We had some strange weather this winter. The ice never got thick enough to go out on but it kept enough ice on the lakes to keep people from fishing.
Finally a few weeks ago I started fishing. The first two trips were flops, but I started hearing that there were some fish being caught at a lake near my parents.
On one of the nicest days we had in February I drove over to check out the lake. I called my mother on the way. She decided to meet me on the dam and fish with me.
It wasn't long before the hearsay became reality. I had caught my first fish of 2016. It was 14 1/2 inch saugeye. My 3 year old daughter was fishing right beside me. I continued to catch 2 more saugeye before Mom showed up.
We spent the day basking in the sun, casting, and catching. My daughter got to reel in several fish.
Then it came. I made a long cast, waited for the jig to hit the bottom and as soon as I lifted the rod, BAM! This was a harder hit than the short fish we had been pulling in. The fish came straight to the surface like a bass. I held my rod tip low, just like I would if a bass was trying to jump. Instinct I guess. We saw the fish a good ways out swirl at the surface. It was a good size saugeye. Keeper for sure. My heart was racing as I kept the fight going.
Mom thought I lost the fish when it swirled. Fortunately, I had not lost it. I scanned the rocks I was standing on for the best place to land a big fish. Something flat with shallow water. I have lost a lot of walleye at the end of a fight when I have went to grab them in the rocks. You are in and awkward position.
I found my spot and brought the fish in. I bent down and grabbed my line to get the fishes head up. My line snapped. Like a cat I lept for the fish. One foot went into the cold water and my hand grabbed right between the dorsal fin and the gill. I gripped and pulled the Saugeye out of the water.
He went a good 5 inches beyond my 18 inch measuring board. Fish was on the menu.
We caught a crappie, bass and tons of other short saugeye throughout the rest of the afternoon.
It is great to have fishing season back in gear for 2016.
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