Dad and I knew up front that Lame James is tough, but if it didn’t produce we would be spending quality time together. It took awhile to get our patterns established. I got a drop shot going through wood cover that hooked three largemouth bass; unfortunately I learned the importance of sharp hooks on the two best bass. When Dad had exhausted the trusty green plastic worm he would employ a spoon tactic we learned from Uncle Leroy who taught us both to fish and was surely watching every cast we made from above. We also each got a small taste of the crappie bite, which is on this time of year.
Sunday night provided the finale we will remember for a long time. The sun was setting and Dad wanted to throw a spoon in the low light just like Uncle Leroy used to. This tactic had produced a huge white bass on the first night. As the sunlight faded, Dad became frustrated with his inability to thread the line to complete the knot on his spoon. I offered to tie it. As I finished tying the knot I said “this is the least I can do -- consider this payback for all the knots you tied for me.” Dad made one cast and hooked an 18” smallmouth. A long fight ensued with a jump, a dart under the boat, and a dangerous lunge toward the trolling motor putting Dad’s six-pound line to the test. Finally we netted the pig and reflected on the victory. Dad had succeeded again using Uncle Leroy’s spoon tactic, but he was also using a spoon he had inherited from Uncle Leroy. It was almost like there were three of us in that boat.
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Lies and confessions of a bass and trout junkie
3 comments:
beautifully said.....LeRoy was there, and he would have said,"Boy that's a really nice one"......
Dad
An 18" smallie was up there with the 5lb walleye in Uncle LeRoy's book
Using the same tactic...spoon at dark....I even topped that beauty last night with 21" five pounder....boy what a fish. Maybe Lake James is starting to give up its secrets!
Dad
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