Not to be outdone

Earlier this week Nino was out and called me all excited, and rightly so. While he’s an experienced fisherman his time in fresh water is relatively new. He and I had found some fish last weekend and he returned to the scene. Others were fishing there so he stayed away and worked some pads nearby. After a while he made a cast and got the thump and the game was on. Twenty minutes later he got a net under this beast. Just about 6lbs on a 5’6” Fenwick with a 20 series President and Stren crappie 2 lb . Quite an accomplishment for a novice. He did it all the right way and got rewarded. The man is afire inside with the passion for UL fishing.

This morning I went to see about some bluegill in the same place. For the same reason I started in the same place, and got the same reward. I’ve just put on some excellent Varivas 4lb braid and was throwing a 1/32 yellow rooster tail. I must’ve dropped it on his head because after the cast when I came tight with the lure, there he was. I can’t tell you much other than he was large and wanted back into the lily pads, and I couldn’t let that happen. I palmed the spool and used the rod all I could but a couple of minutes into the fight, with the TM steady heading for open water, he came loose on one of his surges for the pads. I was disappointed but happy I’d gotten connected for a while anyway. I looked at the lure a while later and found that it hadn’t pulled free, he had straightened the #12 treble he was connected to. Do I have to say how happy I am with the new line? Rated at 4 lb it did wonderfully, not breaking with one of the biggest fish of my life on that size line.

A few hours later I had found some gills to play with and was having fun, still can’t break ten inches but got close a couple of times today. Pitched one of Deepfry’s one feather jigs towards but not close to some pads and got another hit. And then he stripped drag. Mercilessly!! So I’m thinking I’ve gotten another of the many catfish I’ve gotten around here in the past. Kinda felt different though, then I got a bright flash as it went back deep. Time got away from me but a while later I knew I didn’t have a catfish but didn’t know what it was. Thought maybe a big LMB from the drag pulls of a couple of seconds each. Every time I got it close and thought I might get a look, here went the drag again. Finally got him close to the surface after palming the spool again and fighting with the rod all I could. Another big Tilapia. Took me three tries to get him in the net, and a concerted effort to lift it over the gunnel. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My PB with my last one being 5lb1oz, this one tipped the scales at 5lbs10oz. I was impressed with the size of this fish and the shape of the tail and fins, no wonder they fight so hard. Being an invasive I’m not supposed to release them but didn’t want it myself. I closed up shop and headed for the dock to try and find someone to put it to use. And that was in fact what happened. The gent said that he didn’t really want to until he saw it, then his wife saw it, and the response changed to **** yeah!! All ended well and off I went to the house. I was happy with the gills but this made my day. Thanks for coming along with me today, it’s been a good ride. Holler if you see me out and until then……Skeet

This was Ninos fish, just over six pounds and a stud in its own right.
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And this one was mine, a little smaller. Funny thing was he wasn’t even hooked in the mouth. The hook pulled free with little effort. When they decide to run, they run and all you can do is hope to stay buttoned up. Went home afterwards and changed a shirt and headed for some Chinese for lunch with my Queen. A day I’ll remember for a while.