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3. Personal Best Largemouth

It has been a long time since I've had the fly line on the water and even longer since I've had the opportunity to target trout. So, I've found myself day-dreaming about about my next adventure and dreaming of past encounters.

I've spent a lot of time practicing technique at a park a few miles from mom and dad's place. Generally creeping out very early in the morning so that I can be back just in time for my boys to wake up.

On the last day of summer vacation, I lucked into my personal best largemouth on my recently built fiberglass 4 weight and 4x tippet with a size 8 crayfish pattern.

My legs were weak and my hands were trembling. So after a quick release, I sat on a stump and just... did nothing. After a few thank-filled minutes. I decided that probably meant it was time to head home.

Nice fish! I remember those days of getting out early before my kids woke up. We have some trout streams 15-20 minutes from the house. We fish when we can.

What kind of rod is that?

Very nice doug! Im lucky enough to have a small pond out back that has some really nice bass in it, and there are a couple of ponds that the sod farm owners let me fish that also have nice bass and bluegills. When I was a kid back in the late 60's early 70's my grandparents had a place on lake near Oscoda, I fished a Shakespear wonderod and poppers in the weed beds out front of the cabin. What fun, on bass and big bluegills, I really miss that place.
Mike.

Matt, I’m sorry this reply took so long. I don’t remember what the blank was that I used for this, but I believe it was from Hook and Hackle. It was a step above the usual Chinese fiberglass blanks that I have seen.

Due to a mishap on another build, I had an extra blemish to cover up which is why the tiger wrap is so long. I started sanding the bottom of the fourth section for the reel seat without thinking that this was a travel rod and had five sections. I think I salvaged the overall appeal and I have noticed no effects on the action.

FATBOY!!!! How far over did that bucketmouth bend your fly rod?

Bass rock! Congrats Doug!

Just returned from my Florida trip to find in my house...TWO rolls of toilet paper!!!

Jonathon

"My legs were weak and my hands were trembling. So after a quick release, I sat on a stump and just... did nothing. After a few thank-filled minutes. I decided that probably meant it was time to head home."

1) It is almost certainly impossible to outdo yourself once you have landed a really big fish, so as anything else you get that day is going to look small, it is time to relax!

2) I once landed, on a dock so far above the water I had to lie down on it to net the fish, a 19 1/2" smallmouth...on a 7'-3-weight. Still don't know how, pure fish fighting skill combined with luck...though I no longer do, I decided I needed (and got myself) a good stiff drink. And celebrated!! No cameras (??? - this was 2010) but plenty of witnesses, once I ran up from the dock to the house ("Someone else is gonna see this!!!") and threw open their walk-out basement door with my elbow...crazy day & I needed a drink!

Jonathon

I’m lucky if I get a moment like that each year. It’s amazing how the fish can always surprise us!