My first fresh water bass, what a beauty! 😍
How exactly did I pull this one off?
I had never gone fishing for bass before, let alone on a tiny boat that looked like it was ready to toss me in the water 😳
But I was asked on a date and how could I say no?
Luckily for me, I said yes.
I was so nervous 😬 Not sure if it was because I was about to sit on a big piece of plastic and float out in the middle of what seemed like a giant lake or, if it was the butterflies in my stomach from being on a date.
But absolutely yes I was going and was ready to have a good time!
My date had everything set up. He backed his truck up to the lake, pulled the pre-packed Jon boat off the bed of truck and loaded it into the lake.
"Jump on." He said.
"Ahhh 🙈." Was the only sound I could get my lips to make.
Rods, snacks, the view. Couldn't beat it.
He hopped on the boat with a very timid me and it was time. The motor took us and we were off. It was so cool! I couldn't believe I had been missing out all these years by never going.
He took me around the whole lake and showed me the spots where he had caught fish before. Being surrounded by water and seeing the view of the sky over the trees was amazing. We lucked out with beautiful weather.
It wasn't long before my date asked if I was ready to fish.
I wasn't, lol.
I had no idea what to do.
I wasn't even sure where to put my hands on the rod.
But my date knew that and he was ready to teach me everything I needed to know.
He handed me a spinning rod and explained what bait we would be using and showed me how to hook it up. A black senko with blue flakes, Texas-rigged.
Whatever that meant.
Now it was time to cast. He explained it as well as he could and I had a good feeling about it.
So I cast. It wasn't perfect but I did it.
My date kept telling me to cast out the senko and let it sit. Patience would be the virture.
So I let that sucker sit.
The day was already perfect. The whole experience really opened my mind to the essence of Mother Nature so I couldn't have cared less to catch a fish. But it didn't turn out that way.
All of sudden I feel a 'THUMP' and immediate pulling on my line.
A FISH?! 🤩
My date walked me through the nerve-wracking moment of trying to get this fish on the boat and I listened. I reeled in slow but steady, with nice pressure on it so the hook stayed in place in the fish's mouth. My date grabbed the net and scooped him right up, onto the boat. 🤯
Out of the water comes this total babe of a bass and my jaw hit the bottom of the boat. Yelling for joy, my date couldn't contain himself.
'That thing is huge!' He proclaimed.
I don't think I spoke words in that moment. I could not believe it.
My date pulled out a scale and weighed my newly caught largemouth bass.
3.54 🫣🤯😱
Three and a half pounds of pure BEAUTY, what a blessing she was.
She sat there calm in my hands as I quickly took a few photos and then I released her back in the lake.
Wow! What an incredible thing to experience.
JUST LOOK AT HER 😍😍😍
Catching that bass opened the door for me to step in and test out the waters, if you know what I'm saying.
For years prior, I was so intrigued in fishing but never tried. I loved the idea of learning to fish to provide food for myself as well as chasing an invisible feeling of being great at fishing and learning the sport. I got a taste of what it felt like today and I'm so grateful for my date, Mike, for giving me that experience. It gave me the confidence I needed and curiosity to continue to learn and get out on the water to see just what I could do!
I still can't believe I landed this hunk today. My very first day of fishing on the open water, WOW. I'm so thankful for the experience.
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