BigBendFishing.Net

Fished some new water with CED on Saturday. First reds we found were fairly spooky, much like the fish we've been finding lately around Lanark and Dog Island. Got so bored that I took a shot at a bonnet head shark. I've never gotten one of those guys to eat, but this time the fly was right in front of his nose. As he opened his mouth to swallow it, I had second thoughts about losing my fly, and as I went to pull it away, somehow I managed to foul hook him in the pectoral fin. Knuckle busting fight ensued, but surprisingly only for about 10 or 15 minutes. Got him to the boat and managed to get the hook out and send him on his way. After a little searching, we finally found what we had been looking for - happy redfish. We caught a few small fish, and then found an old abandoned dock. There were fish all over this thing, and they didn't care one bit that we were there. Of course, this is when I commenced to get the biggest knot in my fly line that I think I've ever had. There's nothing more frustrating than watching upper slot redfish just wander around in 3 foot deep crystal clear water, 2 feet off the end of the bow, while you stand there and frantically try to work out a knot, and your buddy is on the platform behind you laughing his posterior off. After I got the knot out, we decided to hop out on the dock and survey the situation. There were fish running all up and down this thing. Then a school of about 5 - 10 fish comes cruising down, and these things are big. 30 - 33" range. I send the fly out to the biggest of the bunch, and he clobbers it. Once he realizes he's hooked he starts running to China. I fought him back to the dock, and that was my big mistake. Once he saw the structure, he naturally headed straight for it. My rod doubles over, and he commences to hang my line up on barnacle encrusted pilings. As I'm trying to get the line undone, I see the tip section of my flyrod go sliding down the line to the water. How it came off, I have no idea. Right after that, the big fish pops my leader, and I watch my rod tip begin to float off in the current. I yell to CED to hop in the boat and get it while I keep my eye on it. He manages to get it right before I lose sight of it. Of course after all that calamity, the fish finally took off. It was the most ridiculous string of errors ever, but fun nonetheless. Next time we'll come back with a different plan of attack, that will not include leaving the boat for the dock. Here's a couple of the small guys.

That background looks nice, where were y'all?

Dang. Despite the troubles still a heck of a trip.

Way to hang in there. Looked like a nice day to be on water none the less

I recognize that background and I believe I know the old dock you speak of.

Supa Fly wrote:but this time the fly was right in front of his nose.

That is harder than it sounds
Nice

Good trip

Good trip and report.

Sounds like you guys had a great trip!

BD,Chalk and Reel Slow...I believe we all know exactly where it is.

Way to take advantage of a nice day. Good trip

Sweet trip. Sorry to hear about the rod.

Jumptrout51 wrote:BD,Chalk and Reel Slow...I believe we all know exactly where it is.

I don't think you know JT. I doubt you've ever fished there. I know Reel Slow hasn't, but he may shortly.

Oh, something I forgot to mention: At one point I was poling, and I felt something bumping on the push pole behind me. There were tons of stingrays in the area, so I figured I had spooked one and it had run into the pole. I turned around, and about jumped out of my skin. There was a 5 ft. bull shark nosing the end of the pole, and kind of trying to chew on it. Has this ever happened to anyone else here? It was a first for me.

If you guys know where we were then you should check it out. It was the first time I'd been there, so I don't know if there are always fish there. I imagine it's like everywhere else - sometimes they are there, sometimes not.