I went out this morning to see if my luck had changed. Wore a different cap (never wore it before- my wife said maybe it was “lucky”). Fished for two hours with only one light strike. I used a topwater popper, spinnerbait, jig, bladed jig, squarebill, Texas rigged craw and Zoom Trick, and finally caught a dink on a weightless Senko TR. 

 

Kept at it and finally hooked a 2+ lb. bass. Although I set the hook quick, it inhaled it. Deep. Netted it and got it in the boat and finally got the hook out. Put it back in the water as fast as possible with grippers and ready my iPhone to take a pic. Got the bass back out out the water and as I was taking a pic, it flipped and flopped wildly and knocked the phone out of my hand…and over the side. I watched it hit the water and start to sink…and without really thinking I reached over and down, down, down…and over the side I went. 
 

I surfaced with the phone. I was close to shore so didn’t even try to get back into the boat. I kicked a few times and felt the bottom and towed the boat behind me to the bank. I got out and beached the boat feeling great…until I noticed my truck keys were no longer in my pocket. I have zippered pockets and I ALWAYS put my keys in one, but this time I neglected to do so. I was very close to home, so I called my wife on my work phone (I turned my phone off immediately) and she brought me my spare keys in 5 minutes. 
 

I’m fine. I had my vest on, phone is ok (I’m using it now- it hardly got wet at all), and will be getting a magnet to locate my keys (it has my only Snap-On toolbox key on the ring). 
 

I felt foolish but at least I was safe. Things can happen in an instant for sure. The lucky hat? It was floating away. I used a bladed jig to snag it lol. 

Glad you’re okay man.   Hopefully you can find your keys.

13 minutes ago, bp_fowler said:

Glad you’re okay man.   Hopefully you can find your keys.

I’m good. Had to laugh at myself. I’m confident I’ll find the keys. 

Man those bladed jigs catch EVERYTHING! 

 

Glad you're ok.  Good look fishing for keys.  Hope you catch a big 'un.

Glad you're okay. Good luck finding the keys!

Geez man. At least you ended the skunk streak I guess? Glad you’re alright. 

Brian, burn that hat! Or give it to your worst enemy.

I used to have a hat that said this is my lucky fishing hat. It was cursed. First time I wore it I blew both tires on my trailer on my way to the lake. Second time I wore it i ended up in the water due to a wake boat I should have been paying attention to. Third time I wore it I lost my keys over the side and had to dive for them for an hour and a half. I gave that hat to my brother in law and have no idea what happened to it after that.

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

Brian, burn that hat! Or give it to your worst enemy.

It’s my Ravens AFC Championships hat from 2012, so I’m not getting rid of it.

 

Note; I am NOT wearing it while fishing again! 😂

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

Geez man. At least you ended the skunk streak I guess? Glad you’re alright. 

No, I ended the skunk streak last weekend. I was hoping that it didn’t rear its ugly head again. It didn’t, but the bass got their revenge lol. 

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

Brian, burn that hat! Or give it to your worst enemy.

Beat me to it…

Glad you’re ok Brian. Not to mention you took it like a champ. 

24 minutes ago, GaryH said:

Beat me to it…

Glad you’re ok Brian. Not to mention you took it like a champ. 

Man, back in my youth, I would have been boiling mad at that moment and still fuming about it today. Instead, I was laughing at myself while I headed to shore. Some guy stopped and asked it I needed help, and I said no, my feet are on the bottom. He asked if it felt good (the water, as it was already over 90°). 🤣

 

I talked to two more guys about fishing while I practicing my casting skills trying to snag my ballcap. One told me that teens in the apartments near the pond have been using caught bluegills as bait and (in his words) caught and kept two 8 lb. bass. I’ve never seen an 8 lb. bass here, but caught one between 6-7. I do think the quality and quantity has diminished due to pressure, and people keeping fish. If true, that stinks. 

That's one of those days to not soon be forgotten. 

5 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Brian, burn that hat! Or give it to your worst enemy.

You beat me to it. 

Update: went to Harbor Freight to buy a magnet and some rope. The rope was 75’ with a clip that would easily detach as the clip would get attracted to the magnet. No biggie. I cut off about 25’ of rope and simply tied the rope onto the eyebolt. I tried for almost an hour tossing the magnet off the boat, but it seemed to me that I was pulling the boat more than I was pulling the magnet. 
 

Got on shore and tossed it. Dragged it back (nothing) and tossed it again. Forget to hold on to the rope. You can guess what happened lol. 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

59 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol. Just one of those weekends.  

Between your thumb bar breakages and this comedic episode, I’d retire from going outside for pretty much any reason. 🤣Then again, that’s just me. 

29 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

Between your thumb bar breakages and this comedic episode, I’d retire from going outside for pretty much any reason. 🤣Then again, that’s just me. 

 

Nah, Brian's burned through all his bad luck. He has a DD waiting for him now.

5 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Nah, Brian's burned through all his bad luck. He has a DD waiting for him now.

Maybe, but he gotta have a reel that’ll cast!! 🤪😂

Katie, I’ve never caught a DD. But I did hook a pair of XXXXL panties one time years ago. Almost pulled the drag!

 

It’s all good. Things happen. I once went on a guided black bear hunt in B.C. decades ago. Brought a .338 Win Mag and a 7mm Rem Mag as a back-up. Both with meticulous handloads. First day out we get to the hunting ground and I brought the right rifle and the wrong ammunition. Worked out as days later I finally got a nice bruin with the 7mm, which was my dad’s rifle which I completely redid the stock, glass-bedded the action and worked up some great handloads. I did that for him for Fatter’s Day and he turned around and gave it to me. So that “error” turned out for the best. 
 

As I get older, I’m really starting to let the small things slide. 

32 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

 

As I get older, I’m really starting to let the small things slide. 

 

Wise.

@BrianMDTX Sounds like you handled a bad situation really calmly and in a very smart manner. You should give yourself a pat on the back for how you rose to the occasion. A lot of folks would panic in a situation like that but you kept your cool!

47 minutes ago, pdxfisher said:

A lot of folks would panic in a situation like that but you kept your cool!

Well, the water certainly helped with that! 😂

On 5/16/2025 at 8:36 PM, BrianMDTX said:

I went out this morning to see if my luck had changed. Wore a different cap (never wore it before- my wife said maybe it was “lucky”). Fished for two hours with only one light strike. I used a topwater popper, spinnerbait, jig, bladed jig, squarebill, Texas rigged craw and Zoom Trick, and finally caught a dink on a weightless Senko TR. 

 

Kept at it and finally hooked a 2+ lb. bass. Although I set the hook quick, it inhaled it. Deep. Netted it and got it in the boat and finally got the hook out. Put it back in the water as fast as possible with grippers and ready my iPhone to take a pic. Got the bass back out out the water and as I was taking a pic, it flipped and flopped wildly and knocked the phone out of my hand…and over the side. I watched it hit the water and start to sink…and without really thinking I reached over and down, down, down…and over the side I went. 
 

I surfaced with the phone. I was close to shore so didn’t even try to get back into the boat. I kicked a few times and felt the bottom and towed the boat behind me to the bank. I got out and beached the boat feeling great…until I noticed my truck keys were no longer in my pocket. I have zippered pockets and I ALWAYS put my keys in one, but this time I neglected to do so. I was very close to home, so I called my wife on my work phone (I turned my phone off immediately) and she brought me my spare keys in 5 minutes. 
 

I’m fine. I had my vest on, phone is ok (I’m using it now- it hardly got wet at all), and will be getting a magnet to locate my keys (it has my only Snap-On toolbox key on the ring). 
 

I felt foolish but at least I was safe. Things can happen in an instant for sure. The lucky hat? It was floating away. I used a bladed jig to snag it lol. 

Brian, that's a trip to remember! Remember never to wear that hat! Glad all's well. I dunked myself last week but in only three feet of water. Hope you find your keys! Let us know!