4/5 - A couple of Firsts for Me!

[tiltntrim]

I convinced myself I had enough practice throwing my "big" net in the yard - it was time to put up or shut up. Found what appeared to be some gizzards in 12 to 17 feet of water and started throwing. I actually caught some! Put a couple dozen 6-8" in the bait tank along with a couple of 12"+. Them made another cast and my net was stuck like it was nailed to a wall...couldn't budge it. This was only the second time using the net and I was considering going for a swim to try and get it back when my senses came back and said "bad idea". I wrapped the net pull line around one of the boat bow cleats and slowly started moving with the big engine. Figured I'd probably tear it off whatever it was stuck on, but that would beat losing it entirely. The snag came free and after a struggle I finally brought aboard someone's old Christmas tree and the cement block it was tied to. No damage to the net other than tangled up. No presents under the tree......
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Time to go fishing! Was able to fish for a couple of hours with my 1st ever caught gizzard shad! Went to a creek below the bridge and started to put out freeline boards. 1st board out the rod was still in my hands with about 25 feet of line out when this 30"+ fatty slammed it. That's it - no other fish for the rest of the day, but it was my 1st striper on my 1st self caught gizzards on my 1st rod deployment! A good day for me so I decided to learn how to upload pics.
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Also, I agree with some of the folks who said catching the bait is as much fun as catching the striper (almost)!

[31Airborne]

great pix and awesome fish. congrats!

[R22]

Nice job! I know that feeling, good or bad, it's exciting when YOU did it all.

[choochoo]

Happy for ya!

[bushwacker]

Nice job man. What a great feeling getting your first one to the boat after catching your own bait.

[gofish2]

You got the present, just not under the tree.

[drag4striper]

That's great tilt, Nothing better than the feeling of accomplishment of bait/striper catching . Glad you got your net back in one piece.

[OnTheRocks]

Bait catching/searching is great, unless it's on tournament day. 😕...then it was searching and searching and searching and searching...you get the point hahaha...glad you got your first!! That's always a great day!

[stripercrazy]

Great job , tilt

[ikMOON]

Way to go man. Catching bait that catches fish--nothing like it!

[shadpuller]

Awesome! Great job!! Persistence and good planning paid of!! Glad you got your net back, too. Congrats!!

[camoboatguy]

Nice job for sure.... I have recently started learning to throw a big net, search out and catch my own bait (a lot of times with the help of friends here) put out my own spreads and every now and then reap the rewards of all the work with a few fish! It really is a good feeling! Congrats again, keep it up.

[mwardncsu]

Nice catch! Glad you got the net back. Hope it did not stretch the braile lines too bad or break them - the Fitec's use a fairly thin braile line

[Live Bait JunkEE]

good work -- and keep throwing!!!!