Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:09 am Post subject: The day before
First thing you got to know is me and my buddy tend to overbrag our catch of the day (even if we were fishing with each other and know exactly what the other caught, bigger, prettier, better personality, whatever) also me and my buddy have an ongoing argument on whether or not one should carry quality equipment that costs a lot of money into the field. I am of the opinion that one can only expect to have as good a day out in the field as his equipment will allow, I like to buy the best I can afford 120 dollar spinning rods and reels that I keep in dust proof bags and meticulously disassemble, clean, and oil every winter before putting them away and 200 dollar fly rods with all the newest flys and lures, heck Ive been known to spend 40 bucks on regular fishing line. where as he says that just driving out to the fishing spot is too expensive. He fishes with worms PERIOD! and has been known to "splurge" on a 15 dollar Zebco reel/rod combo that came with line on it and has been sitting that way since last year so the line looks like a slinky (you would probably have a better chance of catching fish with a slinky!) He just tosses them in the back of the truck, letting them rattle around till they break. (I'm not even sure if he ever bothered to learn how to tie a fishermans knot)
We head out to our favorite fishing hole, the south Southfork river that runs through the 150 foot high steep canyon walls of the Southfork canyon. A beautiful crystal blue day in late September, the river runs low and has caused the fish to hold up in pockets of deep water where they can escape the oppressive desert heat. Our preferred method of fishing this body of water is wading. Me in my specially designed wading shoes with specific "scum rock" traction and my quick drying wading cargo shorts, and a tackle vest that holds so many widgets and gadgets to improve my catch that even I admit I don't need them all. (I'll never tell my buddy that.) And to top it all off my polarized Ray-ban sunglasses so the glare off the water wont affect my spotting of the "big one." My buddy, his Zebco in hand and a fanny pack full of night crawlers, and beer where the water bottles where supposed to go. He waded off into the water with jeans that he cut off into shorts that morning and an old pair of Chuck Taylors for shoes.
We both set off up the river with no specific plan of attack except for the fish insults we had waiting for an inappropriate time. Right off the bat WAM! My buddy drags in a rainbow from his first hole of the day, and before he even gets it on the stringer he manages to announce from across the river, "Hows that spinner workn' out for yah?"
Well that was it! we had only been there 10 minutes and I had already been insulted to the core of my fishing beliefs. So I decided to jog up the river a ways and hit all the good holes first while my buddy lagged behind, "hah that will show him!"
Nothing, not even a nibble. Then from behind me I hear the wiz of line being picked up off the water and the telltale sound of a Zebco drag(which was improperly set for the conditions) clicking away as the line drug out of the spool.
"Damn, that worm drowning hooligan caught another one!" too far apart to talk without spooking fish, he held up his catch and I nodded and stuck out a thumbs up in recognition. Now don't get me wrong I'm more than happy to see one of my best friends have an excellent day of fishing, but I was not about to be beat by a "ZEBCO AND WORMS!"
The day wore on and I managed to catch a small rainbow while my buddy drug in two more nice ones. (with the same worm!!) As we came to the last, and often best hole before we turn around and wade back. I started pondering to myself what an underrated design the old Zebco reel was using... why millions of fish have been caught on the thing, and at one time it was the height of technology!
We both sloshed up to the deep pool at the same time, my polarized sunglasses cutting the glare just enough to see the backs of half a dozen good sized trout resting in the slow flow of the current. Thoroughly beaten by the power of the worm and the Zebco I bowed low and extended my hand in a mock "after you" to my friend knowing full well that once a fish has been caught and drug through a hole one does not often get another chance at that hole until the fish settle down and come back. That could be 20 minutes or more. He cast out, slowly bobbing his big glob of worm across and through the center of the hole...nothing... hmm. Here was my chance to prove that quality equipment really makes the difference when it comes to fooling the sly rainbow trout! My buddy caught nothing on his cast and I was about to show him up for good. I cast out just up stream, my spinning reel working flawlessly, silently the line stripped off the spool and my spinner landed in the shallows with hardly a splash. The current would drag my silvery spinner across the path of a particularly large looking trout...perfect... then just as my spinner started to cross the path of my intended victim, out from under a rock came a monster!
Easily double the size of the others. The white whale of a trout gobbled up my spinner and ran stripping yards of line off of my reel. I quickly tightened my drag and began the fight. Back and forth we pulled, the trout tried to leap from the river and shaker free, but the superb action of my expensive Fenwick rod kept the tension on the line, Holding my lure fast in its maw! Finally the great beast grew wary and I pulled him into the shallows. I lifted him out of the water removing my spinner and looked up at my buddy. The smile could not be wiped from my face, tears almost welling up in my eyes at such a magnificent fight, such a perfect day.
There my buddy stood, beer in hand sucking his teeth and pursing his brow at me, " You know you ruined that hole with all that back and forth splish splashing crap right?" he said between sips of beer, "We wont be able to fish that hole for a month now!"
I quickly replied, "I know, but just look at the size of him!"
"Bah, i caught one just like him the day before." he spouted.
So stunned by his brazen lie of such I fine catch I almost lost hold of the mighty fish. We often mock each others catch, but not this magnificent beast, not today. How could he?
We quietly waded back to the truck fishing a little here and there as we went. Then, back at the house there was much fuss over my catch, pictures, and calling of the wives, and discussing how to properly cook the whale of a trout. And just as I was about to extol the virtues of quality equipment and expensive tackle. The words, "You get what you pay for." where on my lips when a frozen fish was shoved in my face, stuffed in a 1 gal. zip-lock bag. There it was, my undoing, it was almost the same length as mine, but was missing its head and tail fin. Undoubtedly with all its parts it would be longer than mine. Caught on a Zebco and worms...unbelievable...but there it was plain as day.
I guess what I learned is that all any fisherman needs is to be on the water, dragging in the big ones, whether its on a 15 dollar Zebco or a 500 dollar peace of fishing "art." The water doesn't care how much you spent on your reel, and the fish certainly don't.
Oh, but for the record mine tasted better!
_________________ "Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far" Theodore Roosevelt,
bdooly brilliant! great post and geat fish! so when yu say spinners do you mean the mepps type with a spinning blade? i like fishing with plugs or i think you guys callem crank baits . _________________
It bought back happy memories of a day last summer, when two buddies were out lure fishing. One with about £300 worth of lures, custom built rod, etc. and the other one fishing with a lure made from a stainless steel table knife, recently liberated from the cutlery draw. The 2nd hand table knife lure taking three species; Mackerel, Sea Bass & Pollack and the full honors for the day ................................ I'll give you three guesses who was who.
Thanks I started out writing an anecdote and it just sorta turned in a story, yes I was using a Mepps type spinner the kind thta comes with the little rooster tail on the end.
Fish's story about the fog was really great and it kinda inspired me to write one of my stories.
i would really love to see everyone write stories like these cuz i know every bodies got one. _________________ "Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far" Theodore Roosevelt,
I have to disagree with you though, you learn that its not about how expensive the rod and reel is its about the size of bait the bait presentation and the anglers skill
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bdooly good read Statikpunk 
