Unusual Fishing Catches Part 3
Dateline 03/29/99
The idea for this topic from my bulletin board - NJTEECH posted, asking for people to tell about their most memorable or unusual catches. That got me to thinking - these are some of mine:
As mentioned in my article two weeks ago, gigging carp at Clark's Hill was one of the fun things I did in my younger, more foolish days - or nights. On one trip I had been gigging them for several nights and kept the gig in the boat at all times, even while fishing during the day. One day while heading in for lunch, I noticed another bass boat coming up behind me as I idled under a bridge.
I never looked directly at the boat, but as soon as I hit the no wake buoys past the bridge I took off. I was really feeling my oats, had my bass boat stretched out fast since I was in it alone and there was not much weight in the boat. I had it screaming, doing every bit of the 58 mph it was capable of doing. Suddenly, I saw the other boat pull even with me like I was sitting still.
It was the game wardens! They had taken a bass boat and stripped it down, no trolling motor, no batteries, hardly any weight at all. And they were running a 200 hp motor on a boat rated for a 150. No wonder they caught me so easily. When they pulled even with me, they motioned for me to stop.
I knew I had not done anything wrong, so when they checked my livewell, license, fire extinguisher and life jacket, I was not worried. They I heard the dreaded words "what you use the frog gig for?" I think they had seen it sticking up and that is why they chased me down!
With all the calm voice I could muster I responded "gigging frogs!" They said they did not know there were many frogs around the lake, and I said I might gig a carp if I saw one. They responded "Don't do that, it is illegal." I told them I thought it was legal to kill a carp any way possible, but they said it was not legal to gig one. I did not bother telling them I was gigging them at night - with a spotlight! That pretty much ended my carp gigging adventures!
I love to fish riprap and often start on it in the mornings during the summer time. Throwing a topwater plug and working it right down the rocks has produced many fish for me early, before the sun gets bright. One morning in a club tournament at Lake Oconee Ferrell Boggs and I were fishing a patch of riprap. I was working a Zara Spook parallel to the rocks, about two feet out from them.
To my amazement, a water snake struck out from its hiding place in the rocks and grabbed my plug! I instinctively set the hook, and found snakes don't put up much of a fight. Although three feet long and wiggling like crazy, it came right to the boat. When it got near Ferrell asked "what you gonna do now, boy!" My response was to pull it toward him and ask him to lip it for me!
I lifted the snake from the water and it hung from the spook without much wiggling. I guess the treble hook through the top of its mouth was a calming factor! As it hung there Ferrell said "That's a seven banded water snake - they are harmless." I told him to unhook it if it was harmless, but I noticed he moved back as I swung the snake toward him. He was not real willing to help.
Spooks are not cheap, so I hated to give mine to the snake. I grabbed the hook with a pair of pliers and twisted, and the snake fell off - the hook popped right out and the snake was back in the water. Thank goodness it was hanging over the water, not over the boat when it fell off!
That snake swam off and had to be wondering what kind of fish it had tried to eat!
Had any unusual catches? Any interesting trips lately? Tell me about it. If so, you can also post information about it for others on my message board - you must register to post but can read the board as a guest. Also, if you have thoughts you want to share about this topic, let me know about it at fishing.guide@about.com. for a "Fishtale"or discuss it in the chat room on every night at 8:00 EST. Tell others what you like.
ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK - 03/30/98
- My Second Bass Boat
My second boat had some problems but I caught some fish from it.
AND LAST WEEK - 03/23/98
- Boats I Have Known and Owned
My first bass boat will always be special
TWO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK - 03/31/97
- Moonstruck
Do the sun and moon movement affect fishing? Check out other's opinions
and find out how to determine when the fish will be feeding in your area.
AND LAST WEEK - 03/24/97 -
Georgia On Your Mind
Fishing gets hot in the south while snow and ice cover the north. Georgia
offers the fisherman a great escape and great fishing. And it is my
home state! Come on down and join me this spring.
Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.
