"A Big O Butt Kickin"

[Big-O]

Finally got back on the water for a little while this week and two of my Buddies, Wendell and Ronnie met me the first evening to share a few hours of fishin' time

Prior to them arriving, I spent a couple of hours running around cking to see any changes from the last time I was there and noticed several things...

1) It was hot, 101 in the Shade

2) the water temps were up

3) It was HOT, about 130 in the SUN

4) the lake was down and the water clarity was good over most of the Lake.

5) Did I say "IT WAS HOT", I got really thirsty while I was out there cking the lake and I had to stay hydrated you know so I want to apologize for not having enough refreshments on board when they arrived. Should've put my Big O Ice chest in the boat

We tried several different places and had just enough success to keep things interesting but never hit any fish of the Larger Caliber...Big Thumpers and Rage Hawgs seemed to be the ticket.

Actually the most memorable part of that evening was Ronnie telling a story from their distant past when he and Wendell were fishing the Texas coast at Port Aransas. They were casting from the rocks on the jetty and according to Ronnie, Wendell had one of his prize 11 ft surf rods staked out in the boulders with a big hunk of cut bait at the end of the line soaking in the channel....Ronnie went on to mention that Wendell had been heavy into the refreshments previously and was passed out on the rocks for a long period of time...Said he looked like a Beached Mini Walrus all sprawled out there when all of the sudden the prize Rod bowed over as if a tug boat was on the end of it. Ronnie being quite a distance away, started yelling to Wendell, "Wake up! Wake up! Whatever that is, it's gonna BREAK MY ROD". Then after just a few moments SNAP....the Rod handle broke below the reel and what was left went skipping out across the surface for the longest time...Ronnie quickly realized he only had one chance to save it and rared back with his other 11 footer and made the longest cast he could and actually landed perfectly 3 ft past the skipping prize rod, snagging it by the reel. Ronnie fought and managed to bring his rod and reel back to shore with the big monster on the other end....By this time Wendell was wide awake watching his good Buddy struggling with the situation. Wendell jumped up like Captain America and grabbed the wounded rod then actually landed a giant Sting Ray. Now that's a STORY... After Ronnie and Wendell finished telling all the details, I was quiet thinking to myself...I've never heard a better story in my life Dang I like going Fishin' with friends... Since they both had to work early the next day, I took'em back to the ramp around 10:00pm but was glad I got to fish with'em for a little while.

Early the next morning, I decided to switch to a Rage Craw for a faster fall rate without increasing the weight. A couple of medium sized fish got me excited about the bite opportunity before I pitched the Craw into a deeper tree on a ledge and just before it touched the bottom, A heavy fish nailed it and headed straight down. I set the hook and got her headed my way then I eased the boat out to deeper water and let her play for a minute before landing her (Photo below). By 10am I had marked several other spots where the structure was similar but no more bigguns.

Spent the rest of the morning looking for another evening/nightime jaunt and found the pattern I was looking for...Took off to avoid the daytime heat and got back out after an evening thunderstorm, one of my favorite times to fish and that's when it happened.

Just after dark, I eased up to one of the marks and casted an Okechobee colored Rage Hawg to the sweet spot. After it settled to the bottom, I lifted the rod tip and felt the fish...a quick hook set later and the war broke out. She made several hard pulling surges and I could tell she was free from hang ups and I again eased the boat toward open water. She was coming up fast and surfaced with a big thrash about 10 yards from the boat. Then she made two more deep drives under the boat before I felt her slow her anger at me. I stepped off of the front deck to get in landing position and she made me pay for a mistake I've made too many times...She wasn't even close to being done and she blasted at the side of the boat two more times then took off like a rocket behind the boat only to surface again with a vengence throwing my empty hook and weight right back to me...That was the hottest big fish I've hooked in three years and I'm still in awe at her relentless aggression. I think that's just a nice way to say "I got my Big O Butt Kicked AGAIN"

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Another nice fish, Steve.  I know the feeling with the heat.  It was just ridiculously hot down here today.  I got my but whupped by the sun.

[bigtimfish]

What is the color of the craw in that photo? I have a gambler ko hangover skirt that matches it PERFECT. Is it the lake falcon craw?

[Big-O]

Yep, Falcon Lake Craw...and I like it Alot  ;D

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[roadwarrior]

Still, a great story!

We all know you catch your share. Nice pic!

8-)

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Great story!! Super Fish!

[Big Bass Chaser]

As always, beautiful fish, great story.

Is that a 4/0 EWG and what looks to be about 15lb flouro?  I ask because that's what I fish in a similar circumstance and I have slightly  more confidence in your skill, hah.

[NateFollmer]

Steve, is it ever possible for you to catch a dink? All of your fish aren't even CLOSE to my PB (and by that I mean they are bigger HA).

Great story, great baits, great fish.... You just rule all the way around

[Shane Procell]

Bio-O-Bass pardner!

[Big-O]

As always, beautiful fish, great story.

Is that a 4/0 EWG and what looks to be about 15lb flouro? I ask because that's what I fish in a similar circumstance and I have slightly more confidence in your skill, hah.

BigBassChaser, I was using a 5/0 heavy wire Gammy and 20lb Lake Fork Parallelium Pro line on that particular rod. And I venture to bet that your skills are just fine too

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[gar-tracker]

The fish are bunched up, their hard to figure out, every time I think they moved way out I catch a good fish in side.

I have my first Tourney of a trail on the 4th, if my fish hold I should be all right.

[SGT Rico]

Great story Steve!! And as always, a MONSTER fish!!!!!!

[Fishing Cowgirl]

The fish are bunched up, their hard to figure out, every time I think they moved way out I catch a good fish in side.

I have my first Tourney of a trail on the 4th, if my fish hold I should be all right.

Good Luck!