| Author | Message | ||
| Tomc
Minnow Username: Tomc Post Number: 63 Registered: 12-2006  Rating: N/A |
TAKE A SOLDIER FISHING WEEKEND It was a privilege and pleasure to provide a Lake Fork fishing experience for Matt and Russell over this past weekend. These guys are Air Force Staff Sergeants out of San Angelo. I got in touch with these guys through the takeasoldierfishing.com website that is maintained by a guy who is fighting in Iraq now. We were accompanied on the trip by a friend of mine, Charlie. Fishing was spotty Friday afternoon and Saturday, though the bite started turning on for us later Sunday morning just before the guys had to head back to San Angelo. My son Tommy, just home from the Navy was out with me Friday until about 3pm and then I picked up Russ and Matt when they arrived and we fished until dark Friday. Charlie joined us Saturday as we split the guys up between the two boats. We fished until after dark Saturday. Charlie wrote: [quote] Early AM Saturday... Matt was throwing a split-shot rigged Lake Fork Tackle frog at a grassy point up in Mustang Creek when the Forkness Monster paid him a visit. He said at first he though the Frog was stuck in the thick veggies until his reel started giving up line with a heavy bow in the worm rod. She came up and wallowed with her head bearly above the water and Matt's line hit a stump ejecting his bait! Tommy said it was the largest Bass He's ever seen hooked and they both agree it had eyes larger than quarters and a mouth as big as their ball caps. This area was very near where I have had numerous encounters with the Forkness Monster over the last 23 years. Not to worry Matt was able to catch 6.10# Hawg in some grass on the East Arm Sunday. TXBazzMan was stuck in the boat with Me... but He managed to catch a few under the slot fish both days in spite of my terrible guiding ability. [/quote] Matt big fished everyone with a fine 6.1 just before departure. Matt would have easily broken the boat record and been “in the news” had he landed that super hog on Saturday. We had an absolute blast over the weekend with these guys catching fish and throwing around jokes and BS back and forth between boats. My boat had 14 fish Friday with a 5-13 topping the list, 9 fish Saturday with a 5 even and 5 fish Sunday morning with the 6.1. The biggest thing I can share was that Sunday morning when I switched us both to old school Carolina rigs with a 1-foot leader, things started changing. We were fishing grass in 10-15 feet; caught a fish first cast with the 1 foot leader and handed the pole to Matt while I tied up another for myself. We boated 5 and had several more bites right away. These fish came on grnpumpkin/grn baby brushhogs. I hated to have to leave, but the guys had to head back south at noon. The other bait that was the main producer over the weekend was the split-shotted swim senko in watermellon/black and of course watermellon/red. Carolina rigged Lake Fork Magic Shad swim baits accounted for a couple of nice ones also during the heat of the day. I will say that if you can find the time to take a day or two to serve those who are serving, just enlist yourself at the takeasoldierfishing.com site. It was priceless to have the opportunity to be involved. Big thanks go out to Charlie for taking the time to accompany us during the outing. Thanks also to Lake Fork Marina for providing the fine hospitality that Russ and Matt really appreciated. They took care of them well. Joe over at Lake Fork Trophy Tackle had the guys come by to visit the store where they received the military discount and some free samples of the Lake Fork Magic Shad. The 5 pounder shown in the pic was caught on a carolina rigged Magic Shad. Thanks to Ozziefish and Harrietfish for providing a place for us sleep and get out of the heat of the day. My wife provided great food that fed all of us all weekend long. Thanks B! Russ and Matt, thanks for coming up to visit us and provide us the opportunity to serve you. Charlie and I are looking forward to the Take A Soldier Fishing (TASF) event when Mike returns safely from Iraq. Let us continuously keep all of our military in our prayers. Check out a few pics at http://texmhess.googlepages.com/soldierfishing2 (Message edited by tomc on June 13, 2007) Thanking Him, all day long --- tomc | ||
| Charles
Moderator Username: Charles Post Number: 884 Registered: 7-2004 Rating: N/A |
COOL deal! | ||
| Wes
Moderator Username: Wes Post Number: 309 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Well done Tom | ||
| Picou
Wall Hanger Username: Picou Post Number: 2569 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Great job Tom!!! Thanks for sharing the story over here. I'll be calling you about that grassy point in Mustang...  Hey, I see a Bass Bone on a rod in one of those pictures. Ya'll catch anything on it?  Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish | ||
| Terry
Minnow Username: Terry Post Number: 79 Registered: 1-2007 Rating: N/A |
Awesome! Just plain awesome! | ||
| Will
Bluegill Username: Will Post Number: 298 Registered: 2-2005  Rating: N/A |
My hats off to you for going out of your way to show the soldiers that there are still people out there who apriciate the sacrifices that they give for our freedom. Vegatarian: Indian Word for Bad Fisherman | ||
| Atthewall
Bass Username: Atthewall Post Number: 666 Registered: 11-2004  Rating: N/A |
Thanks for giving them an opportunity!!! Bravo Zulu!!! |
