My Big Bass II

Rarely does lightning strike twice in the same place and even more rare is a strike to the same person…even though I understand there was a park ranger in Yosemite that was officially hit by lightning 7 times….and survived them all. But lightning did strike the second time on Memorial Day as my friend Frank and I were fishing a small lake and we had one of those days that keep you coming back.

Being Memorial Day and the weather looked to be good, Frank and I made plans to meet at 7:30am to fish a 7 acre lake that we have fished a couple other times this year. It is a very odd lake in that it is as healthy as a lake can be…oh, and it is full of catfish and big bass; two problems that intrigue me especially after the first trip to the lake where I caught 4 catfish in the 5 pound range and all on a fly rod. The last time we fished the lake I had hooked a big bass that had broken me off as I was fishing my 2 weight rod and light tippet. For the last two weeks I had been chomping at the bit to get back and give this big bass another try.

I arrived at the lake about 7am and allowed enough time to take care of some minor housekeeping issues that at times can mean the difference between success and failure. I decided to fish my 4 weight with a sink tip line and therefore I cut the entire leader off and tied on a section of 5 feet of 14 pound test with a tippet section of about 2 feet of 1x. New knots give me confidence; especially when I know I may be challenging a big catfish and hopefully would have another chance at a big bass.

Frank pulled in at 7:25am and I had just kicked away from the edge and had made my first cast. We talked for a moment…but I kept it short as I was raring to get catching. I put the shore to my left and started slinging a Hoosier Streamer, a white one, toward the cover of the edge. I had made 5 or 6 casts when I had my first take; I strip set the fish and landed a fat 16 inch bass. About 4 casts later I hauled in yet another 16 inch bass and followed that up with an 18 inch bass a couple casts later. The morning was off to a flying start and to say that I was pumped up was an understatement.

I decided to keep a 5 fish limit of bass and figured that when I crossed Frank I would have him take a few photos of the quality bass that were in this lake. My next fish was not a bass; a rather large catfish smashed my streamer and actually came up out of the water…not once but twice. The fish tested my drag and in about a minute I had horsed the first of 5 catfish I would land on the day; I wanted to put it on my stringer but had 3 good bass already strung and didn’t want Mr. Catfish to gore and possibly kill one of the bass.

About 30 minutes later I did meet Frank on his left-handed route around the lake and he was doing quite well also. I pulled up my 5 bass limit and estimated it to way approximately 15 pounds (didn’t have a fish scale at this point of the day) and Frank took several nice photos of me and the fish before I released them back into the lake. We discussed flies for a moment and I returned back to where I had caught my last fish…and it was at that moment that the sun was perfect and I could see a large bass hanging just below a lily pad. I made one cast and the big fish came out and mouthed my fly; I didn’t set the hook quick enough and he swam back to his hiding place. Here is where a little experience paid off as I moved 180 degrees on the fish and made yet another cast…it was perfect as my fly landed on the lily pad and I stripped it off, gave it 3 quick strips and he ambushed it, just like he should have. I gave 2 hard strip sets then another with my rod hand and the big fish exploded up out of the water. It was then that I kicked hard away from all the cover and any spot I thought would be a good breaking point. Luckily the bass made his run directly to the midpoint of the small bay I was fly fishing in. I had already set my drag to handle the catfish and it was a good thing for this was a powerful fish and upset to be hooked. The next minute or so was classic and was one spectacular fight that played out almost in front of Frank.

I landed the fish, made a quick call home to my wonderful wife and asked her to make a trip to Walmart and pick up a digital scale. About an hour later Vickie dropped down into the lake basin and we quickly measured and weighed our fish; 22 ½ inches and 6 ½ pounds. It was obvious this was a big female who had just spawned as her stomach was flat and the lower portion of her tail was beat up. It was a morning I won’t soon forget for who can forget lightning striking for the second time in one month. Catching the big fish and the other bass was a thrill, but it wouldn’t have been the same without the company and friendship of Frank. We have already shared a couple big fish this year and I hope that there are many more waiting for the two of us. My hope for you is much the same; good fishing and a good friend to share it with as you Enjoy the Great Outdoors.