Run of the mill 15 lber

As we slipped into the bay our feet were hurting, but it was our eyes that were the most exhausted. Staring into the mirror like waters under heavy cloud cover can do that to you, and we had been dealing with clouds for at least an hour or two. The bay was a welcome relief from the softball sized cobble that we had been slipping and sliding through for the past couple of hours...firm sand underfoot, and the water temperature took a notable tick upwards. We looked at each other, knowing there would be tailing fish around. As we peered into the water, searching for shapes, colors, and motion...the sun peeked out and everything opened up. We could see out in front rather than right at our feet, and the fish were there. I hooked and released a small fish quickly, maybe 9 lbs. A moment later I spotted another tailer and hooked up in short order. With the glorious light coinciding with the warm bay, these fish were in trouble.

After releasing the second fish I looked up to see Wendy intensely focussed on a target. His posture had changed, slightly crouched, a grimace on his face as he laid a short cast to what I could only see as a dark spot in the water. He stripped in some line, let it settle...then set the hook hard and fast. The fish blasted from the bay and headed out to the main river. After several minutes Wendy brought the fish back under control and slid him towards the net.

Did I forget to mention that at this point Wendy was fishing with a fully free spooling reel? The click and pawl on his Ross had given up the ghost about one carp back...Wendy had ended that fish with the pile of line below.

Somehow he palmed the reel without slipping and managed his line with skill. The fish slid into the net, a beautiful 15 lb fish.

Well done Wendy...