Warning- not that “short” of a story. But hope you enjoy if you stick around to read about my fishing adventure, and first lunker.
This is was the last tournament, TOC, of my local kayak series in CT. Couldn’t have been more excited. Had two days of practice, catching a limit by 11am both days, and then focused on finding productive areas and eliminating water. Felt super confident with the pattern I built and areas I had mapped out. Mostly chatterbaits with a mix of finesse when things slowed down.
All that was left was to show up tournament morning and perform. Turned out, just getting there was a challenge. 430am alarm, everything packed, just have to get in my car and go. Well… my car didn’t want to go. Battery was dead, really dead. Lucky had my wife’s car to jump start. No problem. A little flustered because I had to dig my jumper cables out from below all my fishing gear. But no big deal- got the cables, hooked everything up, let it charge for a couple minutes. Still dead.
To keep this somewhat short, it took about 20min to get out of the driveway. Had to clean the battery terminals to get a better connection which allowed the jump start to work. My ETA had me there 5min before launch. I needed at least 10-15 to get my kayak set up to launch (I have to car top, for now at least). I cut my 45min drive down to 38, and learned I could drive 90 without my kayak flying off.
I get there with about 9min to get on the water. I wasn’t the only one late so I had company. Got on the water shortly after launch time, and then had about a 45min run to the northern most part of this lake (Lake Lillinonah, for anyone local). Finally, I get to breath on my run north after the most stressful tournament morning Ive ever encountered.
I start fishing about 30min after lines in. Not ideal, but I was happy to get the line wet. Unfortunately, my first area wasn’t as productive as during practice. Get to my second area, switched to a drop shot, and fish on! It was ripping some drag and felt the head shakes, it was either a smallie or a big LMB. it books it to the surface, I’m reeling as fast as I can, it breaches and I get a great look at a 16-17in smallie get airborn, and I watch my hook come out.
Not a great start but got plenty of time. 3 hours later and nothing. Well, apparently the bite changed drastically since the day prior during practice. After grinding it out, going through my planned areas, I finally get another bite on the drop shot. A small, just barely a keeper, is in the net. Unhooked and on the board to get the picture, all 13in of glory, jumps right off the board and into the water. I’m trying to keep my cool and stay positive. I keep the drop shot locked in my hands, and finally land a 14.75 and successfully get it pictured and submitted to TouneyX. Unfortunately, that was last last bite I had for the next 4 hours.
It’s about 1:30pm. Lines out at 230 and back to ramp at 3pm. I’m considering accepting my defeat, but decided to power fish and cover water fast in the direction of the ramp. This was at least good practice for the future when times ticking and 1 last fish is needed. After about 15min of this, I snag on something a break off. Lure lost and ready to accept defeat, I put my rod back and throttle down for the long stretch back to the ramp.
It’s about 2:15, about 20min left of my run to the ramp, and I see an area just too fishy to pass by with time still left. Three of my rods don’t have anything tied on after multiple snags. I’m left with one of my backup options, a jerkbait. One of my confidence lures, but hadn’t had any luck with it during practice or during the morning of tournament. I reach a weed lined and drift down it with the jerk bait. Some hydrilla got my hopes of a couple of times.
It’s 228, and I knew this was my last cast. I launch this x-rap as far as I can, and start my retrieve. Half way back, and I see a huge flash swipe my lure, fish on, and it’s a big one. I saw that it was big, and then I felt it pulling drag. Having to tighten my drag to get this in, it finally gives up and comes up to the surface, and by God’s grace, I land her cleanly.
It was 2:28 when I casted, I know it is GO time. I get the trebles out, lucky only two the on the x-rap. Pull the board out from behind me and into position, get my phone ready, place her on the board, and I start recording a video. In my league it’s kosher to take video and then screen shot for picture submission. After I got the recording, I immediately check the time stamp. I started recording at 2:29, and it had the video ending at 2:30. I wasn’t sure if this was going to count, but I honestly didn’t care. I was just psyched to end the last tournament of the year with a nice fish.
19.25in and 4.74lb. I got the green light from the director who accepted the video/pictures. Won lunker!
Thanks to anyone who made it this far, and tight lines.
Posted by MacP95