Daughter’s First Bass 09-01-08

[islandbass]

I am glad to say that I have finally gotten this monkey off of my back and it has been there for a long time. My daughter is my first fishing buddy and she has been a trout catching machine since day one. However, catching a bass until today has been so elusive for her. So after a very long time of trying and trying and trying, her persistence has finally paid off.

We faced a cooling trend and overcast skies after a good period of decent warmth. On the way to the lake she told me that she was not going to leave until she caught a bass.

I set her 6’6” spinning rig with a drop shot set up and I set up mine as well.

The first 30 minutes was not productive for either of us and to be honest I was awaiting a comment along the lines of, “Can we go now?”

Instead, she says, “Papi, we have to move to another spot. There is nothing happening here.” I thought I needed to clean my ears because hearing those words was like hearing music. The other neat thing was the degree of determination in her voice and attitude. You could not only see it, but also feel it.

We moved to another spot that has been productive for me in the past. We had to pass our car on the way to that spot so I unloaded unneeded items we were carrying.

Unfortunately, time was running out for fishing because we had other plans. We only had about 20 minutes left. So as I unloaded the unnecessary items, I decided instantly that I was going to give her my complete and undivided attention. I put away one rig and told her that I wasn’t going to fish so that we can both focus on getting that first bass.

We were fishing riprap and while she held the rig, I kept my hand on above the rod’s fore grip. Then, as she dragged the weight over the rocks, I asked if she could feel the vibrations. She said, “Yes, those are rocks.”

Shortly after, I felt a nibble but before I could tell her or say anything, she blurts out, “A bite!” and yanks to set the hook. I thought to myself that maybe she should be teaching me. Goodness gracious that has got to be a good instinct because when I started fishing, it took a long time to figure what was a bite and what was not.

Naturally, that kind of move will just yank the lure away from the fish. I shared with her that unlike a regular hook set that all she had to do was to reel up the line until there was some tension.

We’re down to our last five minutes and she is still determined. She encounters a snag and so I grabbed the rod above the fore grip to pop the rod and managed to free it. My fingers were still on the rod when the weight landed and I felt very small tug. I didn’t say a thing.

Apparently my daughter did too. She says she has one and starts reeling up the line. Oh the joy to see the line moving and you know they’re hooked. I was “Iaconelli-ing” it loud and proud, fist pumping, and yee-hah-ing it all the way to the bank. Speaking of the bank, folks on the bank of the other side of the canal gave their approval with cheers and applause of their own.

I quickly took photos and she released the cute little bass.


Beautifully hooked if I may say so. She did well!


First time “lipping” a bass, readying it for release.

My little girl did it. And she didn’t give up. This definitely made my day (despite going home skunked fishing solo in the early morning) and I know it made hers.

Sorry that this is long winded.

Location: Lake Union, WA
Conditions: Gray, Overcast, 65 degrees
Gear: 6’6” MH Compre/2500 Symetre, 8# Spiderwire Mono (trunk rig)
Technique/Lure: Drop Shot/Sniper Snub

-ib