Caught my first fish!
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 11:21 am
Hi everyone,
A few weeks ago, I picked up a fishing rod for the first time since I was a little kid...it's been over 25 years. I had been trying my luck for the last month shore fishing on the Rideau around Barrhaven (southern outskirts of Ottawa), but I didn't get so much as a nibble...Needless to say, I was getting discouraged.
Anyway, this morning I decided to try fishing Dow's Lake in Ottawa. As soon as I made my first cast, I started getting some nibbles, and after about 5 minutes, I pulled out a small bluegill! First fish! Nothing to brag about, especially in the company of so many experienced anglers on this forum, but it was a first for me (I used a basic bobber & sinker rig, size 8 hook, and a little blue soft plastic tube.) I thanked the little guy and let him go.
A few more nibbles, and the fish quieted down, so I switched to a small pink curly tail grub lure...I caught another small gill, but the thing was gut-hooked. I tried for a few minutes to get the hook out, even using needle-nose pliers, but it was stuck fast; I cut the line as close to the hook as I could, but I couldn't do anything else, and I let him go, lure & hook still in him. I might try using barbless hooks in the future, since I'm doing mostly catch and release.
Anyway, not big news, certainly nothing to brag about, but this is my first catch as an adult fishermen, and it felt good. Definitely coming back for more!
A few weeks ago, I picked up a fishing rod for the first time since I was a little kid...it's been over 25 years. I had been trying my luck for the last month shore fishing on the Rideau around Barrhaven (southern outskirts of Ottawa), but I didn't get so much as a nibble...Needless to say, I was getting discouraged.
Anyway, this morning I decided to try fishing Dow's Lake in Ottawa. As soon as I made my first cast, I started getting some nibbles, and after about 5 minutes, I pulled out a small bluegill! First fish! Nothing to brag about, especially in the company of so many experienced anglers on this forum, but it was a first for me (I used a basic bobber & sinker rig, size 8 hook, and a little blue soft plastic tube.) I thanked the little guy and let him go.
A few more nibbles, and the fish quieted down, so I switched to a small pink curly tail grub lure...I caught another small gill, but the thing was gut-hooked. I tried for a few minutes to get the hook out, even using needle-nose pliers, but it was stuck fast; I cut the line as close to the hook as I could, but I couldn't do anything else, and I let him go, lure & hook still in him. I might try using barbless hooks in the future, since I'm doing mostly catch and release.
Anyway, not big news, certainly nothing to brag about, but this is my first catch as an adult fishermen, and it felt good. Definitely coming back for more!