end and I’d drive to water. I wrote part of the eulogy I’d give at my mother’s funeral in my head while fly fishing. We have a family friend with a farm pond. My brother and I went there to not think about anything but poppers and surface takes and jumps. I sorted things out on the water. I’m here because of a river; my mother’s great aunt rented waterfront property from…
Tagged: farm ponds rule, largemouth bass
I’ve been with the family upstate. Today I decided to walk a remnant of the canal system and sight fish to carp. The casts fell into place in front of mudding grubbers but the carp shunned every offering. Humiliation forces the reconsideration of options; and the desperate idea of returning to the farm pond. But redemtion needed to come elsewhere, through a group of bass living under a bridge. They’re used to seeing shiners and worms and plastic ad nauseum and just don’t budge for much. But it’s easy enough to pull of the road and jump the guardrail and slide down the embankment. This bass came out of the shadow line and poked and poked and finally committed in a lazy inhalation of my…
Unemployment is close to 10 percent, and the percentage of jobbed people with lunch break casting access is criminally low. Remedy: FJ reader Chris Erdman sent report of hitting smallies in the pond behind his office building. That’s like stealing.
Tagged: lunch fishing, smallmouth bass, stealing
Old black popper of doom works well in any climate where bass may inhabit. A family friend with a farm pond and a healthy population of bucketmouths is a fine thing to be sure.
Tagged: bass popper, farm ponds rule, largemouth bass
See that current’s edge. I’ve been fishing that my whole life. First hauling perch on a Zebco with worms impaled on Eagle Claw hooks. Then pike with spinning gear and a Heddon Midget River Runt . And finally a nine foot six weight and a baitfish pattern on a size two hook. When I’m there and the boats aren’t in and I need to steal a moment I can wade the shoal in the frigid water and cast along the dropoff for northerns or along the edge for lingering smallmouth. It’s my spot; it’s only right they would oblige.
Tagged: lifetime claims on fishing spots
I think my buddy Chris is taunting me with these pics from out west. Nice work if you can get it, gentlemen.
Great to read about other peoples’ episodes of misery on the water. Lots of lost gear, hooking trucks, bad weather, carp infections and embarrassment. I thought Alex from 40 Rivers had it in the bag with his admission of public defecation but Michael Gracie then proved his equal. With two brownliner stories canceling each other out, I’m going to go with near death by bull moose. Fly Fisher Girl, send word and The Dry Creek flats pack is yours.
Tagged: flats pack, misery index, Simms Fishing, skunk hour
