I pulled up to one of my favorite ponds with very low expectations.  There was a light but steady breeze that I figured would flush the bass out deep.  As I cast around a culvert that typically produced fish, I was correct.  Just up the shoreline from me was a leathery old man with a single rod and no tackle box in sight.  He hooked something as I walked by him to get to another spot (I don't want to crowd him, after all).

 

This man pulled out the biggest bowfin I have ever seen.  It was probably close to 30"

"Aw, hate dem things," he said.  He seemed a little wary of the teeth, so I offered to get the hook out.  "Shucks, he mangled my worm.  Feisty li'l bugger for his size."

I turned to him.  "They get bigger than that?"

"Oh yes, I done caught bowfin outta here that was a foot longer."  He walked to his truck and grabbed another worm, of the very prestigious Ozark Trail brand.

"This here's the only color I use.  I been fishin' here 11 an' a half years, never failed me once," he continued.  He also told me about the pond's other inhabitants.

"There's some mighty big carp in here, I reckon about 60 lbs."  I was pretty skeptical at this point.

"Y'know, I was out here one time and some guy caught a ten-pound bass offa that drain pipe over yonder."  Now I was desperately hopeful.

"I've seen some good ones in here," I replied.  He continued telling me about this pond and that pond and where to go to catch big catfish, and I left the conversation with a spinning head and one Walmart senko.

 

Long story short, I got skunked, but I watched as the old man pulled in several bass in the 2 lb range.  My best for the lake was maybe a pound.  As I was fishing one particular spot, however, I saw the tell-tale roil of a carp before a dog-sized fish came into view.  It was well over 40".  Maybe not quite 60 lbs, but monstrous nonetheless.  Perhaps there were larger carp in the pond?

 

I left after a few pleasant hours and stopped by Walmart to restock.  And I'll be darned if I didn't buy a pack of Ozark Trail senkos.

As an old guy I approve this message

It depends. I always out fish my 84 year old fishing bud that was a Bass/Hybrid guide for 24 years. But with that said I always listen intently because I respect my elders and they've seen so much more than me.

 

 

17 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

As an old guy I approve this message

 

As an old woman, I also approve.

 

Great storytelling, @TheLastBestFish!

That’s how I learned a lot of what I know about fishing. The mossbacks ain’t stingy with the info. 

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

That’s how I learned a lot of what I know about fishing. The mossbacks ain’t stingy with the info. 

Yeah, I've gotten free stuff over the years just by asking questions and actually being engaged

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

That’s how I learned a lot of what I know about fishing. The mossbacks ain’t stingy with the info. 

Nope, we just be stingy about whom we give it too...

FM

Old age and treachery will always beat youth and skill.