Never Doubt the Old Dude

[The Budget Angler]

I pulled up to one of my favorite ponds with very low expectations.  There was a light but steady breeze that I figured would flush the bass out deep.  As I cast around a culvert that typically produced fish, I was correct.  Just up the shoreline from me was a leathery old man with a single rod and no tackle box in sight.  He hooked something as I walked by him to get to another spot (I don't want to crowd him, after all).

 

This man pulled out the biggest bowfin I have ever seen.  It was probably close to 30"

"Aw, hate dem things," he said.  He seemed a little wary of the teeth, so I offered to get the hook out.  "Shucks, he mangled my worm.  Feisty li'l bugger for his size."

I turned to him.  "They get bigger than that?"

"Oh yes, I done caught bowfin outta here that was a foot longer."  He walked to his truck and grabbed another worm, of the very prestigious Ozark Trail brand.

"This here's the only color I use.  I been fishin' here 11 an' a half years, never failed me once," he continued.  He also told me about the pond's other inhabitants.

"There's some mighty big carp in here, I reckon about 60 lbs."  I was pretty skeptical at this point.

"Y'know, I was out here one time and some guy caught a ten-pound bass offa that drain pipe over yonder."  Now I was desperately hopeful.

"I've seen some good ones in here," I replied.  He continued telling me about this pond and that pond and where to go to catch big catfish, and I left the conversation with a spinning head and one Walmart senko.

 

Long story short, I got skunked, but I watched as the old man pulled in several bass in the 2 lb range.  My best for the lake was maybe a pound.  As I was fishing one particular spot, however, I saw the tell-tale roil of a carp before a dog-sized fish came into view.  It was well over 40".  Maybe not quite 60 lbs, but monstrous nonetheless.  Perhaps there were larger carp in the pond?

 

I left after a few pleasant hours and stopped by Walmart to restock.  And I'll be darned if I didn't buy a pack of Ozark Trail senkos.

[pdxfisher]

As an old guy I approve this message

[GreenPig]

It depends. I always out fish my 84 year old fishing bud that was a Bass/Hybrid guide for 24 years. But with that said I always listen intently because I respect my elders and they've seen so much more than me.

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

17 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

As an old guy I approve this message

 

As an old woman, I also approve.

 

Great storytelling, @TheLastBestFish!

[Skunkmaster-k]

That’s how I learned a lot of what I know about fishing. The mossbacks ain’t stingy with the info. 

[The Budget Angler]

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

That’s how I learned a lot of what I know about fishing. The mossbacks ain’t stingy with the info. 

Yeah, I've gotten free stuff over the years just by asking questions and actually being engaged

[Fishingmickey]

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

That’s how I learned a lot of what I know about fishing. The mossbacks ain’t stingy with the info. 

Nope, we just be stingy about whom we give it too...

FM

[Woody B]

Old age and treachery will always beat youth and skill.