A few nights ago I was fishing the small, 1/3 acre lagoon behind my father’s house. Across the street is a large lagoon and these are connected via the storm water system that runs under the road. I don’t always get bites here, but when I do they are quality bass- every catch has been between 4 and 6.5 pounds including a 4.5 pounder earlier in the week on a Strike King Banshee Buzzbait in the Sexy Shad color.

 

This particular buzzbait is beat to heck. It’s bent everywhere, half the paint is missing, and it squeaks when I retrieve it. For all I know that squeak is what makes it a killer bait. Anyway, I make a cast and the line snaps and there goes my favorite bait. But as luck would have it I was casting parallel to the shore and as I approached I saw the remnants of my 30 pound braid floating on the surface. There’s a little 4 foot gator in that lagoon but he paid no attention as I snagged the line with my rod and pulled my favorite lure to safety.

 

But the story gets even better.

 

A cold front rolled in overnight and even with what is normally a tough day of fishing after a front I decided it was better to be outdoors instead of inside watching the doom and gloom on the news. After 3 days of temps in the 80’s today was in the upper 50’s and low 60’s with wind that more than rippled the surface of the water and partly cloudy skies. Other than that pesky post front, it was a great day for a buzz bait.

 

So I hit one of my favorite lagoons for throwing that bait. The other evening I caught three bass in the 2-3 pound range in about 20 minutes there. I worked my normal path down the bank casting parallel to the shore about 8-10 feet out and landed a nice 3 pounder. A few minutes later I hooked up again but for some reason tried to finesse the fish in, the line slacked, the bass jumped out of the water and then slipped the hook. Dang.

 

There’s a point on the bank where there is a bottlebrush tree that goes down to the water and I have to move away from the bank to go around, but bass also tend to feed on baitfish there. I made a few casts and no bites. For some reason I decided to cast well beyond the bush and to the middle of the lagoon.

 

BAM! My sexy shad buzzbait got smoked and the rod loaded up big time. It was a decent battle but she was no match - there was no way I was going to get lazy and finesse this one in. She weighed in at 6.3 pounds. Not a PB, but a nice one nonetheless. Picture is below. But the story continues.

 

On the next cast my line snapped again but this time it sailed to the middle of the lagoon I was fishing. My favorite bait, beat up as it was, was finally gone. Sleeping with the fishes, as they say.

 

I went home dejected and immediately ordered another 1/2 ounce of the same bait as well as a 3/8 ounce version from nearby DSG curbside pickup. A few hours later I was back there fishing my new, shiny, non squeaky 1/2 ounce buzzbait and you guessed it - the line snapped again!

 

I was not happy at all. I tied on the 3/8 buzzbait and worked down the bank. For grins I tossed the bait 90 degrees from about where along the bank I thought the line snapped, let it sink to the bottom and started reeling in slow. Talk about blind luck I saw my line get tugged and come to the surface - but I could not reach it or snag it with my pole. So I took off my shoes and socks, hiked up my pants, scanned everywhere for gators, said a quick prayer, waded a few steps in, grabbed my line and hightailed it out of the lagoon. Yes, I rescued my buzzbait!

 

But before going home I stopped and bought one Powerball and one Mega Millions ticket. After all, luck seems to be on my side this week. 

 

After getting home I inspected my rod and one of the guides had a small nick in it and I assume that is what did the damage to the line. Repairs will be underway in the morning.

 

If you don’t hear from me soon then assume I did win the lottery. If that happens my next post will be showing off my new lake house and my new boat!

I didn't win the lottery and had to return back home where all of the lakes are closed.

 

This isn't fun anymore. The only thing to look forward to today is a deep dish Jett's pizza.

Entertaining read, thanks. 

May your luck continue.