The Thrill of The Hunt

[gottaflylee]

As I dropped off Mike Strange and his son-in-law Mike, I headed to the restaurant when someone stopped me and ask if I had a good day. I stopped and thought for a moment and said "We had a great day"
"Well how many did you catch today" he ask?
"One fish on the fly" I quickly answered "but the "Thrill of the hunt" was great all day...every where we looked we saw fish...some tailed a little, a lot winked at us and the rest showed their backs or gave us the tail.

With shallow water sight fishing, its not always about the catch for me, its about the hunt, playing the tides and being where I / we need to be for that part of the tide and some days you need to run to get your shots and today was no different.
We left my marina about 6:40 am and headed up the ICW a few miles and I pulled into out first spot of the day. Pushed the boat into 6" of water and headed down current. It was not long before I saw the first tell- tell sign of the first school of the day and sure enough Drum fever got to young Mike and the fly missed its mark. Further down the bank, school 2,3 & 4, showed us no love either as far as a hookup goes but the nerves will soon calm down.
We move up the ICW a few more miles to another spot but never found the fish so off we go and pull into a spot I know we would find a couple of fish. As I pull in I notice the boat seemed not to go as shallow as I though it should but I did not give it much thought and went to work at the task of finding the Drum and they were right where I thought they would be, problem was we could not get to them and when we did we blow them out of the pocket they were in...off the next place.
By now we were 15 miles from home and our next spot was 15 miles from where we were. So I settle down for a 20 minuet run and off we go. As we pull into the spot I notice the tide is lower than I like but nothing to worry about other than the wind that should be in the West has now turned to the EAST...crap, I hate it when this happens. As we ease down the bank I see some fish away from the bank but can't get a fly to them. Suddenly in front of the boat a nice Drum pops up and big Mike nails him on his second cast...fish on



and soon he was on the way to the boat...



I reach down and lay my hand on its side and lift the limp fish into the boat...pop out the hook and hand her to big Mike for a quick picture...nice 22" one spotter




After some "Hi fives" congrats and so on we move down the bank with young Mike in the hot seat...er on the casting deck when I spot nice Drum moving lazily down the bank with its back 2' out of the water. I try to turn the boat to chase the fish and it bottomed out. I talk young Mike into wading to the fish and over he goes and the chase is on as big Mike and I keep him heading in the right direction. As Mike and I are talking he says something that makes me think and I suddenly realize that I did not put the plug in the inner hull this morning and that why the boat has not polled like it should all morning...there is 200 gallons of water in the inner hull...oh crap! I work the boat toward the fish trying to get in front of the Drum as Mike wades. By now the wind has picked up and with the water in the hull I can't get there fast enough and the Drum disappears. Head back down the bank and spot a fish here and there but can't get to them and head out to deeper water. Get back in the ICW to the drain the water out of the inner hull. With that done, I head to one more spot only to find it muddied up but the boat is floating like it should. We push around that area and find some Drum busting on live Shrimp but I can't get them to eat a fly and its time to head back to home that is by now, more than an hour away.
So in my mind it was a great day and a great "Thrill of the hunt" seeing the Drum up in that skinny 2" to 6" of water even if only 1 was caught.
See ya guys...gottafly!

[flies only]

lee i got get down with you someday.. i wann get a red on the fly ...

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Love the hunt myself Lee. Thanks for the nice write up! See you soon.
HOLWACHAGOT

[Bite Me]

Great report and pics from one of the best in the business.

[CapeMayRay]

You hit right on the head. Day out on the water and enjoying all aspects of the day. That is what it is all about. So many do not understand what fishing is all about. Sometimes feel many only have a good time if their fish box it full. I see it all the time at the marina. People complaining about how much fuel they spent and how few keepers. I always fished for the fun I had. Keepers are nice, but not the main focus of fishing.

Like you said, It is the thrill of the hunt and feeling that fish take your fly and setting the hook. What could be better. Great story!

[DonnyB]

Good Job!

[Dave Sikorski]

Great story for a great day.

Nothing finer than some salt air and good company.

Pretty work Capt. Lee.

-D

[brandon558]

i dono how i missed this one but a good report indeed.

And you are 100% right...its not always about the kill or catch the hunts what makes it good.

Glad yaw had fun and saw lots of fish!

Brandon

[WAHOONBOX]

PRETTY WORK THERE GOTTAFLY....PRETTY WORK! THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING YOUR WORLD!