:bounce: I would like to tip my hat to MSBA President and new
fishin' buddy BasicPatrick on his first keeper of the season.:claps:
BasicPatrick and I had a small wager of a blue and white 1 oz.
Gibbs pencil popper for whichever one of us caught the first
keeper of the season between us.:crying: Try as I might, having
gone out four times this week to different locations and only
coming up with four rather small schoolies, I have lost to the
better man.:doh: BasicPatrick bagged his keeper yesterday.
Congratulations BasicPatrick and as always, keep looking over
your shoulder because I am gaining on you.:kewl:

Well Bigfish, better luck next time, but I hate to tell ya both, I GOT MINE 1ST!!!!!! LOL, go gettem buddy!!!!!

Bigfish,

You are a good man...Let's go this week some day...


PAtrick

Actually the tip of the hat must go to Mike from Cape cod Tackle aka M & D's Bait Shop in Wareham.

congratulation, basicpatrick. do you have a pic? the list is dying to see your catch. again, congratulation on your catch.

Hey BigFish,

Here is the rest of the story.

As you know, my Buggy has been off the road for a while. It actually is going to the shop this week to start the repairs. Needless to say, I need to hook up with a partner to fish right now unless I can take the Rav4 from Melissa. Add in that today is Mother's and I was told I needed to be around to throw Rose Petals at Melissa's feet and such, so no fishing on Sunday.

That left Saturday and I was having a very hard time finding someone to go. At last, Mr Specialist called me back and we decided to get Herring and go for large in the afternoon. Then my Brother calls and was in also. Brother Ronnie picks me up at 11:00 am. A quick stop at the Bait Shop and off to the Weymouth Run. 20 guys ahead of me and only 18 herring came out in over an hour. Forget this and off to Watertown. I have 4 legal places to get Herring in the Area and did not see even one Herring at any of them.

I call Mr. Specialist and let him know. He is going to be late due to Family business so Ronnie and I head off South. We stop at a Mall so I can get some Jewels for Melissa (Mothers Day Presents are important). A quick stop at M & D's for a report comnfirms the spot I was headed toward. However Mike gave me a tip. Basically, he told me if I wanted larfge to stick with the larger gear. Even if the small suff was biting, stick with the bigger stuff as the bigger fish were in.

It is 5:30 when I make my first cast. A mere 6 and one half hours after leaving the house. No Herring.

We get to the Spot, and 8 of us were fishing. A good spread of jigs, plastics, and top water. Most guys throwing schoolie gear and I am there with the 9' All Star Breakaway, Penn Liveliner w/ 30# Power Pro and throwing the reccomended weapon. The larger Gold sided Bronze Backed SSSMMMMAck-It Popper from Stillwater Lures. (M & D's is the only shop I have found them).

Three little Rats (one caught by my Brother) and my fish were the only fish caught in over two hours by all of us. My fish exploded on the Popper, you know, the way it is supposed to be. Two decent runs and a good one is on the board. Measured on my Rod and later confirmed at an even 34 inches. I would guess around 10-12 pounds. She was pretty fat.

I gave her a kiss as she was the first keeper of the year and a nice leisurely release. Mr. Specialist was just walking into the water as I was holding her up so the catch was even witnessed.

God I love the sound of Drag. God I love winning a bet. God I love catching a good one on a slow day. GOD I LOVE TO FISH!!!!

Thanks for the kind words Larry and Big Thanks to Mike at M & D's for urging me to stay diciplined. It payed off.
:)

If you could have seen how few herring have been counted on the bar graph display at the fish elevator in recent years you would be amazed. They appear to almost be extinct according to the graph and it sure looked BAD for herring populations. When i hear that no herring have been caught i can understand why as it appears at least in the conneticut river anyways that none are making it up the river to spawn. :(

:happy: You pick a day. Probably Wed. or Thurs. would be good.
Let me know. I also need to catch some :drool: BigFish:drool: .

:jump: OOOOPS! Sorry, I forgot, pass on a Happy Mothers Day
to your beloved for me BasicPatrick. I hope you are good to her
and she has a great day.:lasso:

Congratulations BasicPatrick!!!:bl: I just hope BigFish doesn't give you one of my poppers to pay the bet (just kidding BigFish). :angel:

fish Chick (aka....ok not yet)

One of your Poppers is worth 10 of his