Making something out of nothing...

[Agitated88]

Had the opportunity to venture down to the lake yesterday with my daughter to try our luck fishing. Loaded up and headed out around 0430 in some very thick fog. We made our way slowly through the fog, arriving at the lake around 0600. As we were getting the boat loaded and prepared to launch, my phone goes off as I'm removing the stern saver...wrong number...but, enough of a distraction to get me off my routine, which nearly cost me dearly later on. With trini in the boat, I slowly back the boat down the ramp, get out to unhook the boat and as I am about to slide the boat off the trailer, I hear the bilge pump start pumping...what the heck...bilge should be empty, I always remove the plug after every trip...oh $%&*...I forgot to put the plug in!! I quickly pull the boat back up the ramp...let the water finish draining, and then installed the plug. Wow...disaster averted...barely!! Ok, re-run through the mental checklist...AGAIN...get the boat launched and headed in search of some bait. the fog was so thick...we idled around for over a hour looking for bait, and came up empty throw after throw...blind casting we caught three...yes...three Shad. Wow, things are not looking promising...no bait, ZERO visibility, undeterred, we took the long way around the lake, hugging the shore, no sense crossing across the lake and getting t-boned by a over zealous bass boat buzzing across the lake in search of Big Mouth Billy. We finally arrive at our destination, I bait up a couple rods and explain to trini, "sweetie, daddy sucks at finding bait...we have to make sure these three Shad do not die in vain." After about 15 minutes, I feel my bait get nervous and start swimming away, I give line, and at the last minute I set the hook, VERY SMALL Large Mouth jumps, he goes one way, Shad goes another, and hook comes flying back towards me. I look at trini..."ummmmm...that was exactly what I don't want you to do." Almost instantly, trini gets excited as her bait starts swimming away, I watch proudly as she gives line, leans into the fish and makes a perfect hook set on a nice little Large Mouth...skunk avoided. Our third Shad died in vain as an unknown fish yanked him off the hook a few minutes later. Now it's about 0900, the sun has burned off most of the fog and I can see four bass boats all within a few hundred yards of us...I never heard either of them come in, kinda unerving. Since we now have no bait and only one fish, I opt to try some jigging...we move around to a few different spots with no luck. Now, I make the executive decision...time to sacrifice the Large Mouth for the greater good. I filet him up, and set out four rods in hopes of finding a couple Catfish to salvage the day. Unlike last week...there was NO wind, which is unheard of out here, and drifting, was replaced by basically floating in one spot. After a hour or so, with trini sleeping in the bow, the back line starts peeling off, I call for trini, but, she's out cold, so, I reel in a nice Channel Catfish, as trini finally makes it to the back with the net. Ok, we're back on the board, re-set, and almost instantly, another rod goes down, I tell trini to crank on it in the holder, bam, hooked up, and she fights another catfish to the boat. Guess those were the only hungry fish in that area, so, after another hour, we pull up the lines and head to another spot. Lines in, about five minutes, rod starts bouncing, and then down, trini makes a few cranks, pulls the rod out, bam, another hookup, and another catfish joining us in the boat. It's getting late, with about 10 minutes to go, I'm begining to start cleaning up, I see trini go to the back rod, I bite my tongue and just let her do her thing...rod tip bounching, rod goes down, she starts cranking, bam, fish on, and after a minute or so, another fish in the cooler and I've got the "proud daddy grin" on big time.
Ok, we didn't hit them like I hoped, but, all things considered, well, I consider it one of my best fishing trips ever. Anyone with a 15 year old daughter know's, fishing with dad isn't usually on the top of their priority list, but, I have been blessed with not one, but two amazing daughters, who still think dad is pretty cool, and still enjoy spending a day on the boat with him.

Happy thanksgiving everyone...I hope you and yours had a wonderful day!!!

[clt_capt]

Awesome - Looks like you have a couple of solid fishing partners there and a nice creel.

[Agitated88]

Awesome - Looks like you have a couple of solid fishing partners there and a nice creel.

thanks Fred, and yes, I'm a pretty lucky guy! I hope you and yours (two & four legged) had a wonderful thanksgiving!!

[gottaflylee]

Great read and a great way to spend the day, you have plenty to give thanks about!

[treyfry]

Very nice! Price of fishing trips these days, at least a $100 bill. Having a good day on the water with your kids, priceless.
Me and my boys last week.

[Agitated88]

Great read and a great way to spend the day, you have plenty to give thanks about!

Yes I do Lee!!

Very nice! Price of fishing trips these days, at least a $100 bill. Having a good day on the water with your kids, priceless.
Me and my boys last week.

Looks like you guys smoked them pretty good...congrats!!!