The smile of a young angler catching his first fish of ****LEGEND****

[spinner]

I cruised home to my hometown of Gays Mills tonight...I dropped my three year old off at the grandma's and grabbed my spinning rig and went off in search of other fish...northern...smallies...walleye....There is a small stream that run through my hometown....Kickapoo River....I grew up 33 steps from this river...I fished it every day when I was young...It is my favorite fishing spot.....I grabbed my two tackle boxes out of the truck and wandered down to the **BEST** place on the river...It is best because the village has put two park benches there and the area is beautiful....I was sharing my fishing experience with a yound kid that I have fished with before and he was fishing with live bait this evening....about a 12 inch sucker and a bobber....I was throwing all sorts of rapalas....He had is zebco 202 and we were yacking about fishing.....The next thing you know his large bobber is hammered down into the water and sailing away...Usually I wait a while to set the hook with live bait.....This kid was stunned....The fish was swimming away like its tail was on fire.....He asked...WHAT should I do....I said....SET THE HOOK....He did it....His drag was set way too loose.....I reached over and adjusted his drag....10 minutes later I was wading into the water to help him land...NO NET... a 41 inch northern pike...22 pounds....I will send a photo as soon as its developed....8 pound test..........HIS SMILE reminded me why I fish....When my smile disappears from catching a large fish...I hope that death soon follows.....LEGEND..........

[phlyster]

It's great stories like this, that make this site great!

Thanx spin!

Did ya get my post on your panther martin message board?

[NiteOwl]

Good grief ! I'd a been afraid that it would have ate my arm off ! http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif


Owl

[spinner]

Owl....you should have been afraid...I have seen a large northern eat ducks...An OWL would be a good dinner for it....That fish had a head as big as a large shovel...And rows....rows...of teeth....I have a scar on my left ring finger from a 12 pounder that broke my line at shore and I waded in..I got it to shore but I was beeding more than it was.....spinner.........

[J Olliff]

Great story Spinner. I've been away for a while..real busy with two jobs and not enough time to wet a hook. We're going to try to fish all day tomorrow for b a s s. Hope I have a tale to tell.....

[phlyster]

J Olliff, please... tell us a tale.

Warmwater Forum, if it's bass.

Good Luck & tight lines,
Blake

[J Olliff]

phlyster,

We did get to go fishing this past weekend, but the only tale I have to tell is a sad one of hot weather, few strikes and one annoying beeper.

Maybe next time......

I am heading to North Carolina next week, but there will be no tales from there...I promised the wife I would leave my gear at home and have a "real" vacation. Somehow, she doesn't think that trout fishing for 10 or 12 hours a day is a vacation....go figure. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/frown.gif Methinks I will do some stealth scouting.

Hope you're getting to catch some nice 'uns,
(not going to mention the "c&r" word http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif )
John