Before Thanksgiving (November 25, 2009), I broke my record of large mouth bass in Chinook Fish & Wildlife Area. Well, to be honest, I was not preparing to fish that afternoon. I was supposed to pay the bill (cable & internet), go home, and enjoy a cup of coffee. However, I did not go home after paying the bill. I went to Chinook under 6°C with cold wind (25 km/h).
Well, I am pretty sure that's the new sign cause I did not see it during spring this year!
Okay! So what's next!? Of course, I threw my bait into the water! In this weather condition, what did I expect to find the schools of fish!? That's right, they might be staying near the bottom of the lake! So I used Texas rig with Strike King Space Monkey (Black/Blue) and tried to hop the lure near the bottom. 20 minutes passed, and I did not get a bite! Well, it was getting colder and the wind was killing me (I forgot to wear my hat). Therefore, I slowly reeled the line back and thought of leaving!
But……..Magic things happened!
As the space monkey swam back to me about one meter, a fish came out, grabbed the lure, and broke the line (Trust me, I did not even have a chance to fight with the fish. The line broke like it was only 1 lb test!)
Holy Crap! That's an expensive lure!
What did this tell me? -- There's still some active fish chasing baits!
You probably think I would give up and leave, don't you!? Hahahahaha…I stayed and changed the lure into Lake Fork Magic Shad. (I used Yum Attractant which dyed the shad a little green.) Then I still threw the lure far and slowly swam it back. On my second cast and around the same spot, a fish bit the lure and again broke the line. What the heck……..!!!!!! Was there a shark there or something!?
Well, would it be the same fish as the first one? As I was stunned and a little pissed, I put my spinning rod back to the trunk, started my car, and rushed back to my apartment to take my bait-casting rod (with 15 lb 100% fluorocarbon line).
When I went back to the same place in Chinook, it was over 3:00 that afternoon. Immediately, I cast the Magic Shad into the water and slowly reeled the line back! On my third cast, BAM……I felt a very heavy pulling coming from the lure! Yeah…..got you! This time the fish did not have a chance to break my line!
I measured the bass right away. This beauty was 60.9 centimeter.
I measure it again on the flat road. Yes, it was almost 61.
But the wind seemed to blow the scale over.
Oh! She's really fat and heavy! What a beauty!
I took a picture with the bass by putting my camera on the trunk.
Take a look at her mouth, she's a healthy and giant bass!
I got to let her go quickly. In such a cold day, I bet she could not survive if she stayed out of the water for over 20 minutes.
Goodbye, beautiful bass! You are better than Thanksgiving Turkey feast.
(I mean as a gift, not food! Hahahahahahaha…….)