Found myself with a couple of hours to kill this afternoon so I threw the gear in the truck, loaded the dog up and headed to the local mudhole.
Seeing as time was short I chose to hit the spot with the easiest and quickest access, which translates into not very scenic or peaceful. A short walk down a paved sidewalk to the waters edge and the search for my aquatic opponents begins. Boat ramps , a swimming beach and docks make up the surrounding views but I don't give a shit about scenic views today , I came solely for the tug. You know, that feeling when a fish turns his head and takes off in the opposite direction with such authority that you're not sure he's gonna stop.
The reel is singing and you're stumbling in the fishes direction asking yourself "Do you really think those two overhand knots holding your flyline and backing together are gonna be "good enough" now dipshit?".
That feeling....it's what we all start out looking for when we begin our fishing lives and then down the road at some point it becomes less important. It might become more about where you're fishing or how you're fishing or what type fish you're catching but for many of us something besides the tug on the other end becomes the most important thing. Not today.
Today the sound of the gently lapping waves are being drowned out by the drone of several jet-skis and some dude yelling at his old lady for not being able to back the trailer straight. And to be honest the only view I'm interested in right now is the glimpse of a tail or a mud spot on the flats.
Thank god there are fish that still wanna come out to play in this shallow water when it feels more like a drawn bath than a lake.
I think if I close my eyes I could almost imagine myself standing ankle deep on a bonefish flat somewhere in the Carribean...Not. Today several fish wanted to play and all showed themselves as worthy adversaries on the fly. I played cat and mouse with one of the fish for several feet and then watched him inhale the fly and take off in a split second, that's as good as it gets in this game.
These fish may not win any beauty contests but when it comes to sheer power and dogged determination...they can TUG.
Awesome. The redneck Redfish (Drum) and the poor man's Bonefish (Carp) in one outing... as close as you can get to the Carribean in your neck of the woods, right?
ReplyDeleteJay - all I was missing was the sandy beaches , pretty girls in bikinis , $1 Dos Equis and fruity drinks with little umbrellas in them. But yeah , it's not too bad for sight fishing the flats in KANSAS!.....Jeff
ReplyDeleteSweet. And you're right...there's definitely an addictiveness to "the tug." :)
ReplyDeleteAny fish at the end of the line is a beauty sight. Its just that much better when they tug so hard they wear grooves in the guides. Great pics and nice fish. Tight Lines.
ReplyDeleteEMB - I know we all say that it's not about the fish...but sometimes that "Tug" feels really good!
ReplyDeleteTrout Magee - Thanks for the comment , there's nothing wrong with a little backing check every once in a while for sure!