It's Easier to Come Out of the Dark Than Go Into the Dark

A couple of days ago I visited a pond I hadn't been to in awhile.  It was daylight.  The park ranger did a good job of preserving nature and making it a little easier to land a fish from the bank since the last time I visited. 

I left, came back just before dusk.  The reason being: it's easier to come out of the dark than go into the dark, and the dark is when fish feel just a little more secure.  I made a cast here and there, but not into those cattails I was sure wise Mr. Big-Bass was lurking --waiting for dark.

It took awhile, but slowly but surely the picnic family went home and those making failed casts gave up, packed their gear and waved as they went to the parking lot.  

I waited for about twenty minutes in the dark, then approached the cattails, still about 60 feet away on a small peninsula.  One cast, it went about a foot into the cattails.  I left it there for a moment then barely moved my 4" black and maroon worm--it didn't move.  ( Small bass hit right away like an inpatient teenager.)  No, I had a cattail or Mr. BigBass.

I decided to set the hook and chance  driving it into a cattail, even though that would be a  good-bye to me my worm.  No, it was a Bingo!  I had him, but he was still inside the edge of the tall cover.  I kept pressure but didn't try to yank him out.  Why?  I only have a six pound test line.  I saw him splashing and getting closer to an opening.  I applied pressure and cranked just enough to get him to clear the cattails.   

Well, I landed him.  21" large mouth bass.   

It was easy leaving in the dark.