Good Friends and Good Fishing -- Good Memories
By: Mike Picou
The caller-id on telephones is a great feature. It gives us the luxury of knowing who is calling and sometimes the ability to anticipate the impending conversation. When the caller-id displays the name of a fishing buddy, you can typically predict what the discussion will be about – “I’ve been…” or “Let’s go…” When my cell phone rang one Thursday afternoon I looked and observed it was my fishing buddy Richard. I just knew he was getting off the water and calling to rub it in since we always harass each other about fishing. As soon as I answered the phone, without so much as a simple hello, Richard exclaimed, “Let’s go fishing tomorrow!” Some decisions are harder to come by than others – this was not a tough decision. Considering it was the day of his bachelor party, I felt it my obligation to take him fishing in the morning and start his big day off right. We decided on the lake, agreed on which boat to take, and settled on a meeting time. Everything had shaped up nicely for a great morning of lip-ripping largemouth bass fishing.
Bright and early, Richard arrived at my house and promptly we were off for the short 30 minute drive to our favorite local hot spot we call Lake “X”. On the way to the lake we discussed the morning’s strategies and laughed about our recent bass tournament finishes. When we arrived at the lake, it was no surprise that we were the first party to the ramp. The water was gently lapping onto the boat ramp and our anticipation of the morning’s potential was high. We made quick work of the pre-launch activities and in no time were skimming across the slightly rippled lake’s surface headed to spot number one.
Our first spot was a main lake reed line in 3 foot of water with a small shelf that quickly dropped off into 11 foot of water. The water had a weak coffee tint and was 72 degrees. The wind was a little stronger on that side of the lake, blowing straight into the reeds. Richard managed first shift on the trolling motor while I took a moment to change over a few lures on my rods. “I hate hand control trolling motors,” I hear him complain. “I don’t see how you can do it and still catch fish!” I jokingly responded with, “Shut up and fish!” Well, shut up and fish he did and abruptly he landed the first fish of the day. On his fifth pitch into the reeds, a healthy 4 pound green backed beauty fell prey to his Black and Blue Terminator jig. After a quick picture she was released back into the lake to fight another day. We exchanged a quick ‘high five’ and Richard started fishing again. He excitingly recalled, “There was no doubt that was a fish… she hammered it!” Since he was already one fish up, I decided I should focus on just getting my jig rod going and get into the action before he increased his lead to a point which I would not be able to catch him. I took over the trolling motor and kicked him to the rear of the boat. Sending him to the back of the boat did not slow him down unfortunately; it was not long before Richard boated yet another Lake “X” beauty. I could hear Richard prodding me from the back of the boat, “you gonna’ catch a fish today?”
That morning had indeed shaped up to be a great morning. The air temperature was in the lower seventies. The cool morning breeze brought water gently rolling into the bank as the reeds danced in unison down the shoreline. We had only been on the water for fifteen minutes and already boated two solid fish. Although I was at a deficit, I had not submitted to defeat yet. The day was still early and his lead was not nearly big enough. Richard was releasing his third fish when I felt that familiar tug at the end of my line. A quick snap of the rod tip and I was battling my first hookup of the day. The fight was strong but short lived and I hauled up a huge sixteen inch crappie as my contribution to the morning’s activities. More pictures and back into the lake she went to hopefully be there the next time I bring my kids out crappie fishing.
The morning seemed to go by fast and the wind continued to pick up speed. We decided to move over to the protected side of the lake and try some sheltered shorelines. This turned out to be a good move for Richard but the fish just were not cooperating for me. Richard quickly increased his lead to 4 bass when he pulled the next brute out of the reeds on with his jig. I knew I had better do something quick or there would be no catching him. It may have been the day of his bachelor party but I just could not allow him to completely humiliate me on the water. I made the decision to switch baits. I commented harassingly, “I’m going with my secret weapon, your in trouble now bud.” Not quite a secret, but a deadly bait none the less that always seems to put some fish in the boat – a five inch watermelon & chartreuse laminate “Tiki Stick”. Within three casts I caught a solid chunk of a bass and in the next ten minutes I landed two more. “How do ya’ like me know” smilingly I prodded him. I lagged by only one fish now and the competition was heating up.
We made a decision to move to another cove and it was a good one. Richard broke off his favorite jig and was frantically searching through my tackle compartment for a replacement when I set the hook on the fish that tied us up. “That’s just wrong” Richard claimed as I played my fish to the boat. We continued fishing that cove and landed a couple more fish, trading places on who was in the lead. Once we made the full pass on the small cove we noticed the winds had laid down quite a bit.
Tied in bass count, we moved to one final location closer to the boat ramp before we had to call it quits and leave the lake. As with most of the locations on that lake we fished, it did not take long to find that first fish and it was Richard who landed him on a lime green trick worm. Continuing back into the cove I set the hook on what was to be the best fish of the day and laughing out loud while bringing her to the boat and exclaimed “Tied again!” Once she was in the boat we took a picture and looked at our watches. Realizing we only had a few more minutes to fish before we had to head to the ramp we picked a land mark for where to stop fishing. Just before that spot, Richard anchors the hook home on a solid fish. While he is battling that fish to the boat I feel that wonderful tug at the end of my line. I whipped my rod tip to the twelve-o-clock position, trying to drive my hook deep into the fish’s mouth, and my line popped as if it were sewing thread. The fish surfaced and rolled over right in front of Richard and he questioned, “Did you just miss a fish?” I returned with “Nope… broke him off on the hook set.” What followed was tremendously loud laughter coming from my boating partner as he reveled in his victory.
As much as we both wanted to continue fishing, it was time for us to load up and head home. The chapter was closed on another great morning at Lake “X”. It was a great morning and we boated 15 bass and 1 crappie. Of course, on the way home Richard reminded me several times by commenting, “I can’t believe you broke that fish off at the end!” He really enjoyed the morning and I too had an excellent time. Times like these spent on the water with good friends is always a blessing. Having to spend that evening with the same buddy at his bachelor party was the curse – “I can’t believe he broke that fish off right in front of me… that would have tied us...”