Sat. Bass Dance

be honest with you, I really don't care if I catch a big fish or a small fish... but sometime ,if the condition is right, I don't mind the surprise! Yesterday I was finally out and do my offical "Saturday bass" thing. Yeap, I always go out check the river on Sat. morning... short or long. But in order to remedy my intense schedule and officially celebrate the incoming summer. I decided to do a short visit..."at least a quick look" I told myself. The river was still murky, but I really don't care... because "catching" is just a tiny friction of the whole joyable fishing experience. The preparation of the hunt usually get me into higher excitement mode. The tie, the planning, the hot coffee in the dark, the drive and the birds in the early morning... all counts!
I dead drift the good ol' leech pattern, I use my sage XP 5wt because I want to practice my distance casting. I feel the bump of the gravel bar, the rock and the shape of the river bottom. I had a lot of bird singing with this peaceful rhythm. I felt great!
Then after a tiny bump, I hook into some creature... I felt heavy... really heavy. I though I hook into a turtle. (Yes, I did hook into a turtle before). The 5wt definitely try to bend all over (and bunce back) and do it best job not to break off the fish. she never jumped... but I am surprised how big and how fat she is. probably 5 lb spotted bass full of eggs. That really was a good surprise...see... I don't mind catch a good fish...