Monday, July 6, 2020

Ugly Fish, Part II

This past Saturday, July 4th, was Free Fishing Day in Maryland. That's a day that most states' fish and wildlife agencies offer during the summer to promote fishing, and it allows you to fish that day without a license. Justin had asked me if I wanted to try and catch a snakehead, and I said "Sure!" I am not much of a fisherperson, and as Free Fishing Day started to get closer, I began to worry about it a bit. Would I be able to cast with Justin's bait caster reel? Would I remember how to set the hook if I did get a bite? Would it just end up as a frustrating, disappointing day when we just wanted to have some fun family fishing?


Nope. It was neither frustrating nor disappointing.

It turned out to be the best day possible. John took us to the "snakehead spot" and Justin showed me how to cast (and corrected my mistakes) about 50 times. Like any skill, there is a lot to remember, and you need to remember and do it all in order, every time.


I had mastered pinching the line with my index finger, flicking the bail, casting, reeling in as soon as the spinnerbait lure I was using hit the water, and reeling at the right speed so the lure didn't drag on the bottom. Justin was going to show me how to set the hook just in case I did get a fish when he unexpectedly caught a snakehead! He handed me the rod and I reeled it in. He removed the hook and was rinsing the sand and gravel off for a picture when it got away in the creek. Justin takes fishing fairly seriously, so he was sort of heartbroken. He morosely cast a few more times, but you know what's coming next ... he caught another snakehead! He handed me the pole, I reeled it in, and this time we took the hook out and took a million photos far away from the water. 


So "I" caught my snakehead, I have photos to prove it, and that's what we had for dinner on Saturday. I am completely aware that Justin did all the work and I just reeled it in, but it was an exhilarating experience and also gave me a new appreciation for how skilled Justin is at fishing. His casts are perfect, placed exactly where he wants them to go, and he takes so many things into account. Like whether he has cast upstream and the line may be "bunched up" a little if what he is fishing for has teeth (snakehead do) and liable to abrade or nick the braid fishing line, and how big a mouth the fish has and whether they are likely to "short strike" so maybe he should use a trailer hook. I know this is much more detailed than any of you are liable to want to know, but I'll admit that I'm writing this post so I can look back and remember this day. It was a good one. 


Thanks, Hijo!

15 comments:

  1. It sounds like a perfect day on the water, Bonny! I hope your week continues this way, no matter what you have up your sleeve.

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  2. We used to fish a lot so I can relate to having to remember all of that stuff when you cast. Good for both of you on catching and eating the fish!

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  3. Look at you with that ugly fish!!!! Even though Justin "did all the work" . . . you reeled it in (and we both know how that can go wrong in so many ways). What a great fishing day, Bonny. Thanks for sharing your success!

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  4. Reading the technical stuff here was probably the same experience for me that you have reading about my spinning -- it's all Greek to me! But the smile on your face in these photos says it all. I'm glad you had a good time and a good meal!

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  5. you are so so adorable!! I love how happy you are - my dad is a fisherman so I appreciate your joy.

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  6. Technically you and your husband seem to be good at fishing. It was fun to see. I hope you two are always lucky.
    Greetings

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  7. Holy Crap Bonny!! That is one HUGE and UGLY fish!!! I love these pictures though. Your smile says it all and that last shot of you and Justin is so wonderful. What a fun day!!

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  8. THAT is quite a fish!! The best part is that you had it for dinner even though it is BUTTUGLY!

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  9. That is some fish! (and I love how you are holding it for pictures!) Yay for a weekend of real fishing!

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  10. I think I would've enjoyed an audio version of this post more (I trust you on the photo evidence) ;-) still, glad you had something good for dinner. (I am still thinking about that part!)

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  11. Congrats Bonny! And thanks for sharing your BIG WIN! What a delicious memory!

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  12. Oh how fun! Congratulations!! I spent so many hours as a child fishing... or, rather, watching a bobber at the end of a cane pole... BORRRRRRRINGGGGG! Ugh. In my 20s, I went steelhead fishing with my dad & uncle and caught one on only my first or second cast. I barely had to try. It was exciting, but despite my genes I never really caught the fishing bug.

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  13. Woo hoo! So fun! I can't deny I was surprised to see that you ate that kind of fish though! I hope it was delicious.

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  14. wow that's a monster fish! So happy you had fun with that one! I LOVE your overalls. Love love love them .
    I m a lazy fisher ; my friend sets everything up for me and ask to jig and I just can't. Im all bobber all the time

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  15. That looks like a wonderful day with Justin. That is some fish and you should have photos to remember the day. I have heard trout fisherman wax poetic about fly-fishing but now I know a little more. You both look so happy. I am glad you had a good day.

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