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A December Smallmouth Trip
on Lake Winnisquam in New Hampshire There are two reasons to be out on Winnisquam this time of the year. Big fish and plenty of them.Wednesday was my last outing and the day before I had two that touched 4
pounds and a bunch of threes with a total of just over 20 from one spot and in about 2 hours. So going out Wednesday knowing that three 5's were taken early this week was a no brainier.
It started out slow with
three other boats in the area and I didn't see much being done by anyone. I took a chance as I was having trouble finding my pets on this particular day. As I am cruising in 45 feet I came upon a cloud of baitfish, I
mean huge. It is a basic no-brainer, just get a ¾ oz. silver buddy in gold or silver under the cloud and it should rain smallies. First thing I pickup is a small white perch (5"). All of my bait to date
had been smelt, so the hooks under the school of bait had to be monster smallmouth. I had found just what I was looking for. I looked around and noticed I was alone, no big deal. I let the buddy down and I just barely
snap the bait of the bottom and follow the bait back down on tight line as it hits the bottom, no problem I had done it a hundred times. Second or third snap and on the lift motion it doesn't move, but then it comes up
like it's hung on a piece of line someone had lost while trolling. Just this steady pull without a headshake or any line movement and still straight down. It starts coming up, but still no indication that a fish was on
the hook; more like a bucket, you know what I mean right, just this heavy weight coming up. Then I knew I wish I wasn't alone any longer. My 6'6" med. hvy. spinning rod is doubled up and I am thinking I
finally got a monster of a smallmouth. My mind runs the gamut of things, when did I change the line last (season over right) how about that knot, I must have had at least a dozen bronze bruiser pulling on that stupid
little knot. About half way up the fish finally realizes that something is wrong and the line strips off the reel. The fish pulls an honest 5 or 6 feet off the reel, and I start getting this strange feeling in the pit
of my gut, this could be the one, my Walter (of On Golden Pond fame). Finally I see the fish and it's huge, like 24 plus inches. Then it happens I now realize what I had not even computed a possibility, a
very big lake trout. The disappointment didn't last long, but there was a moment that I just stood there and held on to this beautiful fish and didn't care if he got off or not. Then I remember why I fish, it's suppose
to give you this great feeling of not knowing what is on the other end of the line. It may not have been a smallmouth, but instead was a 7-½ pound lake trout that would not fit into my net; four tries before that fish
would finally manage to get into the net.
It was a great day; I just wish I could have enjoyed it with someone else. Oh, I didn't mention there were six more, two almost as big, but I knew this time what to
expect and there was a difference, albeit fun it was not like the first fish and the anticipation of not knowing.
This time next year I hope to start booking trips for the hearty angler that may want to share one
of these special trips. For now I will have to suffer through the quiet, lonely days of "Buddy" fishing on Lake Winnisquam.
Steve Lucarelli is a full time guide who enjoys catching the big ones. Visit his site at
www.metrocast.net/~bassfish/
Thank you for telling your Tall Tale. |
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