BilletHead

I generally post this kind of thing in the pond or fly fishing treads but I think this should be shared with all and especially with the ones that don't frequent those forum topics. We have been hitting the river and catching a few whites, crappie, bass and rough fish on the fly rods. Today it was catch up here at home but we decided to take a break from yard work and hit a pond. Two cool mornings here had cooled things off but this sun I thought might of heated up some shallows. We worked opposite sides of this large pond. I had caught three and the Mrs. zero. I finally hit some warmer water in a corner and started catching. I gave a yell and over she came. I was catching one after another when the Mrs. started throwing. She caught two and then it happened. I think this a big one she exclaimed with glee, yes I thought sure. Well I could tell with the bend of the long rod and the way she was fighting it just maybe she was not pulling my leg as we joust back and forth all the time like spouses and fishermen/women do. When the fish finally broke water and I seen it shake it's rather large head I thought holy crap! Then the coaching came in as she let it take line and then gain slowly on her end. Well done I thought as she got it to where I could get it in my grip. We high fived and I weighed it on the boga. Five pounds on the nose. The she says you got the camera on you? Duh no. That is ok she says and I reply we have to get you a photo. She sat on the pond edge holding the boga and fish in the water as I went to the truck for the point and shoot camera. I tried to hurry and was kind of sucking wind by the time I got back from a quarter mile walk. Fish in great shape as we snapped some shots. View attachment: DSCF0625 - Copy.JPG View attachment: DSCF0626 - Copy.JPG Look at the gut on this gal, no the fish not my bride! Then as a good steward of fishing does, View attachment: DSCF0627 - Copy.JPG A bit of reviving, View attachment: DSCF0628 - Copy.JPG The swim off. I had caught twenty to the Mrs. three but each one of my twenty would of made a snack for her bass. I was throwing a dark brown wooly booger and she a tan one, BilletHead

I was needing this little short trip up the road from the house to a neighbors pond. Caught fish! Last week this was completely froze over. And what makes this better is I caught on my new sliders, yes you heard it right BALSA SLIDERS. I really just had intent on throwing them just to see what they were going to do. I tied on the slant headed slightly cupped shad colored one. Flipped it out there a few feet and it landed on its back, crap I thought. Gave it a twitch or two and when the tail of marabou, saddle hackle and flash got wet it rolled over on its belly like it should. Whew I was glad. Then a few false casts to gain line and out it went. So some slight twitches and it slid on top with a slight side to side motion. Then a long quicker strip and down it dove when the nose caught some water. When stopped it wobbled up pretty fast. Then a real long strip and a deeper dive and a bob back to the top. Then quick non pause strips and I would stay under but if any hesitation back to the top quick. I casted a few more times across a shallow flat in the corner of the pond. Then a caught a flash on a pause. Really I thought and went back to testing. I then tied on one with a dome head . Pretty plain Jane body style. Again with marabou, hackle and flash. Threw it out and slight strips it rode high and did a tight walk the dog motion. Again like the first I could get it to dive and dart under water. So then I tied on another. A bit more narrow, slant cupped face and back. Threw it out and gave it a dive. Being less buoyant it dove better, deeper and wobbled back to the top slower. I messed with it a few casts and hooked one! it shook and I lost it. I figured out no one is going to believe me anyway. So I continue casting and stripping slowly but this time it stayed hooked. I did this three more times catching all three and then had another two come unbuttoned. In my excitement I forgot my atv was behind me and on a back cast I heard a tink as the slider hit the basket. Upon inspection I had put a small crack and a dent in the slider. Way to go I thought and I might be able to epoxy the mistake. Tied on a meat whistle and bounced it across the bottom with no hits. Then tries an ASP streamer. Caught one and missed one. Gave it up and came home to give you all a report. Needless to say I am stoked to know these sliders are going to work, work well too I might add. Took some photos. The fish. One weighed two and a quarter lbs. View attachment: DSCF0608.JPG View attachment: DSCF0612.JPG View attachment: DSCF0614.JPG Then the sliders and ASP streamer. The dome head, the Slant head slightly cupped head, the slanted more cupped narrow one I caught with and busted and the ASP streamer, View attachment: DSCF0620.JPG BilletHead PS fish were in a foot to three foot of water. Slight color to the water (muddy color)could only see six or so inches deep. With good strips sliders went deep enough you could not see them.