I'm the Jedi Master of quick fishing trips; 3 hours for me is a very long trip. Uncharacteristically this AM I decided to beat a dead horse, and I came out ahead!
I decided to commute 2 rivers over and the day started really crappy. My first cast unleased a massive wind knot. I looked at that mess and decided to just cut it off instead of spending 20 minutes to screw around trying to clear it only to end up cutting it off. Rerigged and launched a cast in a "Sometimes Good, Sometimes Bad" spot. It was the later today.
After 5 min I motored over to my close-by "Skunk Insurance" spot which "always" produces, albeit with smaller fish. True to form on the second cast I hooked up, but dropped the fish half way in. No worries, there's more here. Next cast had a swirl at my popper, but no hit. Then I spent 15 minutes of dead horse beating with not even a sniff. OK, off to the intended spot.
Got there and 3 casts into my first drift a 27.5" striped beauty that was quickly sent back on its way. WTF didn't I just come right here? Next drift produced a 22" fish, things looking up. Yeah right, that drift range then went dead. No worries, there's another great spot on the other side of this cove.
Sure enough position the boat on the range and plug gets clobbered, but I drop the fish after a while. OK, time for another drift, and another, and another, and another, all with no activity. OK, 2 stripers isn't as good as I expect, especially since I just burned gas for a 17 mile run, but it's called fishing, not catching.
As I let the ponies run for the ride home, I thought, "Well that other hot spot isn't too much of a detour and the Admiral is probably still sleeping so why not try it even though it SUCKED yesterday?" Hung a port turn and got up on the drift.
Casted for 15 minutes and decided "Last Cast" and, of course, my plug gets crashed without a hookup. This continued for another 20 minutes or so, nothing happening until I call "Last Cast" and then a fish decides to show itself, eluding capture. Since I was well into Beating A Dead Horse, I said, "LAST CAST NO MATTER WHAT", but before I launched my last cast, a few fish started breaking in a small cove 200 yds away, and then the internal debate begins. "You know that's shallow water over there, you'll spook them for sure!" "Aw c'mon! You've been stinking all day, why not try to redeem yourself?"
The siren's call got the better of me and I crawled over, and luckily didn't disturb the fish!! I spent the next 40 minutes having a great time with fish showing interest in virtually every cast. Ended up with 4 fish with 3 going 24+". I had no problem heading back at that point, as 6 fish outings have been the norm the past couple of weeks. Sometimes you just have to be stubborn!!
I decided to commute 2 rivers over and the day started really crappy. My first cast unleased a massive wind knot. I looked at that mess and decided to just cut it off instead of spending 20 minutes to screw around trying to clear it only to end up cutting it off. Rerigged and launched a cast in a "Sometimes Good, Sometimes Bad" spot. It was the later today.
After 5 min I motored over to my close-by "Skunk Insurance" spot which "always" produces, albeit with smaller fish. True to form on the second cast I hooked up, but dropped the fish half way in. No worries, there's more here. Next cast had a swirl at my popper, but no hit. Then I spent 15 minutes of dead horse beating with not even a sniff. OK, off to the intended spot.
Got there and 3 casts into my first drift a 27.5" striped beauty that was quickly sent back on its way. WTF didn't I just come right here? Next drift produced a 22" fish, things looking up. Yeah right, that drift range then went dead. No worries, there's another great spot on the other side of this cove.
Sure enough position the boat on the range and plug gets clobbered, but I drop the fish after a while. OK, time for another drift, and another, and another, and another, all with no activity. OK, 2 stripers isn't as good as I expect, especially since I just burned gas for a 17 mile run, but it's called fishing, not catching.
As I let the ponies run for the ride home, I thought, "Well that other hot spot isn't too much of a detour and the Admiral is probably still sleeping so why not try it even though it SUCKED yesterday?" Hung a port turn and got up on the drift.
Casted for 15 minutes and decided "Last Cast" and, of course, my plug gets crashed without a hookup. This continued for another 20 minutes or so, nothing happening until I call "Last Cast" and then a fish decides to show itself, eluding capture. Since I was well into Beating A Dead Horse, I said, "LAST CAST NO MATTER WHAT", but before I launched my last cast, a few fish started breaking in a small cove 200 yds away, and then the internal debate begins. "You know that's shallow water over there, you'll spook them for sure!" "Aw c'mon! You've been stinking all day, why not try to redeem yourself?"
The siren's call got the better of me and I crawled over, and luckily didn't disturb the fish!! I spent the next 40 minutes having a great time with fish showing interest in virtually every cast. Ended up with 4 fish with 3 going 24+". I had no problem heading back at that point, as 6 fish outings have been the norm the past couple of weeks. Sometimes you just have to be stubborn!!
