Well, I did get a little sleep, but when @Three Bouys was so kind to invite me along for an early morning run to Bluff Bar, I was too amp'ed up to get much shut-eye. I left London town about 5:00 a.m. to meet up with Three Bouys and his brother, Kirby, on the Point around 6:30. Originally it was to be just @Three Bouys and me , but his brother was a last minute addition <selfish stomp: thinks this is good, the bro' can net my pike and take them off for me>.
We left out of Old Cut and we were 'hailed' by @Big Dave onshore at Old Cut Livery, yelling something that sounded like insults about us exercising our right to go barefoot and he, apparently sporting his infamous crocs. Despite that bit of -ve Karma, it wasn't long before we were at Bluff Bar and trolling big 7 inch solid floating Rapalas. @Three Bouys, I've now learned, is just a bit of a pike specialist and it showed as we quickly doubled up with a pair of 3# pike <lazy stomp: lets the 'bro' net his pike>. Damned if Kirby doesn't get impaled clear through the thumb by a thrashing pike and with me holding the rod tip just a tad too high.
insert stomach-turning impalation photo here
Turns out that @Three Bouys' own bout last weekend with some on-the-water self surgery prepared him for how best to handle the situation. With some rusty pliers and a little blood and grimacing, Kirby was released by cutting off the hook barb and he then was apparently feeling no worse for wear <sheepish stomp: now regretting how he had earlier only thought of Kirby as his potential net man>. BTW Kirby, is your tetanus inoculation up to date?
We troll a while longer; double up again; also take a couple more of off @Three Bouys' new planer board set-up. The captain was bitching a bit about how small the fish were compared to last week <skeptical stomp: thinks - oh yeah, should have been here last week, never heard that before>. And then bang, big rodbender on. I boat an 8# fish. No one dies or is injured. Kirby has stopped bleeding. I'm feeling pretty good.
Another 1/2 hour or so goes by and it's been kinda quiet and then the 'bro leaps up. BIG bend in the rod. Everyone knows it's a good one and after a lengthy fight, a first for @Three Bouys and, I believe, Kirby. A very decent Long Point Bay Musky is landed that we think is better than 12# <unkind Stomp: asks aloud "Who the eff invited Kirby? Musky is returned to the water, likely asking the same thing.">.
We continue on the troll and put a few more eating-size pike in the boat and then, again, another HUGE bend in the rod. Now, I won't say that Kirby elbowed me out of the way, but he, with cat-like reflexes, got to it first . After another very exciting fight, we have a very large pike in the boat, tipping the scale right at or near 16#. This one wasn't to survive. <vindictive Stomp: thinks Kirby should be punished for having caught all the best fish and now has killed a trophy - considers 'accidentally' placing a lure on Kirby's seat>.
We now had more fish than we wanted so we pulled the plug around 11:30. It was an absolutely fantastic homecoming for me today at the Bluff. Perfect weather and very enjoyable time out there with @Three Bouys and Kirby. Seriously, Kirby was as excited as a kid catching those fish. It was a lot of fun to watch him school us on how to do it. I have a video of him playing that pike and will post when time permits. Thanks fellas for getting me back on the Bay. It was great!
We left out of Old Cut and we were 'hailed' by @Big Dave onshore at Old Cut Livery, yelling something that sounded like insults about us exercising our right to go barefoot and he, apparently sporting his infamous crocs. Despite that bit of -ve Karma, it wasn't long before we were at Bluff Bar and trolling big 7 inch solid floating Rapalas. @Three Bouys, I've now learned, is just a bit of a pike specialist and it showed as we quickly doubled up with a pair of 3# pike <lazy stomp: lets the 'bro' net his pike>. Damned if Kirby doesn't get impaled clear through the thumb by a thrashing pike and with me holding the rod tip just a tad too high.
insert stomach-turning impalation photo here
Turns out that @Three Bouys' own bout last weekend with some on-the-water self surgery prepared him for how best to handle the situation. With some rusty pliers and a little blood and grimacing, Kirby was released by cutting off the hook barb and he then was apparently feeling no worse for wear <sheepish stomp: now regretting how he had earlier only thought of Kirby as his potential net man>. BTW Kirby, is your tetanus inoculation up to date?
We troll a while longer; double up again; also take a couple more of off @Three Bouys' new planer board set-up. The captain was bitching a bit about how small the fish were compared to last week <skeptical stomp: thinks - oh yeah, should have been here last week, never heard that before>. And then bang, big rodbender on. I boat an 8# fish. No one dies or is injured. Kirby has stopped bleeding. I'm feeling pretty good.
Another 1/2 hour or so goes by and it's been kinda quiet and then the 'bro leaps up. BIG bend in the rod. Everyone knows it's a good one and after a lengthy fight, a first for @Three Bouys and, I believe, Kirby. A very decent Long Point Bay Musky is landed that we think is better than 12# <unkind Stomp: asks aloud "Who the eff invited Kirby? Musky is returned to the water, likely asking the same thing.">.
We continue on the troll and put a few more eating-size pike in the boat and then, again, another HUGE bend in the rod. Now, I won't say that Kirby elbowed me out of the way, but he, with cat-like reflexes, got to it first . After another very exciting fight, we have a very large pike in the boat, tipping the scale right at or near 16#. This one wasn't to survive. <vindictive Stomp: thinks Kirby should be punished for having caught all the best fish and now has killed a trophy - considers 'accidentally' placing a lure on Kirby's seat>.
We now had more fish than we wanted so we pulled the plug around 11:30. It was an absolutely fantastic homecoming for me today at the Bluff. Perfect weather and very enjoyable time out there with @Three Bouys and Kirby. Seriously, Kirby was as excited as a kid catching those fish. It was a lot of fun to watch him school us on how to do it. I have a video of him playing that pike and will post when time permits. Thanks fellas for getting me back on the Bay. It was great!
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