Got the Skunk off my Yak

It took 8 trips to do it but I finally got the skunk off my yak.

I was out with a couple other kayak anglers when I noticed my line/rod was acting "different". I said as much aloud and the others said it's probably a smolt and to reel it in. I was surprised to find a smaller smallmouth bass hooked at the end of my line.

After safely releasing the SMB and another 45 minutes of trolling, my rod was acting almost like it was snagged but not really. I grabbed the rod from the holder but still not realizing what was going on, I said, "I think I've got something". Next thing I know the fish at the end of my line realized it was hooked and started going crazy and turning my rod in all kinds of directions while clicking off 60 feet of line. When one of the other anglers got a look at the jumping fish, he said (not for the first time) that my net is too small.

Fortunately, he stuck around and gave me some instructions and offered to net the fish for me (thanks!) as it was clearly a hatchery springer.

So, patience and persistence paid off. Now I'm ready to go out and get some more.

First SMB ever. First fish from a yak. A very good day.

Man, I cannot seem to figure out the best way to include pictures...

We can't congratulate you on finally catching a fish from your kayak, because unless you post a picture of the fish, it didn't actually happen. To post a picture, first resize the picture to a level appropriate for a large website picture, something like 640 x 480. Then go to your original post, wherein you claimed, without any photographic evidence, to have caught a couple of fish, and click on "modify." Below the editing window, click on the place which says "attach," click on "choose file," navigate to your resized picture, click on the picture, and then click on "open." The file number of the picture will appear in the box. Repeat this process to add additional pictures. Then save your post, and the picture or pictures will appear at the end of the text in your post.

Thanks, pmmpete. I guess the file sizes were too big before.

Hey! Congratulations on catching your first fish from a kayak, with one of them being a hatchery springer!