A good fight
We recently backed the boat into the water just as the eastern sky began to lighten. It was a cool morning, and after a lengthy boat ride, I was more than happy when we finally came coasting to a stop at our destination.
I had fished this particular hump a number of times throughout the years with success. In fact, this spot notoriously coughed up bass in the
2- to 3-pound range. And there had been occasions when I had boated even larger fish from these waters.
Casting in the distance I began retrieving a jerk bait in the vicinity of some submerged cover but to no avail. My next few casts went unanswered as well, but my luck soon changed upon noticing some breaking action behind me.
Hastily retrieving the lure, I spun around and cast toward the spot where I had noticed something feeding on the surface just seconds prior. And within a couple turns of the reel, the fight was on.
It quickly grew evident that I had tied into a reputable fish. The fight was fierce. The rod doubled over, and the reel began peeling off line. There was not a largemouth bass in the lake capable of putting up such a fight; I was fairly certain that a striper was on the line’s end.
But that was OK with me. Although an avid black bass angler, I certainly will not turn down the opportunity to tie into a fish in the 20- or
30-pound range.
That being said, though, I was also aware that the reel I was using was not suited for fish falling in this class, I had actually caught a 30-pounder several years ago on 10-pound test. However, the circumstances were far different. I was in open water then, and it just so happened that standing timber lurked beneath the surface on the most recent occasion.
Well, as luck would have it, the striper eventually swam around a submerged tree and snapped the line. Of course, I was disappointed, but the morning was far from over. With that in mind, I quickly tied a topwater on a rig equipped with heavier line and began scanning the surface for any indication of feeding activity.
I noticed and cast just beyond yet another swirl at the water’s surface, and began twitching the rod tip as I retrieved the lure. It was certainly close enough to the activity, and with a little luck, my presentation would prove more than the fish could resist.
Sure enough, the water surrounding my lure suddenly exploded. I gave the rod a hard jerk, and the fight was on. This fish didn’t seem to be as large as the previous one, but it was still putting up a reputable battle. In fact, it was all I could muster up to keep it out of the nearby timber.
I was somewhat concerned that I still might lose yet another lure in the timber, in spite of the fact that I had the benefit of heavier line. But I felt a sigh of relief upon finally working the fish into open water.
Now it was simply a matter of not rushing, and allowing her to tire prior to working the fish to the surface. Well, I eventually manged to get the fish into a net and dipped her into the boat.
As it tuned out, I had boated a striper weighing in the neighborhood of 15 pounds. Although still disappointed that I had allowed the biggest one to get away, I was still satisfied with my catch.
It was my first striper of the season, and I had, hopefully, happened upon a location where I might consistently find them feeding during early morning hours. And even though fishing was poor, at best, for the next couple of hours, I was satisfied upon my return home.
I had experienced recent outings when the numbers were more impressive. But it only takes one fish to take home memories of a reputable and memorable fight.