It was at our last comp and the last bass comp. We all knew that the weather wasn’t the best leading up to the weekend. Saturday it looked like it might be clearing up, hopes were high but Sunday morning proved to be a bit of a shocker. As I hooked up the boat I felt a drop of rain on my head, or was it a bird, it is good luck you know. So I woke up the young bloke and we were off. On the way out there the rain got a bit heavier, too late to turn back.
We turned up at Mark’s place, started to get the boat ready, most of the boats were out fishing. The rain got heavier so the wet weather gear got put on. As we were backing the boat in Joel, my young bloke, said the ramp was slippery. I replied “be careful I will show how it is done” as I said this I slide pass the back of my van and started to do the moon walk and ended up on my backside. And Joel standing there says “Is that how it is done dad!” Showing you how not to do it son.
Finally we were off and the rain was hitting your face like we were getting sand blasted. We ended up under the Bridge to Nowhere; putting on our lures we tried up the Colo for not much luck. Moved to Main River and tried there for a while, it was looking like a hard day at the office. We saw young Scotty and Ben and we measured a couple of their fish and had a chat. Scotty said to try Dargle so off we went. We worked the weed beds first then the rock walls. The tide was still coming in but close to full. We had a ‘team meeting’ and decided to call it a day, it was only 10am but we were wet and tired and had no fish. We were struggling. As we were about to leave I saw the weed bed with some prawns jumping around it. So one more cast.
With that, the lure was on its way. With two turns of the handle the lure dived down and bang we were onto our first fish. It seemed nothing to write home about but as soon as it realised it was hooked it went berko. I yelled out it was a good fish, the fight was on. Joel got the net ready, I let the fish do its thing and then we saw colour. As the fish got tired we brought it to the net, he went in but the Enviro Net is like picking up a bucket of water, it was heavy for Joel to pick up, so the fish went back out and went for a little run. Back to the net and Joel worked it out and we landed the fish. After a couple of high five’s and a couple of yahoo’s, we measured her up. It was a cracker. So in it went to the keeper tank. We found Scott and Ben and got them to measure the fish, it went 412mm.
I was happy to call it a day there and then but new hope saw us cast more lures at any likely spot for a couple of small ones. I headed back down the river to see Joel Price giving the bird. So I had to go over and see what was going on. “What’s wrong brother?” I said and Joel replied “you got me by 12mm” Not often we get a couple of 400’s caught in the same comp. By then there was about 30mins left to catch one last big one. So I left Joel to it.
Back to the boat ramp, strapped down the boat, hoping Joel or anyone else had not caught a bigger bass than mine. Everyone is back but not Joel, I started to wonder if he has beaten me. I was hoping that rain drop in the morning was the bird now. Joel’s back and no upgrade, so I got it! Some photos and the fish were released to fight another day. It goes to show that one more cast is worth it.
