Carpmouth Bass

I know, you want to know what the reason or the title is. Just be patient.

I was planning to go shad fishing today, but unfortunately that didn't happen. My backup plan was carp and bass in my favorite pond. The wind was a little bit stronger than I wanted but the lighting was good and I could see anything big moving on the flats. Right away I got a couple shots at a cruiser but the flat vacated and eventually I went to a better spot for bass. With a big streamer on, I was casting parallel to the shore and received an awesome show as a good pickerel came out and SLAMMED the fly. Completely visible, absolutely brutal.

There are other predators in there...

So after that pickerel I messed around for just a bit longer before I headed back to the flat. There were a few carp there mudding. I put one good cast in front of a pair. I did one strip and the closer of the two fish came absolutely unglued. It was just like a bass take. That fish moved a good ways and just nailed the brown bugger I had on. Ridiculous. Even better, this one took off faster than I was expecting, and was into the backing in a matter of seconds. But that run tired him out so it was a short fight by comparison. It was a good fish, fat as heck but not that long.

After releasing that fish I struck around for a few more hours hoping for another one. That didn't happen but I'm glad I stayed because I nailed into this awesome bass!