The largest fish of our trip was landed by my sister. When I first got a glimpse of the fish in the water I knew it was a monster and started contemplating if I would need a gaff rather than a net. I positioned myself and the net in front of my sister and told her to not worry about slapping me upside the head with the rod. The fish would get within netting distance and then take line off of the mismatched rod and reel combo. The rod was an old, yellow, fiberglass rod from the 1960s and the reel something you would find on a saltwater charter boat. One of my father's concoctions. A trait I have somewhat inherited from him. Push your equipment as far as it will go, and when it gives up, keep it together with duct tape and zip ties. Although this combination was not the most effective for the job we employed of it; it held up. After three or so runs we finally guided the bowfin into the net and hauled my sister's largest fish onto land. The beast weighed in at a respectable 8 pounds and was 27 inches long. Congratulations Katie! I hope you beat this record soon.
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| In awe. |
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| Going back home |
The next day we checked the forecast and saw we had heavy rains and wind up to 40 mph on our way. With that news, we decided to cut the trip short a day and headed home after lunch, pushing the envelope as long as we could. We tied the kayaks to the roof as the first rain drops were pulled to Earth. Serenaded by the kayak straps whistling in the wind, we drove back up threw the cow pasture and down the roads we rode on so many times in our youth, unsure of when we would get to take this trip again.
It was a nice fish!!! Hopefully, I will beat it. I hope we will be able to do it sooner then later...
ReplyDeleteI also think it was a 1937 rod...
ReplyDelete