In yesterday's post, I detailed how I completed a few tasks that I had never attempted on my own. As luck would have it, I was able to check off another box on my list of firsts. As I was on the lake, I couldn't help but do a little fishing. I had heard about some crappie in an area that was close to the boat ramp and found a nice rock wall near a bridge that I thought would hold some heat from the sunny day. I couldn't resist to do a little half-hearted fishing. I call it half-hearted because the crappie were deep and I was still soaking up the joy of just being in and operating my boat. I grabbed my fly rod which had a small jig and indicator setup.
While I don't know much about fishing Smithville Lake yet, I can recognize folks that know what they are doing. Specifically, I noticed a guy working the aforementioned rock wall with a baitcaster. It looked like he was fishing shallow and working a lure along the bottom. I figured I would tag along behind him, from a safe and respectable distance of course, and work the same area with the hopes of picking up something small. As he got to the end of the wall, I watched him pull his trolling motor, get behind the wheel, and start to head my way.
The first thought that ran through my head was "Oh no, I broke some unwritten rule. He's ticked that I was riding his tail." As he got closer, I gave him the friendliest wave I could (without looking like too much of an goober) and hoped for the best. His response was, "Hey Tyler! I thought I might see you out here today!" To a great deal of shock and relief, I recognized my buddy Landon.
I met Landon over 10 years ago. I've always respected his fishing skills as well as his rod-building abilities. Landon and I reconnected recently and he was kind enough to talk to me on the phone for 30 minutes about how to fish Smithville Lake. He is a wealth of knowledge and the fact that he gladly handed over so much information is a testament to how nice of a guy he is. He didn't have to help me. He didn't have to help me as much as he did. And what he told me next, well, I am still overwhelmed with gratitude.
Landon proceeded to tell me that there were a bunch of smaller largemouth bass further down the rock wall. He told me that they were feeding on small shad and that a small white streamer would pick up a few. I told him that I was grateful for the tip and that I would text him if I picked up any fish. I also told him that if he didn't hear from me, that I screwed it up and didn't get the job done. With a smile and a wish of good luck, he took off.
I worked the area with a tandem rig of white wooly buggers and didn't get a bite as I moved against the wind. I decided to let the wind take the the other direction on the dam and work the area that Landon suggested one more time. The first bite was not subtle at all. In my mind, I had some misplaced assumption that the bass would hit differently. I based this erroneous idea on the fact that it was an unfamiliar lake and early in the season. I could not have been more wrong. The bass hit like...a bass.
I set the hook hard and netted the little fella at the side of the boat. I picked up another fish, in the same area a few casts later. I actually saw Landon drive by later and honk his horn as I netted one of the fish. I also called him later to express my gratitude and appreciation for his advice and kind words. I also thanked him for helping me complete another first. These were the first fish that I have ever caught on Smithville Lake. With a little more experience, luck, and advice from Landon, it won't be my last ones!
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