I tipped.

[Swamp Girl]

I tipped this morning. I cast my Rage Swimmer into a tree. As I paddled toward the tree, a wacky-Senko on a different rod snagged a bush. Now I'm stuck on two trees, one high and one at eye level. I tried to free the Senko, but it was quite stuck. So, I tried harder and fell into the pond. However, I had the presence of mind to simply fall into the water and not take the canoe with me, i.e. flip it.

 

When I hit the water, I thought, "This is how canoeists die, but I'm wearing a PDF, so I don't die today!"

 

I was by the shore, so I was chest-deep and I still had two rods stuck to branches. My canoe was heading off on a little cruise, so I went after it, holding it with one hand and trying to free my rods with the other. I got one rod free and I started to bail. That took some time. Then there was the challenge of getting back into the canoe. The shoreline rocks were slippery, so I was very, very careful and aborted the first attempt. 

 

Once I was back in the canoe, I caught a bass on the very next cast.

 

I caught 49 bass in total and had a BLAST using my Rage Swimmer. I caught six bass on the surface early, but then they stopped hitting. I tried three lures before realizing the Rage Swimmer was the ticket. I also discovered that I've been fishing it wrong, retrieving it too fast. I'd get these tick-tick-ticks with it and think the braid was telling me when I was hitting rock, weeds, or wood, but it was fish trying to inhale it and failing. A slower retrieve was so productive and so was not setting the hook when they started biting it, but waiting for the line to move left or right or feeling the rod load up. I pulled bass out of major slop.

 

To reach the pond, I had to go around a gate, down a gravel road, and then down a rutted portage trail. 

 

All the bass were about the same size, 15"-16.5". They were strong and so. much. fun. And I loved pitching my Rage Swimmer into the slop and wrangling the bass out of it. 

 

 

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Glad you're okay Katie, and sounds like falling in was worth it ?

[Blue Raider Bob]

What an adventure!

Glad it all worked out. Sounds like you got your exercise in and that's a good thing. Was the bottom hard enough to walk on or did you sink into the muck? 49 Bass and I'm as green with envy as the slop! Thanks for the pictures! It is beautiful country.

[Susky River Rat]

Sounds like a great day. Glad you made it back in safe!

[Swamp Girl]

It was so worth it, @AlabamaSpothunter! I love this new pond and I loved refining my paddletail technique. I do have what looks like road rash on the thigh. I think that when I tipped, I raked my thigh across the gunnel. Other than that, I'm fine. 

 

@Blue Raider Bob, the bottom right there was rock. In other places, it was mud. I was lucky I had rock beneath my sneakers. I think I can enjoy a 70-bass morning at this pond this summer. You know how you bumble the first couple times, learning where the bass hunker and what they want. 

 

Thanks, @Darnold335! 

[Jmurphy87]

I am happy to hear that you are fine, fishing is always a adventure. You never really know what all you are in for when the day starts. Figuring out what they want and how they want it is the other fun part. At least you didn’t lose any gear that would have really been a bummer. I look forward to hearing about how many you catch in a day out of there later this year ?

[Blue Raider Bob]

51 minutes ago, Jmurphy87 said:

I am happy to hear that you are fine, fishing is always a adventure. You never really know what all you are in for when the day starts. Figuring out what they want and how they want it is the other fun part. At least you didn’t lose any gear that would have really been a bummer. I look forward to hearing about how many you catch in a day out of there later this year ?

I've been fishing since the first day of the year and she's already passed me pound wise. She's probably pass me numbers wise by this weekend!? I caught a dozen yesterday but end to end they weren't longer than my tackle box!

[Swamp Girl]

@Blue Raider Bob: #Katiecatchesuneducatedbass

 

Bob, I got a kick out of the water company's policy, which is "you leave your boat, it's our boat!"

[gim]

My question is why did you cast a second lure when you already had one snagged lol

[Dwight Hottle]

I'm impressed you kept your wits about you & continued to fish while wet. you deserved a good outing after that.

8 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

@Blue Raider Bob: #Katiecatchesuneducatedbass

 

Bob, I got a kick out of the water company's policy, which is "you leave your boat, it's our boat!"

 

That's their way of discouraging people from leaving a boat cache so they don't have to carry it in each trip. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

My question is why did you cast a second lure when you already had one snagged lol

I've snagged a second pole trying to unsnag the first pole more times than I'd care to admit 

[gim]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I've snagged a second pole trying to unsnag the first pole more times than I'd care to admit 

I just assume break it off and count my losses as one than to multiply the problem by double.

[gunsinger]

This story emboldens me to tell my own sad tale.  Saturday, after a good day of fishing, I tied up a the pier, brought down the truck/trailer and backed into the launch.  When I climbed over the rail to get back into my boat to load up, i noticed some mud on my flip flop so I thought, "I don't want that in my boat so I'll just dip my foot in the water."  I'd already untied from the pier so, before I could even think twice, the boat shot out from under my left foot as I did a mini-split trying to hold on.  It was of no use though as I soon found myself in chest deep water.  Of course there was a family fishing on the pier but the only thing hurt was my pride.  Fortunately, there were no incriminating pictures.

 

I did manage to hold on to the the boat's rope so I didn't have to go swimming after it.  

[Swamp Girl]

36 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

I'm impressed you kept your wits about you & continued to fish while wet. you deserved a good outing after that.

 

Thanks, Dwight. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to improve my paddletail skills. Catching a lot of bass with one lure is a great way to learn. I'll be fishing a pond with bigger bass tomorrow morning and I hope my upgraded paddletail skill will land one.

5 minutes ago, gunsinger said:

 

I did manage to hold on to the the boat's rope so I didn't have to go swimming after it.  

 

Whew!

[Blue Raider Bob]

55 minutes ago, gunsinger said:

This story emboldens me to tell my own sad tale.  Saturday, after a good day of fishing, I tied up a the pier, brought down the truck/trailer and backed into the launch.  When I climbed over the rail to get back into my boat to load up, i noticed some mud on my flip flop so I thought, "I don't want that in my boat so I'll just dip my foot in the water."  I'd already untied from the pier so, before I could even think twice, the boat shot out from under my left foot as I did a mini-split trying to hold on.  It was of no use though as I soon found myself in chest deep water.  Of course there was a family fishing on the pier but the only thing hurt was my pride.  Fortunately, there were no incriminating pictures.

 

I did manage to hold on to the the boat's rope so I didn't have to go swimming after it.  

Yeah, but you got your flip flops cleaned! Mission accomplished!

[TheSwearingAngler]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

My question is why did you cast a second lure when you already had one snagged lol

As a canoeist I know exactly what happened… she didn’t cast the second lure it was hanging off a rod over the gunwale as she has pictured. I do this a lot and usually kick myself at least once an outing over it. I’m trying to get better at securing my unused rods and baits because I too wound up swimming over a very similar hang up a few weeks ago. I’ve also had a crappie smash a small swimbait that was dangling in the water as a paddle once.. so that was cool.

[Blue Raider Bob]

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

I'm impressed you kept your wits about you & continued to fish while wet. you deserved a good outing after that.

 

That's their way of discouraging people from leaving a boat cache so they don't have to carry it in each trip. 

She's a Swamp Girl Dwight! She'll fish wet or dry. Don't matter to the fish and don't matter to Katie! Although I'll bet that Maine water is a little cooler than what we've got down here! ?Brrrrrr!

[gim]

9 minutes ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

As a canoeist I know exactly what happened… she didn’t cast the second lure it was hanging off a rod over the gunwale as she has pictured.

Certainly possible.  Stick those unused lures on the hook keeper and get them out of the way.

[Swamp Girl]

36 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

She's a Swamp Girl Dwight! She'll fish wet or dry. Don't matter to the fish and don't matter to Katie!

 

Okay, Bob, ^this^ made me laugh and put a lingering smile on my face too. 

[TheSwearingAngler]

I put together a “kayak crate” with rod holders to help do a better job organizing.

[Swamp Girl]

30 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Certainly possible.  Stick those unused lures on the hook keeper and get them out of the way.

 

Heck, yeah, ^this^ is what I should do. 

[TnRiver46]

I’m sure you can guess who that is in the back with the bill dance hat on……..

that was not long after college on the hiwassee river . You can tell the photographers know where to set up and watch for the yard sales 

 

keep after em Katie, stuff happens but you’re plenty tough 

[Jmurphy87]

3 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

I've been fishing since the first day of the year and she's already passed me pound wise. She's probably pass me numbers wise by this weekend!? I caught a dozen yesterday but end to end they weren't longer than my tackle box!

She catches quality and quantity like no tomorrow, but she puts in the work to get them and she is fishing very good water also. But I always give credit to those who are skilled and she is definitely very skilled and smart.

[T-Billy]

49!!!??? That settles it. I'm doing a belly flop off the front deck first thing tomorrow night. That oughta REALLY get the chatterbait bite going!!! LOL.

 Glad it ended well Katie. Congrats on a great bogventure!!! 

[PhishLI]

5 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I tipped this morning.

Nah, you were just testing your wetsuit. Glad you're OK!