Thursday, December 29, 2011

Moves like Tebow


It was getting late on the Deckers stretch of the S. Platte, and I had not landed a fish yet. Remember a blog post I wrote about not getting skunked in Colorado? http://hopperjuan.blogspot.com/2011/06/deckers-and-north-cat.html  It was late in the 4th quarter, not a fish touched, no fish smell on my hands. I was on the 5 yard line, 95 yards to go, the fish were shutting me out all day long and I had only a few minutes left in the day. The sun had set and it was getting cold. I was not going to get skunked. Or at least I hoped I wasn't going to but things were not going my way. I only had one fish on during the day and as it jumped, it was gone. I only saw 3 fish today and that was one of them. As I reached the bridge, I knew I had to change and put on a Woolly Bugger. It was my Hail Mary. It was bugger time. I told my self bugger time should have come at 1:00, not at 3:54.  Like Tebow in the 4th quarter, I willed myself a fish.  I made a few cast down stream. Nothing, but the previous 2,657 casts had produced nothing either. On the 4th cast, my 4th down, I saw a fish follow. I dropped the rod and stripped. It hit and I finally had a fish on. No skunk today, but the fish certainly got the best of me today. Fish or no fish, I got my ass handed to me today. I couldn't even spook a fish out. I tried. It was just one of those days. I headed home thankful for the one fish, knowing I could go there again tomorrow and have a complete opposite day as I did today. That's just the way it goes some days right?

11 comments:

  1. Been there for sure. For me it seems like those days show up right about the time I think I've really got everything figured out. Like a good fisherman I usually try to blame it on something other than my skill set but really the fish just get the better of me occasionally. Great football analogy by the way!

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  2. I have had days like that. More than I want to admit. I feel like Ryan Leaf at times too. Who cant do things right.lol

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  3. Nice! Why is it the bugger is the hail mary? I do the same thing, wait till the end to tie one on!!

    JH

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  4. Good old bugger time, the only fly some of us fished when we were little, and the last fly we think about putting on now...love it!

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  5. Anglo--That would be Tony Romo, not Ryan Leaf right?

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  6. Yeah your right. Go Giants!!!!

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  7. I have been there many times. I usually think about what I should have done while driving home or worse that night while I am trying to sleep. The fourth quarter analogy is a good one, but how would you compare being blown out? Jerry

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  8. I've been there too. It always amazed me that a week ago you a catching fish in your favorite spot and then you go back and there are no fish to be found.
    I love this game. It always has you thinking.
    Happy New Year to all and may you always catch fish in 2012.
    Bill

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  9. Sounds like me and Steelhead. I need a 4th quarter Tebow for sure. Soon, very soon.

    Mark

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  10. Sometimes that one "fourth quarter fish" is more memorable than the days where you just kill it all day long. You can bet that the next great day you have on the water will be appreciated a little more for sure!

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  11. Exactly right...you just never know how the river and fish are going to treat you from one day to next. Thats why we love the challenge.

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