I get to my spot and the water is super low. I didn't think there was any way I was going to catch anything in my usual places so I wandered around looking for some new potential spots.
After about an hour I decided to cross my wee stream and fish straight out of the Ottawa. I was casting spinnerbaits and buzzbaits for a while. I watched at least 4 big bass jump all around me, but nothing seemed content to snatch my lures.
I tried a few other presentations and still no bites so I moved further down the river.
After getting snagged and walking into 5 feet of water to unhook my lure and tangling my baitcaster beyond repair for the day a guy fishing the rapids in a Jon boat asked me if I wanted to fish with him.
"Nah, I'm alright, but thanks"
"Come on man, let's get you some fish."
I figured I hadn't caught a blinkin thing and this guy seemed cool enough so why not. Luckily I had my other rod with me so I was game.
I get on the boat, we exchange pleasantries and away we go. He was pulling in bass after bass after bass. Still nothing for me.
So we continue chatting and everything and I finally pulled out a few small bass. My last day and a half of fishing had been so dismal that I was happy with that.
We decided to troll for the last little bit before I had to head out. I know no one will believe this, but I was trolling a crankbait and caught two of my personal best catfish. First one was 17 inches and the second was around 22. I've never caught any cats bigger than a pound and man oh man they really put up a good fight.
I caught 2 on a crankbait and my new fishing buddy caught 3....yup, on crankbaits
I didn't get any pictures, which may make this story even more unbelievable, but the main point was that this guy (who I will fish with again) offered to get me off the shore when the fishing was terrible and offer a seat just as a friednly gesture.
Sometimes anglers are the coolest people around and this guy honestly made my weekend. One I wont forget in a long while.
PP
