Per Heddonfrogs request, a new thread :wave:
Had 0 intentions of making an effort today but this fishing stuff is worse than crack. Afternoon warmed up to 84 without a ton of humidity & a strong breeze making it not feel oppressive, so I caved to the crave.
Went to different water with the intention of exploiting the prespawn ditch-pickle bite. Caught a handful of less than photo-worthy participant larrys on the chatterbait, & then it happened...
While trying to ski the bait above the shoreline scum & just as I was lifting it out, those familiar black bars, greenish/yellow body, & orangish red fins & frantic pace that is reminiscent of a perch on meth swiped at & tore off the paddle of my chatterbait trailer (gambler ugly otter). Having no other trailers or baits in my pocket, made another cast along the same line & saw 2 peacocks swimming alongside it curiously. At the very least I had to walk a whole 1/4mile back to my tackle bin (aka my car),re-trailer my chatterbait & stock a pocket with spares, or........hang up the largemouth gear & go a different direction! Even though this isnt typically my prime peacock water in the neighborhood, decided on plan B & grabbed my ML spinning gear, a 1/4oz bucktail jig & went at it.
Wasnt exactly a stellar outing #'s -wise, but did catch a small handful of mostly smaller peacocks, a couple were decent. Right as sunset was taking over had a thump on the bucktail, set the hook, & the line instantly started peeling out with the rod going nuts. I was sure it had to be a big snakehead but it seemed a bit speedy for that. A second later a tank of a peacock started trying to cartwheel. Took an honest few minutes to bring him to the steep bank. Usually with the 15lb ande leader I use, rarely is an occasion I cant just hoist them up the mostly steep banks, but this 1 was a touch big for that. Worked down the slope and got him to the bank. Was in the range of 5lbs Id guess. They do get bigger than that here, but not too often. Aside from kings/trout on the lakefront, cant recall a freshwater fish that scrapped like this brute anytime recently. They put a largemouth to shame, and solidly surpass a smallmouth, IMO, in terms of speed & power. Was a pleasant surprise on a day I had no plans to go.
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The brute
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Had 0 intentions of making an effort today but this fishing stuff is worse than crack. Afternoon warmed up to 84 without a ton of humidity & a strong breeze making it not feel oppressive, so I caved to the crave.
Went to different water with the intention of exploiting the prespawn ditch-pickle bite. Caught a handful of less than photo-worthy participant larrys on the chatterbait, & then it happened...
While trying to ski the bait above the shoreline scum & just as I was lifting it out, those familiar black bars, greenish/yellow body, & orangish red fins & frantic pace that is reminiscent of a perch on meth swiped at & tore off the paddle of my chatterbait trailer (gambler ugly otter). Having no other trailers or baits in my pocket, made another cast along the same line & saw 2 peacocks swimming alongside it curiously. At the very least I had to walk a whole 1/4mile back to my tackle bin (aka my car),re-trailer my chatterbait & stock a pocket with spares, or........hang up the largemouth gear & go a different direction! Even though this isnt typically my prime peacock water in the neighborhood, decided on plan B & grabbed my ML spinning gear, a 1/4oz bucktail jig & went at it.
Wasnt exactly a stellar outing #'s -wise, but did catch a small handful of mostly smaller peacocks, a couple were decent. Right as sunset was taking over had a thump on the bucktail, set the hook, & the line instantly started peeling out with the rod going nuts. I was sure it had to be a big snakehead but it seemed a bit speedy for that. A second later a tank of a peacock started trying to cartwheel. Took an honest few minutes to bring him to the steep bank. Usually with the 15lb ande leader I use, rarely is an occasion I cant just hoist them up the mostly steep banks, but this 1 was a touch big for that. Worked down the slope and got him to the bank. Was in the range of 5lbs Id guess. They do get bigger than that here, but not too often. Aside from kings/trout on the lakefront, cant recall a freshwater fish that scrapped like this brute anytime recently. They put a largemouth to shame, and solidly surpass a smallmouth, IMO, in terms of speed & power. Was a pleasant surprise on a day I had no plans to go.
The brute
