Had a morning that made me want to raise the white flag and get golf clubs. As of late, the "best" spots provided a single drift where you'd get a striper or multiple hits, and then you might as well go fish in the Sahara Desert because it's game over. Got to today's target drift at 05:00, perfect pre-sunrise amount of light. The 1st drift showed nothing, but I went back up current for drift #2. The action started with a couple of fish slap at my popper, but no hookups.
Then Poseidon really put the screws to me. With the lure only 10' from the boat a "new slot" sized striper came rocketing out of the water from under my plug, but no hookup. I reflexively stopped my retrieve, and BAM the hit came, but she only held on the plug long enough for me to try to set the hook. Then the fish let go of the plug and the load on my rod rocketed the plug right back at me, crashing into my torso!! At least my PFD acted like an umpire's chest guard. Too bad the whole scene took me totally by surprised. When the fish first came flying out of the water had I been ready with the net, I might have been able to catch the fish out of the air!!
Still shaking, I noticed that weeds were setting in, but there was a clear spot close to the bank in THE spot. Tossed the plug in, and POP POP POP BAM!!!! Of course, no hookup. In absolute fury, I said to myself "F this chit, I'll go home skunked!!" started the motor, slammed the throttle down, and headed home.
The home front was totally quiet, but I decided to try the one, "Skunk Prevention" spot on the way home. Got up there, cut the engine and started the drift. First cast showed nothing, but on the second cast the water erupted around the plug multiple times with no hookup. After the 4th eruption I screamed out "Goddamn you to HELL!!" and there was another eruption, but his time the fish grabbed the plug and got hooked. Took my time with it, extremely confident that I would drop the fish to ensure Pepe LePew would meet me at the dock.
Seems that Poseidon figured I was serious about the golf clubs and allowed me land a 27 fish, keeping my record skunk free since late May. Of course, that SOB was NOT finished with F-ing with me today. As I was unhooking the fish, a bunch of its larger friends started breaking around me, but in typical fashion, it was a fast event, ending well before I unhooked and ensured that the 27 had a strong swim away from the boat. Figured I'd go back on the drift, and while on it, the pod of these larger fish started breaking 50 yds out of casting range, but as soon as I turned the key, the fish disappeared. Hey, they were on top for 45 seconds which seems to be this year's normal Blitz duration...
Then Poseidon really put the screws to me. With the lure only 10' from the boat a "new slot" sized striper came rocketing out of the water from under my plug, but no hookup. I reflexively stopped my retrieve, and BAM the hit came, but she only held on the plug long enough for me to try to set the hook. Then the fish let go of the plug and the load on my rod rocketed the plug right back at me, crashing into my torso!! At least my PFD acted like an umpire's chest guard. Too bad the whole scene took me totally by surprised. When the fish first came flying out of the water had I been ready with the net, I might have been able to catch the fish out of the air!!
Still shaking, I noticed that weeds were setting in, but there was a clear spot close to the bank in THE spot. Tossed the plug in, and POP POP POP BAM!!!! Of course, no hookup. In absolute fury, I said to myself "F this chit, I'll go home skunked!!" started the motor, slammed the throttle down, and headed home.
The home front was totally quiet, but I decided to try the one, "Skunk Prevention" spot on the way home. Got up there, cut the engine and started the drift. First cast showed nothing, but on the second cast the water erupted around the plug multiple times with no hookup. After the 4th eruption I screamed out "Goddamn you to HELL!!" and there was another eruption, but his time the fish grabbed the plug and got hooked. Took my time with it, extremely confident that I would drop the fish to ensure Pepe LePew would meet me at the dock.
Seems that Poseidon figured I was serious about the golf clubs and allowed me land a 27 fish, keeping my record skunk free since late May. Of course, that SOB was NOT finished with F-ing with me today. As I was unhooking the fish, a bunch of its larger friends started breaking around me, but in typical fashion, it was a fast event, ending well before I unhooked and ensured that the 27 had a strong swim away from the boat. Figured I'd go back on the drift, and while on it, the pod of these larger fish started breaking 50 yds out of casting range, but as soon as I turned the key, the fish disappeared. Hey, they were on top for 45 seconds which seems to be this year's normal Blitz duration...
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