Good Day - Bad Day

Hi all. Got my season openers yesterday. Almost got skunked but just before quitting tried one last shot under a covered bridge. Bottom at that spot is mostly sand, and on the third cast a no doubt about it take! A very nice pumpkin came to hand. Fat and no doubt loaded with eggs. The second made my day up to that point. A beauty of a long ear that had most of her colors on the lower third of the body, and was heading to prime up top. A chunky as wide as my hand and really thick. I know I have to get a new phone for pics, as I enjoy seeing them here on the site. Anyway, both fought really well, and just slammed the bait. I was using my Leland TSS, a Pflueger 20 predident, and a chartreuse/black trout magnet. The line is a new one for me, Gamma HiViz Panfish in 2 lb test. After a few more trips I would like to report back on how it worked for me, but so far has been an excellent line.
Now for the part that really spoiled the day. I forgot the rod in the parking lot and drove away. Totally my fault. When I got home I immediately went back and in less than 30 minutes it was gone - nada. I will be going to the ranger’s station today to see if someone turned it in, but the odds of that these days is slim to none. I bought a spare TSS a couple of years ago because I liked it so much, and will replace the President. An expensive lesson, but if it had been my JDM rod I would have cried.
Anyway, that was my day. Now that the ice has been broken I expect the creek will just get better. I hope someone did the right thing.
Bob

bummer ......:banghead

I know. I’m not the first to do something bone headed while fishing. The outfit is distinctive enough that I’ll keep an eye out for it, barring someone hopefully doing the right thing. I doubt I will see a Leyland rod on this creek except mine.
Bob

Man that stinks, but at least you stuck a couple nice Panfish.

You never know, hope someone turns it in. I walked off without my tackle bag full of hand tied jigs about ten years ago and it was gone when I went back for it. Heart broken, I tied like crazy to replace the jigs I lost. A few weeks later a guy walks up to me and asked if I had lost a tackle bag. When I said yes he told me a friend had found it and picked it up. Even though they hadn't seen me leave it they knew it was mine by the unique ties inside the bag. I got the bag a few days later and rewarded the guy with a few dozen jigs.

So sorry to hear this...At least you have a spare! Thank God it wasn't your JDM, that would've been depressing!

Bob,
Sorry to hear that, glad you caught some nice ones to open the season. That good feeling can't be taken from you!

Thanks for the condolences, guys. Yea, the JDM would have been over the edge. An expensive lesson learned. I was glad to have caught a couple of good ones; the creek is starting to wake up!
Bob

Too bad about your loss Bob, things happen when your out and about doing things.
Where you living in the area when that bridge was rebuilt?

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Originally Posted by yobuck

Too bad about your loss Bob, things happen when your out and about doing things.
Where you living in the area when that bridge was rebuilt?

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Yes, we were. The Schofield Bridge is an interesting one, originally built in 1873 for local farmers. It was set on fire by vandals (never caught) in 1991. In 1997 after an all community effort it was rebuilt with private funds, and craftsmen that still knew traditional building techniques oversaw the rebuilding. Huge beams were custom cut and held together at joints using big wooden pegs. Small cars such as the rangers are allowed to cross, and it needs some care but is still very sound. There arn’t many left, and this one is a nice example. It resides in Tyler Park, my home water.
Bob

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Originally Posted by BobC

Yes, we were. The Schofield Bridge is an interesting one, originally built in 1873 for local farmers. It was set on fire by vandals (never caught) in 1991. In 1997 after an all community effort it was rebuilt with private funds, and craftsmen that still knew traditional building techniques oversaw the rebuilding. Huge beams were custom cut and held together at joints using big wooden pegs. Small cars such as the rangers are allowed to cross, and it needs some care but is still very sound. There arn’t many left, and this one is a nice example. It resides in Tyler Park, my home water.
Bob

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I lived most of my life in close proximity to that bridge Bob, so i am familiar with the history of it.
The hemlock lumber used to rebuild it came mostly from the property owned by my late brother and me in the mountains of N C PA.

I got a Leland TCB with a 20 President. Took a spill last fall and lost the rod&reel in the water. I also lost my ipilot remote. Went back the next day and found the combo. Never gave the remote another thought. The sting of the money hurts. But I know how you feel about the loss of a favorite combo.

Sent from my E6910 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Originally Posted by yobuck

I lived most of my life in close proximity to that bridge Bob, so i am familiar with the history of it.
The hemlock lumber used to rebuild it came mostly from the property owned by my late brother and me in the mountains of N C PA.

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Hi yobuck. Small world, and neat to know where a lot of the timber came from. There are still places where you can get timber custom cut. Some years ago I flew my RC planes from a small farm, and the farmer decided he wanted to build an old time horse drawn wagon. He rigged up a saw and cut the timber in sizes that you just can’t get any other way. It was a fun project to watch.
Bob

There are actually quite a few saw mills in Pa Bob, i dont know where the one who did the bridge timber was located, but from what i heard at the time, that was donated as well.
The same area as those trees came from for that bridge, at one time supplied most of the very tall masts for the worlds large sailing ships.

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Originally Posted by yobuck

There are actually quite a few saw mills in Pa Bob, i dont know where the one who did the bridge timber was located, but from what i heard at the time, that was donated as well.
The same area as those trees came from for that bridge, at one time supplied most of the very tall masts for the worlds large sailing ships.

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Nice those old mills still have a place in this world. I have a beautiful custom made walnut banjo that was built in Wisconsin. The luthier has contacts with various farmers and gets first shot at walnut and cherry trees being cut down. He cuts them down himself and then cuts to the lengths he needs. Typically trees along field lines. Som3 of it real old trees. He has a mill that custom cuts the necks and various other sizes and then he stores it 8(!) years in the upper loft of his work garage to dry it just right. THEN he selects and makes the instrument. Ah, I wish I had some of those skills, but I enjoy seeing well crafted wood.
Bob

Too bad about your rod and reel, good excuse to buy something new though.