Soaking A Swimbait In Memphis....

[00 mod]

For the past couple of days, I have been soaking a swimbait in Memphis.  Inspired by the recent swimbait threads of Speedbead and Deep, I was set to catch one this weekend.  I figured I had a good 10hrs, and I was sure to get a bite , maybe just 1, but a bite in this time frame.

 

Yesterday I went to a local pond here, known for bigger bass, but not known for getting bit.  I fished all the way around this thing.  Fished all of the promising spots, points, humps, cover, you name it.  I fished from shallow to deep.  Then from deep to shallow.  Paralleled the shore, cast straight out.  NOTHING.  Not even a sniff.  Not to be rejected, as there have been many a times I have gotten skunked here, I set my sights on this morning.  Had everything loaded in the truck when I got home, went to eat with the wife and MIL and came home and rented the UFC last night.

 

On a side note, there is a kid that fishes this pond a lot.  Seems every time I go out there he is there.  Local, probably lives close, and always rides his bike there.  He is probably 13-14 now.  Been going there for 3 years now.  He told me yesterday, that the day before all of his fishing stuff got stolen off of the park bench while he had stepped into the woods.  He was very upset, and rightfully so.  So last night while getting my stuff together, I put together and old BPS 6'6''mh/f rod and paired it with a BPS reel both of which have been sitting for at least 4 years.  I went ahead and spooled it up with fresh 12 yo-zuri for him and dug out a couple packs of lizards( his favorite), weights, hooks and a couple spinnerbaits.(the only other thing I have seen him fish). 

 

This morning I set my alarm for 5am, as the sunrise is now 5:45 and this pond is only 12 mins from my house.  I get there at perfect timing.  Nobody there but me and the geese.  I saw a young deer. Always seems there are some around this pond even though it is in the middle of the city.  Start chunking.  Same spots as yesterday.  The tried and true, proven spots.  I get to the spot where I think I am gonna get bit.  Up and over the point, casting parallel to the bank.  Nothing.  Cast again, get hung up.  Oh no, not my Hudd.......  I walk down the shoreline and ruin the spot, and just as I get to the other side of the point, swoosh, big mama crushes in on the newly spawned bream and eats a couple and scoot out of there.  Just think, maybe she would have liked and easier bigger Hudd meal?  If I wouldn't have messed that up. 

 

Keep moving down the bank and get almost to the very end of the "walkway"  Keep in mind this is just grass, but it stops towards the end and goes into waist high eel grass, and I had on shorts.  Thats right Andy, shorts at 6 am.    I get to the end of the run and fish a pocket I have caught some bigguns out of.  Nothing.  Keep fishing for about 15 mins and make one last cast out towards the middle.  I had seen something get busted on in the middle of my cast the previous one, so I made a long heave out and let it start sinking.  Hits the bottom and start my slow reel, when....wait for it....

 

 

Tick......my 7'11'' stick starts to load up and I swing for the fences.....Fish on!!!!  Alright this is what I have fished the last almost 10 hours for with this one bait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

And just at that split second, that feeling that something just went wrong happens.  Slack in the line.  I burn the reel hoping she had just made a run at me.  Nope.  Shes gone.  I stop reeling and let the bait sink back down, hoping she would come back for the wounded....Nope.  Start to reel again  and notice something feels different.  Not like a strike, and not like dead weight.  Just different.  I give it a couple more reels before making the assumption that my tail was hooked on the hook and I needed to reel it back in.  Then I start to feel like the line is spinning.  Similar to when a crank bait fouls, or you have a catfish on.  That slow roll in the water.

 

I get my bait back close enough to see it and........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 68 has lost its 8 

 

 

So I lost the fish, and my tail, but I go away with hope, because this means the bigguns like the swimbait.  It might be another 10 hours.  Or 20, who knows,  But you can bet I will be back chunkin that swimbait in hopes of the one that got away!

 

Jff

[00 mod]

The youngster was not at the pond this morning, so his stuff still sits in my truck.  If I get a chance to head back out this evening, I will look for him.  If not, I will visit for the next couple days until I run into him again.  Maybe that will be the mojo I need to get that bite!

 

Jeff

[A-Jay]

 Very Nice write up Jeff - and it is warming up here thank you very much.

 

So, have you rigged up with a trailer hook for that Hudd yet ?

 

Take a picture of Mr. Happy when you hook him up with that Rod & Reel.

 

You're a good Guy Jeff.

 

 

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

Should have named it the tale of the tail in Memphis. Sooner or later you are going to get rewarded.

[Will Wetline]

Good piece of writing.

 

Very good of you to set up the kid.  That's an act of generosity he'll remember for the rest of his life.

[ClackerBuzz]

great story jeff. looking forward to chapter 2.

i don't mean to get all wishy washy sentimental but..

Better to have swung and lost than never to swung at all.

[00 mod]

Just headed out to dinner with the wife, and I threw the rod/reel and tackle back in the truck and swung by the pond on the way.  No sighting. 

 

And when I got back in the truck my wife says to me:  "  Well your a big dummy.  Of course he is not at the pond, he doesn't had anything to fish with." 

 

Which brings up a good point.  So I think I am going to leave a note for him on a tree or the entrance to the park sign saying,

 

To the guy who got his fishing stuff stolen, give me a call........

 

But this might open myself to all kinds of prank calls and what not.  Maybe I will just keep swinging by until I see him again!
 

Jeff

[EvanT123]

Great story. I fish alot in public places and people always ask me why and this and that or see me catch one and are like wow; I say though its the one that got away that keeps me coming back.

I'm sure that young kid will really appreciate the rod and reel you put together for him. It's acts like that; that make this sport what it is. I commend your dedication and generosity.

[Bluebasser86]

Great story. I was about the same age when all my fishing gear got stolen, it was a terrible feeling. It takes a long time to build up any gear when your only income is from mowing yards or raking leaves. I was lucky that some of the regulars at the lake I fished heard about it and pooled their money together and got me about $60 in gift cards to get new gear. It really helped me out a lot not just in being able to fish but to make me realize that there really are people that still care out there. I'm sure when you find the young man and give him that gear it will mean the world to him.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Too bad about the fish.  Maybe next time right?  And it's really cool of you to set that kid up with your extra gear like that.  Hopefully you get a chance to give it to him.

[deep]

You'll get her the next time Jeff. Hope you find the kid, and he can keep on fishing.

[MemphisFF]

I hope you run into that kid soon, the story is killing me... I want to know how he reacts.. Great story and thoughtfulness by the way, there is still some good in this world! One thing I despise more than anything is a thief!

[Sun Fish]

Great story and I really do hope you find that kid to give him the gear, getting your prized possession stolen as a young fellow is devastating.  I've found a new enjoyment myself in giving free gear to young anglers or families out fishing from the shore.  If they appear friendly when im launching or retrieving my boat I walk up to them and ask if they fish for bass.  I usually hear "we're fishing for whatever bites" and then get a enthusiastic story about how one time their bobber went under and they pulled out a big bass over there.  I usually toss them a full pack of my homemade plastics or a random bait in my arsenal I know will work but I rarely use and they're always very greatful and suprised.

[Bankbeater]

Great story.  Are you sure it was a bass you had?  I have turtles bite my flukes in half all of the time.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Nice OOMOD.

[00 mod]

Great story.  Are you sure it was a bass you had?  I have turtles bite my flukes in half all of the time.

 

 

No.  Never sure as I did not see it.  But it put up a heck of a fight for the brief second I had it on.  I have seen a gar in this pond as well.  You never know unless you see it.  I do know there are monster bass in this pond though.

 

Jeff

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Great story man. Keep at it. Frustration and reward both in your future.