Alabama jewels...
#1
Alabama jewels...
I couldn't take it any longer. How could any self-respecting Alabama native not have caught a redeye? Redeye bass, one of the smallest black bass, are often called the brook trout of Alabama. Arrived to find that the weatherman is full of it, as usual.
I arrived on the water with but one goal in mind and it was to catch redeye bass. I tied on one of my trusty one bugs that I tied and began the float.
I get to the point where I am almost guaranteed a redeye strike. Cast. Bam! My first.....oh, just a longear....
I go quite a ways before even getting another strike. I keep casting and I feel like something is watching me.
He kept a watchful eye on me until I was out of sight. I keep casting into typical "redeye spots." Then a tiny torpedo hit the one bug at lightning speed, I actually jumped a little. A few jumps and my first redeye bass.
Thanked him and sent him on his way..
A scenery pic.
This creek is loaded with variety. I have never caught one of these before either. A shadow bass..
I see some more rocks coming up. I get in position and get ready to make my first cast.
I can just see the redeye I am about to fool. Cast. Wait, what the? Son of a....
That trend continued all day. I would get into prime water, and my cast would be ruined by poor line management, trees, you name it. This creek was small and not conducive to casting. I probably only fished 30% of the water I wanted. For the most part it was one cast to make it count and move on to the next spot.
A couple miles down and I see a tree bent over the water. There has to be a fish there. I cast right under it, without error miraculously, and I see the redeye hit. He bulldogs down and I try to strip it in and my line goes slack. Nooo!!!!!!!! I paddle back upstream and anchor to a rock and make a dozen casts before he hits again.
Man these things are beautiful.
Love the white tips...
A little further down I pick up a red breasted sunfish. Caught quite a bit of these al along...
I was lucky enough to get another Alabama jewel..
A little further downstream and I ruin these guys' swim..
Green sunfish...
This is one of the most scenic creeks I have floated...
Another one..
Back in ya go...
Last one of the day....
I'm content just to float the last stretch...
This was weird. I thought raccoons could swim...
It was a good day and although no giants were caught, ANY redeye is a trophy to me. Something special in the Alabama waters for sure and I'm glad I finally got to share it.
I arrived on the water with but one goal in mind and it was to catch redeye bass. I tied on one of my trusty one bugs that I tied and began the float.
I get to the point where I am almost guaranteed a redeye strike. Cast. Bam! My first.....oh, just a longear....
I go quite a ways before even getting another strike. I keep casting and I feel like something is watching me.
He kept a watchful eye on me until I was out of sight. I keep casting into typical "redeye spots." Then a tiny torpedo hit the one bug at lightning speed, I actually jumped a little. A few jumps and my first redeye bass.
Thanked him and sent him on his way..
A scenery pic.
This creek is loaded with variety. I have never caught one of these before either. A shadow bass..
I see some more rocks coming up. I get in position and get ready to make my first cast.
I can just see the redeye I am about to fool. Cast. Wait, what the? Son of a....
That trend continued all day. I would get into prime water, and my cast would be ruined by poor line management, trees, you name it. This creek was small and not conducive to casting. I probably only fished 30% of the water I wanted. For the most part it was one cast to make it count and move on to the next spot.
A couple miles down and I see a tree bent over the water. There has to be a fish there. I cast right under it, without error miraculously, and I see the redeye hit. He bulldogs down and I try to strip it in and my line goes slack. Nooo!!!!!!!! I paddle back upstream and anchor to a rock and make a dozen casts before he hits again.
Man these things are beautiful.
Love the white tips...
A little further down I pick up a red breasted sunfish. Caught quite a bit of these al along...
I was lucky enough to get another Alabama jewel..
A little further downstream and I ruin these guys' swim..
Green sunfish...
This is one of the most scenic creeks I have floated...
Another one..
Back in ya go...
Last one of the day....
I'm content just to float the last stretch...
This was weird. I thought raccoons could swim...
It was a good day and although no giants were caught, ANY redeye is a trophy to me. Something special in the Alabama waters for sure and I'm glad I finally got to share it.