MASSACRE ON THE MONOCACY

It's been a while since I enjoyed these guys..welcome back!

I must admit...it has been a long time since I got into the small stream smallmouth gig. Back in the 1980's and 90's I used to hit the local creeks almost every week in my Mason Dixon region. We had 'Friday Night Fights' with smallmouths, and everybody came out a winner. I revisited this grand sport last week with an old friend, Judson, who put me onto some amazing small water action.

Jud works a creek smallie out of the current.

My good friend called and said that the river was in 'prime shape, and the bass were up'. You see, in Mid Atlantic streams and small rivers, you might go 5 or 6 years where the smallies are either caught in low water conditions or perhaps high water events that can sweep adult fish downstream off their spawning areas, completely wiping out a year class of these great gamefish. With river levels and water temperatures just right, Jud said that now was the time to get in on this potentially narrow window of hot bass fishing.

Hair and plastic...YUM!

We fished primarily with 1/16th oz hairjigs that we tied to imitate crayfish and threaded plastic crayfish trailers on the hook. Nothing special...light spinning gear and 6 pound mono. Bounce the jig along the current breaks and eddys and set the hook when you get a strike. We fished a stretch of the Monocacy River...a central Maryland tributary to the Potomac, and one of my favorite 'back in the day' smallmouth streams. Other local creeks, such as Big Pipe, Catoctin, Marsh, Conowago and the Gunpowder had all produced in the past. The Monocacy did not disappoint.

Jud shows one of our many doubles. He swears the big fish was his.

'I'll take 'em all day like this!'

A couple fish we had to chase when they got in the current.

Hairjigs & plastic did most of the damage.

This long, deep pool was a 'hawgspot'.

We got several 17 inch smalls on the day...cool!

To make a long story short, Jud and I covered about a little over a half mile of water and caught and released 60 smallmouths...high numbers just about anywhere. Many of our fish ran from 14 to 17 inches making this just crazy good ultra-light sport! Despite the cold and slow-to-develope-spring, we found pre-spawn smallies rockin' and rollin' as we donned our chest waders. Here are a couple more pics of our adventure...

Some bass took crankbaits.

'Yeah, I can go for this!'

Jud grabs one in mid river.

And...a few smaller ones for the mix.

One of the really cool things about this kind of fishing is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get in on a quality experience. You don't need a guide, or a bass boat, or a ton of gear or an overnight stay or a long, gas-guzzling trip. What you will need, however, is a little research for potential quality smallmouth streams, a good pair of chest waders, a handful of jigs and small crankbaits a willingness to walk, wade and bushwhack and finally...a good friend like Jud to share the experience with. Yes...you will need to work at it.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 27:19...'As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man'. If you could have seen the looks on our faces as we were hooking, playing and landing these fish, you would have seen two of the happiest, giddy, goofy, giggling semi-elderly old men you have ever witnessed. It was insane! And once the rain set in, and I had to abandon the camera, we went back out after a break and wore 'em out for another hour in a downpour. Yes... it was joy.

But the greatest joy I have ever experienced was not in the outdoors, but rather, in the presense of a Holy God and His incredible calming and overwhelming love for me. Sure...it actually does happen,  sometimes, in the beautiful outdoor world that He created. You, too, can have that incredible feeling of peace and love from this incredible Savior known as Jesus Christ...all you have to do is ask. Like the stream smallmouth gig, it's not expensive...it's absolutely FREE! But, you do have to ask, ask Christ to come into your heart, forgive you of your sins, cleanse you and change you, You will be different and you will change if you make that simple request. And when your life concludes on this earth, you will spend an eternity, dancing before the King! WOW! Now that's a catch of a lifetime!

Like the Massacre on the Monocacy...conditions have to be perfect. Today, right now, perhaps your condition is perfect for receiving this incredible gift. This may be your moment of salvation...

The time is right for New Life.

KEEPERS...

Matt with a pair of 'keepers'.

Perhaps the greatest fishing partner I have ever had has been my son, Matthew. Matt and I started fishing when he was about 4 or 5 years old and we haven't looked back. At our humble angling beginings at local farmponds for bluegills and bass, it is safe to say that, at times, we return to our roots. We did just that recently when we hit a nice 4 acre lake in the Mason Dixon area in quest of fillets. Yup...we needed fish-fry material. Keepers. What better way to break in the early season?

Chubbo bluegills make for good eats.

Our goal was to ice a dozen or more quality bluegills in the 9 to 10 inch range, fillet them up, and have a little fish fry. This is what we have done in my family for nearly 40 years, and about 4 -5 times a year. What a heritage...to catch, clean and eat the fish you catch from local waters! No store-bought tilapia, farm-raised catfish or proclaimed 'wild-caught' salmon on the high dollar. Naaww, we keep our fish and eat them, sometimes. That's the way it is.

Matt's first gill of the year, a robust 10-incher!

Despite cold northwest winds and 4 inches of wet, heavy snow the day prior, we donned waders and fished the wind-blown shallows with simple bobber/jig/bait combos on 4 pound test and let the wind do the work. Along the way, a bunch of 12 to 16 inch bass were in the panfish mix.

'And while I'm at it, gimme one of those 18-inch bass!

All the bass went back and at another pond, we got a few up to 18 inches. It was another father/son trip that had special meaning. A 'keeper'. And it led to some great eating! Here's the scoop...

Fillet nice sized bluegills so they are ready for the pan.

Fry em up in hot oil at 375 til crispy brown.

Drain on paper towels and fight over them with family members.

It was all 4 adults and 2 young uns could do to down 26 fillets from those big gills. But we did it! And after a long afternoon nap, I had to reflect on the past few weeks of fishing...

Matt's first bass of the year is a nice 18-incher.

On this day, most fish were right at my feet in the muddy water.

This plus sized girl gave me a spectacular leap in chilly 50 degree water.

Ooodles of 2 pounders along the way.

Big head and skinny body...needs a few meals.

Ole Swooptail showed up. We caught her 4 times last year.

And, of course, dinks are always available.

There is something to be said about patterns, dependable lures, local ponds and fishing with family. It all would never be possible without God's Blessing. You see...I don't deserve all these cool fishing trips, or big fish, or great times with my precious son or even a hearty meal of fresh bluegills. I don't deserve my beautiful wife of 38 years or early retirement or two beautiful grand daughters. The truth is the majority of my life, I have been a self-centered, egotistical, prideful, lustful, boastful and just plain sinful wreak of a man. In and unto myself, I bring absolutely nothing to the table to please God. He can do just fine without me. He simply doesn't need me to bring Glory to Him in my unsalvedged state. I deserve hell.

But the cool thing is...He sought me out, anyway. Just like he is seeking you, right now, through this blog you are reading about this broken-down, shell-of-a-man who just so happens to like fishing. And...I might have enjoyed these things even if I did not give my life to Jesus some 39 years ago. Don't know. But I do know this...my live was empty, but now, and for a long time, has been made whole through the life-changing process of submitting to Christ as King. It's called grace, forgiveness, and it's free. And no, it's not perfect on this fallen and sinful planet. As it states in John 16:33...

'I have told you these things so that, in me, you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! For I have overcome the world.'

That verse, my friend, is a 'keeper', one you don't throw back. Put that one in your live well and meditate on it. When you feel the pressures of this fallen, sinful world are crushing you, pull it out and admire it, like a prized catch, and take a photo of it for your memory. Accept and embrace Jesus...He will never throw you back, or release you once you accept Him into your heart. It will be the catch of a lifetime!