This Sort Of Could Be A Bass Maybe Probably

It was my second trip to the lake and I was really excited. My first trip started out as perfect as a fishing career can start out, but ended up slowing down severely after that. I pulled in one measly bluegill, but I can't complain, I got something.

I went back to the same exact spot as before, now called Chris' Cove because I decided it to be. I kept my same Rapala original floating lure on (size 3 - bleeding pearl) on the Gil Slayer and cast out into the same area.

After a while something pretty cool happened. As soon as my lure hit the top of the water there was a big splash and my line was coming off the drag. This was a biiiiiiig bluegill!

I reeled it in and as it got closer to shore I noticed that this was not a bluegill. This was something big. Something awesome.

I pulled the big beast ashore and looking at it I realized that I have no idea what this fish is. I snapped a photo and sent a text to a friend for fish identification. I'm a beginner!!!! Leave me alone!!!

Turns out my friend didn't really know either, probably due to the terrible picture (I don't hold the fish like that anymore). We decided on the fact that it was probably a smallmouth bass. I measured it at 11 inches which right now means nothing to me. To me it was a beast, to a regular fisherman it was probably small.

Later that day I reeled in a few more fish but they were all unidentified baby looking sunfish of some kind. This one, which I found out was a yellow perch, looked pretty cool.

Another fun day on the lake!


View The Daily Fishing Log Here

Additional Tackle

The next part of my equipment was not really researched thoroughly. I figured I'd just buy a bunch of random stuff and see what works.  Here's what I got to fill up my tackle box:

• Bobbers / Floats
• Bobber Stoppers
• Beads
• Hooks
• Swivels
• Sinkers / Split-Shot
• Gulp Baits
• Rapala Lures
• Minnow Jigs

Also, I already had the following tools/equipment

• Needlenose Pliers
• Scissors to Cut Line
• Fish Scale / Measuring tape

I'll go into more specifics later, but this equipment, teamed up with the Gil Slayer, was how I was going to hit the lake for the first time.

Was I missing stuff? Did I have too much stuff? Could I catch a fish with this stuff? These were questions that I would find out first hand on the water.

And OMG. I think I need this:

Ladies & Gentlemen, I Introduce To You, The Gil Slayer

It was about time. I had researched fishing equipment and tackle for about a week now it was finally the moment to pull the trigger and make my purchases. The first thing on my list was picking up a good fishing pole with a nice reel and lining it up with some killer thread.

I was under the impression I needed the following 3 things to pwn Bluegill:

• A fishing rod - Ultralight, slow action, short, 
• A fishing reel - Smaller sized, 2-8 pound ready, front drag, more ball bearings
• Fishing line - 4 pound test mono

This is what I ended up getting:


My Rod

Shakespeare Ugly Stick GX-2 Ultra Light 2 Piece Fishing Rod - 5' ($40)

I looked at a bunch of different rods in the $20-$50 price range. While this rod is a little clunkier than some of the other options, I figured that would make it more durable. This rod also had a lot of good reviews and was from a popular brand so that sealed the deal since I wasn't sure how to feel out the rod. I opted for the shortest available (5 feet long).  It's no lacrosse stick, but it will do.

My Reel

Shimano Sienna FD 500 ($30)

I picked my reel a little differently. I basically picked it based on reviews of both reels and reel brands. I was looking in the $20-$40 range and the Shimano appeared to be the best at the price point. I opted to go with the smallest one, despite hearing that the smaller the reel the more tangles are possible. I also read that front drag is the way to go over rear drag. Enough about drag.

My Line

Berkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting - 4 Pound Monofilament Test - Lo-Vis Green - 220 Yards ($8)

I really wanted to get some braided line (and I actually did, just didn't put it on). I picked lo-vis green because lakes are green looking...lol seriously, that is why. I got 4 pound because that was what my research taught me. I got mono because I didn't want to make things complicated. I got that brand & kind because...I guess I randomly picked it.


Quite a nice little panfish setup if I do say so myself! Oh and in case you were wondering. This little diddy has a name. The Gil-Slayer...


"Lot's of people name their swords." ... "Lots of c***s" - Game of Thrones

Fisherman Recap

LOL. I still don't even have a fishing rod...

Ok. While there is still time to quit before I go out and get my equipment, let me take a look at what I've got so far:

1. I have decided out of the blue that I am now a fisherman
2. I have decided I am going to fish in freshwater
3. I have decided I am going to target panfish
4. I have decided I am going to narrow in on bluegill

I'm a bluegill panfish freshwater fisherman

I also have one goal:

I want to catch a fish, clean a fish, and eat a fish.

Bam! That's what I'm working with. I guess I'll go get some stuff!!!

Plenty Of Fish In The Sea, Finding The Fish For Me

One of the things that occurred to me was that before buying equipment I may want to figure out what kind of fish I want to catch. Here's what I know about fish species:

• I know people fish for bass
• I know what a catfish is

That's it...that's the list.

I would have to do some research to figure out what fish to fish. I wanted to stick to freshwater, I wanted to catch something that was not extremely challenging, and I wanted to catch something that would be good to eat (the reason why I'm fishing in the first place).

According to online research (and the # of YouTube videos by 10 year olds) the fish I was looking for is called a Panfish. Just to drop some more Googled knowledge, A Panfish is just a name for a group of frying pan sized fish. Some of these types of Panfish include Bluegill, Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, and Crappie.

Specifically, I was going to target Bluegill. These are small and hungry fish that are allegedly easy to catch and that cook up well for good eatin'. And if 10 year olds all over the country are catching them, then a 30 year old adult should have no trouble at all.

Blues...Oh, so lonesome for you
Tears fill my eyes 'til I can's see
3 o'clock in the morning, here am I
fishin' here so lonely, so lonesome I could cry

Freshwater vs Saltwater

One of the things that occurred to me while picking up my fishing license was that I needed to decide whether to focus on freshwater or saltwater fishing to get my feet wet (literally)*. This decision would also determine what equipment I would be buying. 

The closest saltwater body near me is the Chesapeake Bay which is 1 hour away in the middle of the night and 2 hours due to the terrible local traffic. I know nothing about it and I don't have a boat. Sounds like fun. Not!

Freshwater bodies on the other hand are all over the place. There is even a stocked lake* only 10 miles from my crib. This seems like one of the easiest choices I've made since I had to decide between NY Pizza and Chicago Pizza*. Freshwater (NY) it is!

Now that I knew which designation to get I dropped that skrilla and I happy to report that I am now legal! I'm a licensed fisherman! Hide yo' wife, hide yo' fish!

1. You typically have to get a separate license for saltwater and freshwater because government
2. A stocked lake is one where fish are loaded in a dump truck and dumped into a lake with trash
3. Deep dish pizza sucks

Wal-Mart Concussion

SMACK!

That was the sound of my head slamming into the floor of the Wal-Mart fishing aisle. I had just passed out looking at the overwhelming selection of fishing gear.

I'm not sure if you have ever been in the fishing section, but it is a smorgasbord of disaster. It is jam packed with thousands of items in bags the size you see drugs sold in. In those one million tiny bags are what seems like 1 million different weights, sizes, colors, styles, shapes, and flavors of whatevers. How in the hell am I supposed to know what I need!?

1/16th ounce. Rattlin'. Heavy Action. Ultra Lite. Monofiliment. Baitcast. Spinners. Tubes. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

This initial experience was way too confusing for me and my fishing-aisle based concussion. I figured I better go home and break this new experience down in the comfort and safety of my soft bed.

Some Preliminary Research

I am the kind of person who doesn't like to just jump into something. So when I decided I was going to become a fisherman I didn't just grab a pole and head to the lake. Instead, hoping to do everything right and not pick up any unbreakable bad habits, I went online and researched everything there is to know about reeling in a big one.

I read articles, I read blogs, I watched YouTube videos, I checked out books at the library, and I scoured message boards. After hour upon hour of research I learned something. There are 1 million different ways to catch a fish. Everyone has their own ideas strategies and tactics. Everyone has their own equipment, bait, and location preferences. And everyone is right. Somehow.

Oddly enough all my research actually led me to exactly what I thought. There are 5 steps to catching a fish. It's just what happens before, during, and after each step that makes everything so complicated...or is it complicated? See below...

I'm going to have to go out on the water and find the way that works best for me. But I'm kinda feeling like that kid. Can you guys touch the fish for me...

Five Steps To Become A Fisherman

I know I haven't even gotten started fishing yet, but from what I understand, there are 5 steps to catching a fish:

1. Decide You Want To Be A Fisherman
2. Buy Some Equipment
3. Find Some Water
4. Toss Said Equipment In That Water With Bait
5. Reel In A Fish

Bam! Sounds easy! I'm already 20% there! This is going to be a breeze. I can already picture myself holding up that world record trophy fish!

What's that? It isn't that simple? Dag Nabbit! This guy makes it seem easy:

I guess I'm going to have to expand my view of fishing. Maybe add a 6th step...

It's Official...I Think I'm Going To Go Fishing

My interest in fishing is generated by my interest in survival. I love books like Verne's Mysterious Island and Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. I love movies like Castaway and the Beach. I love TV shows like Survivor and Man vs Wild. All of these devices have one item in common. They all involve self-sustenance...on a beach. And when you are on a beach, there is one very important way to get food. Fishing.

While I do like fantasizing about being stranded on a desert island and catching delicious meals, I kind of like the idea that I can take up fishing as a fun hobby instead of a fight for survival. If I catch fish I am happy. If I fail I don't die. There is always a McDonalds nearby. How poetic.

I enjoy winning. I enjoy competing. I enjoy a good challenge. I enjoy learning. I enjoy mastering things. All of these traits make fishing a possible target hobby. But the main driving force that pushes me to the water is that yearning to be a survivor. Cue Destiny's Child.

In order to become Beyonce, I have one simple goal. I want to catch a fish, and then eat that fish. It is that simple. If I can do that, I will be satisfied. And the only way to accomplish that goal is to go fishing. This blog is going to chronicle my transformation from regular city guy to expert fisherman.

I guess I should probably stop typing and figure out how in the hell fishing works...maybe this guy can help: