I'm glad this one got away!

[Rebbasser]

Flyrod and I headed out to Canyon Lake about 10 this morning to be greeted by 10-15 MPH SW winds(according to the weather report)-yeah, right. Headed to the north bank, and both of us agreed-10 to 15 MPH my ***! It was at least 25 whith higher gusts. I have a 5 speed 71-lb thrust Motorguide TM and we had to keep it on 4 to hold our position and 5 to move against the wind. Picked up 2 on a Smokey Joe colored Cordell Spot, but decided after getting pounded by wind and wave for an couple of hours to find some more fishable water. Moved back into a creek and worked our way around that-didn't pick up another fish until about 2 when Flyrod got a nice keeper on a 4" watermelon ringworm. I switched to a watermelonseed Yum Dinger and picked up a couple small ones pretty quick. I decided to fish a little deeper so just let the dinger sink. I moved it a little, felt a thump and set the hook. The rod bowed, the drag pulled, and I thought I had a toad. It got into a flooded tree so we had to manuever the boat to get it loose. As we moved around the tree we saw it-it was in the 5-7 lb range, except it wasn't a bass-it was a big 'ol catfish! Got it untangled, and just as I was reaching over to pick it up the line snapped, so I didn't get catfish slime all over me, the boat, or Flyrod. I was glad that fish got away!

We finished up around 5 with 9 fish, 8 LM and one smallie. And wouldn't you know it-by the time we headed back to the ramp the wind, which had been dropping all afternoon, went to almost a dead calm? Never fails, does it ?

Regardless, Flyrod and I had a great time and I'm looking forward to our next trip!