Well it was a long winter, my first dealing with 'Cabin Fever' as I only got into fishing last season. I've been spending a lot of time reading, and building my tackle box for the upcoming season, but as you will read here, sometimes the simplest methods are the most effective!
My Friday afternoon started off with a walk from Jackson Square down to Bayfront. It was windy, and clouds were looming, but I hadn't been out all week and couldn't wait any longer. My plan of attack was to scout out the opposite side of the boat launch area, I've always fished the side with the rocks and the benches, but wanted to try something different. I had 4 360 boxes of hardbaits that were just waiting to take a dip. As I got closer to Bayfront, and went over my plan of attack, the recent rainfall made me stop and get some worms, you know... JUST IN CASE.
When I arrived at Bayfront the wind was blowing right across the launch, but the little bay (Macassa Bay) was calm and protected, so I posted up by the bench that overlooks the marina and all the boats. The water was very muddy. Hardbaits be damned, I tie on my last aberdeen hook, add a small split shot, and a wooden pencil like bobber. On my fist cast in towards the bay I caught a small silver bass? Excitement overtook me as I was finally feeling the tug of something on my line. 3 or 4 casts to the same spot yielded 3 more of these silvery looking panfish and I was feeling great! I adjusted my depth down to about 4 feet and cast again, a little further out. I was slowly reeling my line back in, when I saw my bobber go down, and when I continued to reel my line snagged. Then, THE GREATEST FEELING AN ANGLER CAN FEEL, THE SNAG PULLED BACK! my line started peeling off my reel, and my drag sang like it made it to the finals of The Voice. (I don't watch The Voice, but I am aware it's a singing show lol) I held my rod tip up as my line swam around the bay, trying to adjust the drag and reeling in when I could. After what felt like ten minutes but realistically was under a minute, this behemoth turned towards me and I saw something silver break the water momentarily, and then dive back down and run again. WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?! A steelhead? Still had no idea. Another run and then it was tired, I reeled in and saw the biggest fish I have ever caught floating on it's side. Sheepshead! I'd heard about these, but never seen one, and thought they were smaller. I was without a net, but the fish was just chilling in the shallows. I grabbed a garbage bag that I keep for picking up litter, and placed it on the rocks, while grabbing my line and pulling this fish closer. I was able to get my hand under the gill, and my other under it's body and laid it on the bag. SUCCESS!
Here it is beside my size 15 shoe
A lady was walking her dog, and I asked for her to take a picture. I was so excited, and this was my first time holding up a sheepshead. I tried to remember to support the full weight of the fish with my hand, and placed my other hand under it's gill so if it shook I wouldn't drop it. I'm not happy with the way the gill is pulled out in this picture, when I was holding it I didn't feel like it was pulled out so far, and afterwards it was placed back in the water, and after only a few seconds of holding it there it gave the water a tail slap and went on it's way. My apologies to the community if this still isn't the correct way to hold the fish, I am still learning, and while I have spent hours and hours READING about fish over this past year, sadly it's still only minutes that I've gotten to handle them, and this picture shows that inexperience
After that I was on cloud 9! Spent a couple more hours fishing, I was down there from 5-8:30. I overheard at least 3 different kids see me fishing and say to their parents 'I want to go Fishing!' and that was great to hear. A gentlemen and his 2 kids stood and watched me fish for about 20 minutes and asked questioned about fishing the area which I was happy to answer. Spoke with another guy and his son who Ice fished bayfront over the winter and had a lot of success, and finally was able to help a couple teens who weren't having any luck by giving my spot and letting them know what depth I was catching at. I had received my Lucky Tackle Box this month, and it came with a small 1/8oz Strike King spinnerbait, so I walked around the bay over near the docks and cast out a couple times while waiting for my ride. Got 2 more silver bass or white perch not sure the name, but one was about 12" and it was my first time catching anything on a spinnerbait. My evening finished with a visit to the Chef's Wagon which opened yesterday. If you guys in Hamilton haven't had it yet, look it up online, their food truck is always at Main and Bay this year, and they make the best burger I've ever had, The Hamiltonian, check it out!
Overall it was an excellent start to the long weekend, and reaffirmed my faith in Bayfront. I get to cross another species off the list. Next time I visit I've got my eye on some pike!
