Fishing: Roger’s Remarks for July 15

It’s always amazing to me how fishing adventures can sometimes just form out of thin air and take unwitting anglers down unexpected paths that can lead to unforeseen victory. Unpredictable circumstances often are the catalyst you need to break out of routines. But I have found that it usually doesn’t look that way in the beginning.

It was Father’s Day, a month ago, and I had planned for me and my buddy Andy Bedell to go fishing at San Luis. It had been a tough year so far, trying to find the really big fish. There had to be at least one big one waiting for us! I even stayed overnight at the local hotel to get an early start, with Andy meeting me in the morning. We were stoked!

I woke up at 4:30 a.m., determined to be ready when he arrived. That’s when my phone rang, with Andy calling to tell me he was sick. Crud. Double crud! Feeling deflated, I now had to fish by myself. I knew Andy was sick, and I felt bad for him. But I have to confess that I felt a little sorry for myself, too, as my very own black cloud formed overhead. The pity party just needed chips and dip to be complete! It was going to be a tough Father’s Day, I mumbled.

Launching early, I took off for a spot I thought might be a good one. I figured that the best chance was to troll the area early, catching a big one off guard before all the other boats spooked the fish. It was a decent idea, and I let out my line in beautiful conditions. Trolling, I only had gone about 50 yards before I had a hit — a nice 24-inch fish that I let go. Hmm, they were biting it seemed. I quickly put my lure out again!

This time the hit was decent, but the fish felt heavier than the first. Bigger? It was still way out there — more than 40 yards away — when I felt a stronger tug and I saw the line veer to the left. This was more like it as I worked it in. Suddenly the fish surged and the full force of it started stripping line off my big pole as it came to the surface. Not expecting it, I gasped as the almost 31/2-foot shape came up on top with its huge tail creating a massive swirl. It turned over and streaked straight down. This baby had just woke up!

The 8-foot Ugly Stik was arched and the 20-pound test line hummed as the fish held about 60 feet deep, right under the boat, in a standoff for more than 10 minutes. I was praying that the hooks didn’t fail and the line didn’t have any frays as we both battled to gain ground. That’s when the phone rings!

It’s Andy checking up on me! I laughed: The timing was just too perfect! Should I do it? The temptation to answer the phone was overwhelming! I just wanted to calmly say, “Hey Andy, my good buddy, you know that monster we talked about? I’m fighting him with one arm … RIGHT NOW!” I stabbed at the connect button, missing it just as the fish surged! My practical little inner voice kicked in: “OK, stupid, don’t lose this fish trying to be cute!” Darn it twice! Epic fishing buddy “gotchas” are hard to come by!

Incredibly, the striper literally jumped out of the net the first try but the next pass I got her. Yeah! Forty-one inches and more than 28 pounds — my biggest this year. Alone, and needing a picture, I headed for another boat with the fish in my livewell. I asked if they could take a picture and one guy says, “Roger, it’s me Chris, the game warden!” What were the odds? Dressed incognito, he took the pictures and we quickly released the fish.

You know, I’m pretty sure I could have pulled off the call while fighting the striper one-handed. Next time, though. Ha! Never give up!

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Fishing: Roger’s Remarks for July 15."