gfen
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2007
- Messages
- 6,639
Self portrait, sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, Vanderbilt Beach.
The green Orvis bag and rod cases were carry-ons, everything else I checked. Most of the suitcase is wading boots, as I hoped to hit up the mangrove swamps and backwaters. I did not. Didn't need to.
The retention pond behind the old man's place held a nonstop supply of these guys, and massive 10" long, 2" wide sunfish. I don't know what species, though. Purpleish head, slight head bulge. The ratio of bass to sunnies was about 10:1, though. The neighboring pond I visited was way more sunnies than bass, but I didn't go there very often. Too far away, it was about a minute walk versus 10' from the back lanai door. Hah.
When I first hit the pond, I grabbed one bugger and just walked. 30 minutes and I couldn't tell you how many fish, this is what was left. Sort of a before and after. They were still smashing it, I only swapped it out so I could save it for a picture.
Sum total of what I needed for the salt, plus a pliers. I won't lie, I never hooked a snook, but I had a few follows. I think had I one more day, I would've had it down, as each successive day raised the success ratio higher, but I only took two and a half days of salt water fishing in. The pond was awesome, and again, literally 4 steps out the back door. I could join B.A.S.S. Masters now and be a happy man.
This stupid thing popped off the bottom and took the fly on my first snook turning to follow. I was pissed. 5 more seconds, and I would've had my first snook. At this point, I had the fancy fast action graphite stick and Medalist. I'd learned I hated the Abel in the salt, as every grain of sand would make it screech. This thing I'd just dip in the water. I still thought I needed the graphite rod to launch 70' casts though, only to find out the snook literally cruise 1-2' from the edge of the water. Casts were about 30', and 20' of that was over sand. My new Cabela's CGR was perfect, I never got the Teeny out of its case again.
The ladyfish is awesome. If you took a bluegill and a tarpon and crossbred 'em, this is what you'd get. They attack anything voraciously, and in schools so you can just start taking out like 10 or more in about five minutes of furious feeding, and each one takes massive leaps into the sky. Sublime. I wish I'd had like a 3wt for these things.
At one point, I was havign so much fun I stopped looking for cruising snook and just chased these guys crashing bait. Stupidly easy, and so much fun.
The 7'6" 7/8 CGR was perfectly sized for casting to snook, whiting, and ladyfish along the shoreline. It also was perfect for the bass in the backyard pond.
I never did get my snook, like I said, I did no research going into it, so I learned on the water. By the end, I was standing 10' up shore from the water edge, and 20' ahead of the snook casting forward of him, waiting then stripping so it'd fly by at 45 degrees and away to the front. I had a few start to look at 'em at the end, but never sealed the deal. My leader and lack of shock leader sucked, but next time I'll be able to hit the ground running. Its amazing to see a 2' snook cruising close enough you could reach out and touch him, that's for sure, and when you see the 4' long silver streak cruising 40' out from you along the bar, your heart starts to race as you strip line and begin casting to that tarpon.
Eff yeah, that was the best part, period. Watching the gamefish just right off the beach, and giving you a chance to fling a fly to him.
No, I didn't get him to even look at it. Who cares, I got to fling flies at a damned tarpon, not all of us get to do that sort of thing every day.
Anyways, not to be self-promotional, but I went into more details over here. Its nothing you didn't get here, just a bit more wordy.
Oh, and should you get the chance? Re-apply sunblock to your feet. Often. Its amazing how much sunburn will make your feet swell up. Even if you truly hate me and everything I say, I hope you take that single piece of advise.
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