Finally got my keeper

After Wednesday's near miss I took the 8 wt out yesterday and managed to catch several 11 -13" bass but the 14" one was not there for me.

I tried rationalizing that all of the bass I caught this year would be keepers if I caught them at Lake Fork, but that didn't help.

Today was my last day of vacation and I decided to give it 1 more try. I also decided to take the 5 wt. I figured if I was going to catch a bunch of undersized fish, I might as well make it more sporting.

The day started out OK. I caught some 10 - 12 inch fish, but as the sun came up the wind started blowing 15 mph into my face. My casting stunk. The other side of the pond was out of the wind but had 3 people fishing it.

After an hour or so they left and I moved. The moss went out 20 - 30 feet on that side. I managed 3 or 4 pinks in about 30 minutes.

I moved down the bank to where the moss and weeds were less, but it was pretty shallow.

Then it finally happened. I got a hit and the first couple of strips made me think another dink. But then the fish got stubborn and I knew I had a pretty good one. I fought it for a minute or two and finally got it to stop making runs. I had left my net 50 yards away. I wasn't going to make the mistake of dragging it up on the bank so I reached down and lipped it.

Got out my tape measure and saw it was 14 1/2".

One year, a small fortune in rods and reels, and enough money spent on flies to have my wife threaten to kill me and I finally get my keeper (that I let go)

Nice fish! First of many more to follow!

Neat story! Congratulations!

Lol that's great. Now you just need to learn a very very important trick. All those receipts you need to stash somewhere where only you can find them. then she will never know the difference pay cash don't use your card don't get tracked. Great fish!

Enjoyed the Post j

I caught my 2 biggest bass in September last year. Before and after the first cold front. I caught them using a 2/0 Froggy Fly foam popper. Bigger top water flies and big feather streamers have been my choice for catching bigger lmb. I was obsessed for about a year with catching a trophy 21 inch bass on the fly. Throwing bigger flies sure seemed to help, particularly in the warmer months. Of course, having some fishing holes with plenty of keepers, sure helps even more, LOL.

Sssshhhh. She reads my posts sometimes.

She's threatened to take away my internet devices if I don't stop ordering flies. 2 wks ago I ordered from 2 different sites, they arrived by mail on the same day, and it just happened that while I usually pick the mail up that day she did. She waited until about 8 that night and gave them to me. It was kind of a tense moment.

Thanks J-Moe. I bought some larger poppers and sliders. I've got a boat and take it out occasionally but most weekends it's just easier to get up, grab the fly rod and a box of flies, and hit a pond a little before sunrise.

I haven't caught a 21" inch bass on any type of gear.

My wife did with a Zebco 33 outfit. 5 seconds after I told her she was casting to the wrong place. That was a humbling experience. Now when we fish together I just keep my mouth shut.

Lol sorry j-hrn2 didn't mean to blow the cover. J-moe did you mean inches or millimeters? soo jk. J-moe is right j-hrn2 putting your self in a place known for big bass will up your odds for sure!!! I have studied Bass most of my life and I have caught a ton of big bass but I am definitely hitting places at the right time of year and I am also hitting places known for producing trophies. You sure won't catch a trophy sitting. On the couch though. Keep up the good work!

I have everything delivered to my office. I figure one of the these days my wife will walk through the mud room and say "Where the heck did all this fishing gear come from", LOL. By that time I can just say I got it all at a garage sale for $20 and she will never be the wiser.

haha good one my friend. I thought I was going to have a man cave but it's become fishing and hunting storage and has now spilled into the garage. Not a lot of room left to just hang out in the man cave just grab what you need and go lol.

J-hirn2 have you tried for bass along the trinity river? There are a ton of 4-8 pound fish all up and down it. It fishes best with a kayak around fort worth.

Robert,

I haven't fished the Trinity yet. I always thought the Trinity around Colonial golf course looked bassy, and now that I live in Mansfield I've been wondering about the west fork at River Legacy Park in Arlington.

It fishes really good from the dam to university the trinity bike trail offers a lot of access points as well

Better hold on most of those fish are built like footballs even the 2 to 4 pounders there are a lot of quality fish in there that are overlooked by most thank goodness there is a full consumption van on them that keeps most people for meeting them although some do

That fly fishing is tempting but I already may be considered a hoarder with just my cat and marone rigs.

You forgot that it starts at 183 Robert. That's where I always started. If you can get a kayak or canoe you can go upstream of 183 and find another dam that's pretty deep, but you will have to portage on the east side to get into the water above the dam though.

Haha I know all too well the dam I was referring to was Benbrook . Lots of fish filled water on the stretch i've seen a lot of fishy looking water that had no fish but that some fishy looking water that has a lot of fish