Alan and I had a good day. Didn't catch a lot of fish, but Alan brought
his son in law and 3 1/2 year old grandson along. Jack at 3 1/2 has more
patience than me. Alan rigged him a miniature fly rod, about 4 feet long
with a tiny fly reel and tied on a little yellow and white crappie jig.
Jack fished hard for an hour and a half, before wanting to go for a boat
ride. So, we headed out of Reynolds Creek and out into the big lake.
This was before the winds came up and the lake was still like glass.
When we got up to 50 mph, Jack got a little concerned what with the
wind blowing his hair back and a little spray getting into his nose.
After a few big turns on the lake, we headed back to the ramp. Jack
and his dad, Mark, an orthopedic surgeon at Scott and White Hospital in
Temple headed to MacDonalds for lunch. Mark had brought his pick up for
he knew Jack wouldn't last all day. :-P
Shortly after that, Alan tied on a crappie jig and we started seriously
looking for crappie. Didn't take long to find them. Alan only got one,
but the wind had come up and it made casting his fly rod difficult.
After lunch he tied on miniature shad imitation and started casting it.
With more weight in the little shad, he was able to handle the wind
better. After about six casts he got into something BIG. Had to have
been a big sow bass, for Alan couldn't turn her. She kept pulling,
almost pulling the boat and Alan kept the pressure on her. She'd give a
little and Alan would take line, but then she'd turn and head away from
us again. After a few minutes of the same, she suddenly left the line
slack. It would have taken a bass of at least 5 pounds to handle Alan
like she did. Me, I didn't take a fly rod, and fished the stick ups and
lay downs with a buzz bait, but had only two strikes. Finally I figured
I'd be better at running the trolling motor and navigating Alan to
likely looking spots.
It was still a great day, especially for Alan, Jack and Mark. Me - I
enjoyed it immensely. When Mark and Jack left, Alan told Jack to tell
Mr. Jimmy thank you. And boy did he ever. His words were" Thank you
Mr. Jimmy for taking me, my Dad and Grandpa fishing and boat riding with
you. I had a really good time!" My jaw dropped almost to the bottom of
the boat. Imagine a 3 1/2 year old coming out with a long sentence like
that.
JIMMY D
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Jimmy D. Moore - Scout Exec. BSA (Ret.), TOWA, TF&G Contributor, GRTU Past VP.
Past Pres. McGregor Rotary. Freelance Outdoor writer, humorist, half-assed Texan
and collector of classic bamboo fly rods and classic golf clubs
Author - "MOON HOLLER MISFITS Fishing & Hunting Club", ©
JIMMY D's Fly Fishing Website:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rayado/rayadoflyfishingflypatternstips/index.html
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"Being able to read trout streams is just as valuable to a fly fisherman as the
ability to read a defense is to an NFL Quarterback."
Jimmy D. Moore - © [2004]
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