Crappie And The Fish That Got Away

I love these "Crappies".  Is that not a cool fish!?!?  I love the tail fin.  I caught that dude on what I called my "Jazz Fly".  I was going real technical with the Orvis Book and then decided to whoop up a fly --- whoopin' up can work!

The Jazz Fly was on like Donkey Kong!

I flipped to a Clouser that I made to imitate the Blue Gill.

Okay, don't go to sleep on me.  If you made it this far between news of market shocks, Google going Googolorola, Afghanistan and all that... you can bear with me...

See that creek beneath the Crappie?  I side-roll casted to the right on the Clouser and something hit the line.  I tugged... and then the line shot off and made a 'V' in the water.

That's a jaw dropper.

That's when you go, "Oh my.  What *is* that?"  A fight ensued.  This thing drove itself to the far bank and wrapped around a fallen branch then dove over the branch in a swath of fury.  The thing had to be 28".  It was black on top and silver below.  I love surprises like that.  It's what you really hope for when you are out fishing.  Fun!