Caught my first fish!

[SakranMM]

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!

[ShawnD]

Congrats!
Better late then never!

Try a hoola popper near rocks for some Bass.

[almontefisher]

Nice work. Dont knock those bluegills they can be powerhouse fighters for their size.

[Lvace]

Thats awesome!!!! Hope they are many more for you to come!!!!

[scarkner]

I still love fishing Bluegills. And you did the right thing cutting the line on that little guy, other than keeping him for dinner, sometimes its better to just cut the line and let them go rather than keeping them out of water too long and killing them.

Since you mentioned that you had pliers, just give the barb on the hooks a squeeze. You don't have to buy barbless hooks, just squeeze down the one that's on there already, it certainly increases the challenge too!

[Mike586]

Circle hooks really help with cutting down on gut hooked fish and I love them for that....but they are a real pain to put bait onto.

[captian cotton]

Welcome to the sport! Beware, its addictive!