Fishing: The First Trip

Before heading out on my first fishing trip of the new me, I decided to check out what salmon anglers use to catch salmon. I googled it on the internet and sent a text to my Uncle Bill who is an avid salmon fisherman (fly fishing). Most of the websites suggested a 20-25lb test line. Hmmm. My 8lb suddenly seemed quite inadequate. I contiunued discussing this with Corey over text messages. I told her it only had to be 22 inches to be a keeper.

"Only?! That's like 2 feet!"

I could see her point. I thought about it, googled some pictures and saw some crazy monsters that would probably drag me up river if I caught them. Most likely they would just take off with my rod and reel. Or snap it in two like a tiny twig.

Then I found a website that stated the author had seen people land 30lb+ fish with an 8lb line. I felt hope once again. Until my uncle texted me back saying he'd use a 20-25lb line. Of course. The sporting goods store is an hour away, so I decided I would head to our small local reservoir "Greenhorn" and see if I could catch some bass or catfish.

I could hardly sleep because I was so excited. For some reason it's a lot easier for me to wake up at 5am on weekends than week days. Probably because I have a weekend to look forward to, as opposed to work.


Thankfully I wasn't completely on my game because as it turns out, Greenhorn doesn't open until 7:30am. After all the big fish go back to bed of course.

  Greenhor Reservoir at sunrise

 The only one fishing.

 



 



I started out with some lures, since it was too cold to sit still with a bobber and hook. I had brought along my own worms from my composting bin. They were little but very lively. It wasn't too long before I was getting some bites on a minnow lure. I thought I felt a little action on the end of my line, so I reeled it in a little, and then a little more until I could just barely make out my lure in the water. Hmm. Weird. Then my lure turned around and swam away! I had a fish! I reeled it in, and this is the monster I found on the end of my line:







 

He wasn't much bigger than my lure, brave little guy. I placed him back in the water and he swam away. I fished there a little longer before moving around to another part of the lake. This time I decided to go with the basic worm on a hook with a few sinkers and a bobber.

 

Something kept stealing my worms but not taking the hook. I was patient and persistant. I watched my bobber go under a couple times, gave the rod a jerk and then saw a little duck come towards my line at a good clip.

 

He showed great interest in what was going on under my bobber and I had a fear that he would grab the fish...and the hook. That was going to be interesting. I started reeling in my line and the duck followed full speed. Finally when he got too close to me, he peeled off and went the other direction. Here's what was on my line the second time:

I swear it's the same fish. I caught him again at that spot, and then again across the lake in another area. They were all the same size and they were all devouring my worms. I changed location a couple more times and changed tackle about 100 times today. I'm getting good at the knots, and slightly better at casting. Now I've got to go up to Medford to get me a heavy action rod and reel with heavy test line to catch some big guys in the river!