Been gone too long

So I had to go and see what was up. Didn’t want to get out in the cool of the morning so I got a solid breakfast before I hooked the boat up. Didn’t eat lunch.



So with a late start I got to the ramp near ten o’clock. I arrived to find the river still up and in the woods and a full moon.


Lately I’m confused about the effect of a full moon on my local fish. Either boom or bust and little in between. The first stop was flowing hard and I didn’t expect much seeing that. In days past it’s always better with less flow. I got bumped a few times and had a couple tug for a few seconds before they left but nothing to hand. Throwing a small curl tail seemed to be best this Saturday morning. First to hand was an acrobat that I was glad to see. It had been about an hour and a half grinding through empty casts.



Never got another bass but the gills finally started playing. The first one was a good enough one that even pulled a little drag.



A few others came and went with none to be as good as the first one, but fun just the same. There’s a pocket that’s about two foot deep that sometimes is loaded but this day it was mostly empty, then I found out why. I got a thump and thought I’d hung a branch in an odd place, then it moved. I put some heat on it and got it close to the surface and got a look at a mouth as big as a tennis ball and pissed. Then he rolled, showing his color and long fin and removed any doubt……….mudfish. About four pounds or a little better. He pretty much did what he wanted until he started going towards the thick stuff. I palmed the spool and slowed him some but he’d had enough and turned on the afterburners and I couldn’t get my hand off of the spool fast enough and the line gave in. Would’ve liked a pic but those things are nasty so I was good with the outcome. I found a few more and had dodged the wind all morning, the clock now about 1:30. I hadn’t been to my office in many months and it was a pleasant visit, I’ll look for some cloud cover before I go back next time. Hope y’all get out soon and find a few. The wind and rain and cold have messed me around for a while now, I’m ready to fish. Still working my way through the rifles trying to get set up for this fall before time is gone and I’m not ready. Til next time……..Skeet