Saturday's qualifying weigh in was a little over 30 minutes away. We were already tied up at the docks and getting ready to trailer the boat. I sat for a moment staring at my rigged lines and thought, "might as well drop one over the edge while I clean up." Walked down the dock to throw some trash out and chatted with a man on the shore about the day when suddenly I notice my new loomis rod is dancing on the seat of the boat! I run up the dock, grab my rod from the back seat, Fish ON!
She surfaced gracefully in front of me at first, long enough for me to see her length and girth. Certainly this is the double digit I've always hoped to catch. I yell for someone to get the net and suddenly, the fight is on! Down, then to the left, under the boat motors. I try to guide her out around the boat, but under the dock she runs. I'm surrounded by onlookers. I hear gasps, and one says under his breath, "she doesn't have a chance now."
My rod half submerged under water. The fish brakes surface several times, showing off her acrobatics for spectators on the other side of the dock. I hear her splash from behind me and more gasps from the crowd. For a moment I too think I don't have a chance to bring her back out.
It begins to look like this fish'll own me in a matter of seconds. We battle this little tug-of-war several times from under the dock. I gain some line and Zzzzz she gains it back. I look up and see several of the lake legends intently watching the battle. Some look worried; others are full of excitement. Somehow I'm full of confidence now. With my friends all around, my husband at my side; my volunteer net man coached me as I inched the fish from under the dock and into the net.
Victory! We slap hands together, a few pictures are snapped and it is off to weigh in only minutes before the cut off.
(Notice my new G-loomis, bent in half over the net)
She wasn't quite the ten pounds I originally thought her to be, but at 8.12, and after a battle like that, I'm not complaining. She put me in 6th place and $73 in my pocket. That's more than I had hoped for when we pulled up to the dock.
Now I find out that this catch qualified me for the Masters Tournament in April, its almost too good to be true.
Air Temp: 68 degrees F
Water Temp: 50 degrees F
Water visability: Chocolate Milk
Rod: GL2 light, fast action, matched with Diawa Excelor 2000 spooled with 4# Maxima.
Terminal Tackle: #14 treble, small split shot 8" above the hook.
Bait: Orange power worm
*The Vine is a common nick name for Irvine Lake.