I lost two bass today. One pulled hard.

 

We've not been fishing a lot the past couple years. There's just a lot of other interests we have, and the kids are getting older and are busier with school.

 

My 9-year-old daughter and I finally got the chance to go bank fishing this evening at a place where a creek flows into the reservoir. I chose a chartreuse willow leaf spinner to start.

 

A few casts in and boom, this little bass, 9" or so, hits the spinnerbait. I almost yanked it to shore on the hook set.

 

It came out of the water and flopped off. Dammit.

 

Oh well.

 

So I cast up the creek, and on about the fifth cast up that way, what felt like a huge bass inhaled the bait. I set the hook hard.

 

After fighting for several seconds, this one jumped and spat the bait.

 

I reeled the lure the rest of the way in to sharpen it, and discovered the hook had no barb. Apparently it was one of the spinners I modified for use by my then-young little girl several years ago.

 

Dammit.

 

We had to pack up and leave shortly after. ?

 

Hey, you put your daughter's safety first and no father should ever, EVER feel badly about that. 

You went fishing with your daughter and got some exciting bites.  The first half alone makes it a great evening. ?