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The Quest of Openers

Scenic

By Scenic
in Open Water

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Scenic Proficient

Scenic

Posted
Posted

It starts weeks before. You look at the calender, you smile. A little closer every day, you smile again, its coming. Then the last week arrives, now we are close. A whole new set of brains and means of thinking begins to takes over. Some people think you have lost it while others just know. Tis the week before openers....

Opener is always on a Saturday. You quit counting on Monday, you are now counting hours instead of days, closer, closer, and closer. Then before you know it you are already on Friday. Now most people who know you just know that you have lost your mind. But again anybody that really knows you just excepts that. They just say, "it is the opening of fishing weekend."

Saturday finally arrives. You have been tossing and turning all night. You spend numerous hours making sure that everything is just right. Everything is loaded into the boat. You know that you are going to forget something, happens all the time. You just hope that it is not your fishing rods or that new secret lure. The heart starts beating faster.........

The boat is hooked to the truck. No stopping you now. Get out of the way or you may just get run over. You always have to stop at your favorite bait store. The place is filled with impatient crazy people, all with the same mentality as you, well maybe not quite as bad. The poor clerks just can't move fast enough for you today. "Come on lets go." Finally it your turn - got the bait and just a few more little items, "wow $50.00" lets get out of here.

You head for that special boat landing at break neck speeds. Even the Police Officers over look that, it is opening weekend. They understand and some will be there as soon as their shift ends.

When you arrive at that special landing you see some "Clown" who you swear has never backed up a trailer or unloaded a boat before. You fight the urge to drag him out of his vehicle and back it in for him just to get him out of your way. Some how he manages and it is finally your turn.

Your fishing buddy of choice for this special weekend backs you into the water. You grab the key and fire that motor up. It immediately starts with a jump and you whisper to yourself, "Yes there is a God and he is good." The boat is then backed off the trailer. The motor remains running, you again wait. This time you are waiting for your buddy who needed to park the vehicle. Even they can not move fast enough for you today. You begin to wonder if they went back to town for breakfast or what. Things are beginning to get intense now, just the beginning. Yes, here he comes now.

Life jackets are put on. At least you have not lost all your common sense. You head for that "secret fishing hole". When you arrive at that "secret" fishing hole you find about a dozen or more boats who's owners also thought that it was their secret fishing hole also. You shut the motor down and boat settles into the water and comes to a stop. You are finally here.

You and your partner look at each other with that knowing smile. We are here......... The lake is calm now but you know that it won't last long. You hear that Sassay fish out there, "naw naw naw n naw naw" "bet you can't find me", "bet you can't catch me" You smile and say, "lets rock."

Heart is beating faster now. Sun is shining, birds are singing, you are on the water, life is good... You grab your favorite custom built rod that has previously been rigged. You cast that new special weapon of choice and it hits the water. The quest is on. Everything else is forgotten.

Then it happens!!! You feel the slight tap on your rod, heart surges, you set the hook. She's there!! Yes! About 100 feet from the boat you see the swirl caused by the trophy. Your mind, your body, you entire being are concentrated on just one thing now. That is to win the battle that has begun. You know that at any time it could come to an end with a snapped line or a slipped hook. But even if it does, you won't be denied the sheer enjoyment of doing battle. Sheer enjoyment, that is what fishing is all about.

From all of us at Scenic Tackle we would like to wish everyone a safe opener and good fishing this weekend. Remember if you don't catch the "Sassay" fish this weekend, there are many more days to come. Take the time to teach someone the art and to share this passion.

Jeff Beckwith

Scenic Tackle

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aaronole Newbie

aaronole

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Posted

Thanks for the great story, about us fisherman in all our glory. good luck to all those, that get out and fish. so lets all make one big wish, that our one dream comes true, then for one more year, we can stop talking about, the one that got away. but if you have to shed a tear, theres no reason to fear, you'll still have, that same fishermans glory, because you'll always know, you got a great story!

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Satchmo Collaborator

Satchmo

Posted
Posted

Great story Jeff! That's pretty much it, in a nut shell. Good Luck to all the FMers. Just one thought for everyone as the excitement continues to build on this glorious event.

If you see someone that needs a hand out there, PLEASE, take the time to stop and help them out. Remember, we're all in this together! Good luck and be careful out there. SATCHMO wink.gif

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guideman Proficient

guideman

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Posted

It truly is the best day of the year. grin.gif

Have a great opener and make sure to pass it on to the next generation of your family. The story you tell may be old to you, however your sons and daughters will enjoy them as much as you did when you were young. grin.gif

Good luck everyone!

"Ace" cool.gif

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Ortlo Apprentice

Ortlo

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Posted

Having fallen off the fishing "wagon" and getting back on the past couple of years, the opener is truly one of the best days of the year.

Have a great opener! Good luck!

Don

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TeamNSO Rookie

TeamNSO

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Posted

Great read Jeff: I just was waiting for one final line: "It is all so perfect, you turn to your buddy and say; Did you put the plug in?" grin.gif At least that's me

Good luck everyone and make sure your plug is in!

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Redwalleye Contributor

Redwalleye

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Posted

Too late! Left the plug out of my bud's warrior last weekend. First time he had it out this year. We caught it early, and kept our feet dry. Thought your post was very humorous after that!

good fisin !

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SteveR Apprentice

SteveR

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The pain of it all, I have read these lines and get the same excited yearning to feel the bump bump of the walleye pulling on one end, and I on the other. But lest yea merry gentlemen think that this is oh so great a time to be you, remember that there is also such a thing as the openner grinch, and maybe it is me that is he. You see, I can't be there!! Want to be, yep, just can't. So pardon me if you see that I am not so anxious for you all to pull em in left and right. But the truth be told, I am so envious of you all being up there in northern Minnesota on the openner. I do hope all have a great and safe time. Sound like I am a bit confused?? Don't worry, I know I am.

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Stever323 Newbie

Stever323

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My first action won't be till the 19th but best of luck and be safe. Oh, by the way as if you haven't done it yet, check yo drag and make sure the net is clear ....GO GET EM GUYS.....FISH ON!

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Matt Johnson Grand Master

Matt Johnson

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Posted

Talk about an awesome day!!!

I hit the water with BDR today and he put on a show! This was definitely the opener of big fish!

We started the day at about 6am with walleye on the brain, and we found ourselves about to embark on an adrenaline filled, exciting morning...

Fishing was tough, I'm not going to lie, but when Brian landed a 29 inch walleye for the first fish of the day how bad can it be?...

BrianJRs29.JPG

This pig hit a JR's Tackle spinner rig in green/gold tipped with a leech. It put up a courageous fight and did not want to come to the boat. At first we thought it was going to be a pike, but once we saw that gold-bodied, white-tailed hog we know she was an eye-- and a big one at that! A few pictures and she went back in the water. A beautiful fish!!!

We spent the next hour or so chasing eyes but had a tough time topping what Brian already caught, so we decided to move on and pitch some spoons for pike...

It didn't take long and Brian landed about a 4 pound pike...

BrianPike.JPG

This fish came on one of the new JR's Tackle firetiger spoons. A decent fish to start things off. The walleyes weren't too aggressive but it seemed as if the pike were willing play. A couple more smaller pike came to the boat, and then something that wrote the day off in the record books happened...

While pitching the firetiger spoon off a weedline, Brian felt a thump, but no fish. "Just missed one," Brian told me. Then a few seconds later that same fish took a second attempt at the spoon, and this time Brian hooked up! Right away we knew it was a nice fish, partly because his drag squealed like a stuck pig and also because his medium-heavy open-face rod was bent to the max. After a couple short bursts we saw that it was a muskie, and a big one at that. At this point I'm standing at the bow of the boat holding the walleye net hoping that I can get the fish's head in the net just enough for us to grab hold of the tail and get her in the boat. When the fish made another pass at the boat we knew she wasn't ready. After several minutes of battling this brute, it was time to get her unhooked, so I made an attempt at netting her and by a miracle she went in without complication and seconds later Brian was holding probably the thickest 48 inch muskie I've ever seen!!!...

BrianMuskie48.JPG

This fish was also caught on the firetiger JR's Tackle spoon. An incredible fish that will be imprinted on my mind (and I'm sure Brian's as well) for as long as I live.

Today was Brian's day, no doubt about that. I felt priviliged to act as the "net boy" and this is an opener that I'll never forget. Our epic adventure was a good one and it was an amazing start to the season!

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

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