On my first Cast...

There is always stuff that need to be done at the house, but when I go outside on the porch and see the fishing rods I look at them and think I should cast a few lines in from the boat and maybe catch a bass for dinner.

I did that the other day even though there were other things that at SHOULD DO. I thought I would cast a few lines in, catch nothing and then I could do what needed to be done. My first cast was OK and I reeled it in and let the lure hang about 18” down from the tip of the rod. I was in the cockpit of the sailboat and away from the standing rigging and I brought my rod back to cast. The 18 “ of line swung back and in one quick spin wrapped itself around the toping lift line of the main sail and the hook grabbed the line and dug in. 

And this was just the second cast. I spoke something that a French pirate might say and looked at the mess. The wrap was just above where I could reach (Pole is 6 ½ feet long) so I had to lower the boom with the topping lift line to reach it. After about 5 Min. of finessing the hook out of the line (Seemed like a ½ hour) I was able to free my lure and line.

I moved to the bow of the boat for a few more casts. On my first cast the lure when right where I wanted it to go. That was unusual in itself. 8-)   I let the lure sink and started reeling in the line. SNAG! I caught something on the bottom. I gave it a constant pull and I felt movement. The line started to move to the left. Maybe I caught a big cat fish. I reeled in a little and it moved slowly left. The way in moved I decided it was a turtle. Turtles are such a pain to get off the line. Then it move quickly to the left again. I must be a big cat…turtles do not move like that, but big cats t either. Next thought was small alligator. We get small one up the canal…they are even nastier to get off the line. With them you just cut the line. Now the line was easier to real in and I brought a great big tree branch. I thought…well it lest it was not a turtle or gator and the good thing was I got another branch out of the canal. I will say it was the best branch I have ever caught!