Outdoors Column | Fishing in unfamiliar waters bring new, exciting challenges

As Tropical Storm Cristobal sent days of rain across Florida most anglers were stuck land side to avoid his wrath. Offshore boats remained moored in harbor instead of heading out into 10-foot seas as the storm churned it’s way from Mexico to Louisiana.

When the rain starting pouring, I got a little creative. My children are slowly growing older, now 7 and 5, and are becoming more willing to venture on random exploration trips here and there. A bit stir crazy with the rain, I asked if they wanted to do a little exploring around a local pond and just see what was there.

I chose a pond that sits inland a about 4 miles and has a few drain pipes that feed it when they are overflowing. When the rain starts pouring, the drains turn into miniature rapids with bait fish like freshwater shad and bluegill getting caught in the overflow.

The rain lightened and it looked like a small window to go see what was happening near the drain pipes. I grabbed a rod and my daughter picked out a bait for me to use. I rigged it, a Berkley Powerbait Shad, in a weedless manner knowing the level of the pond was still fairly low and there was a lot of grass. Freshwater was not something I fish often so her guess was as good as mine.

We walked along the waters edge as tilapia scurried and armored catfish actively searched for a meal. Near the drain pipe there were fish on the surface so I cast my light spinning rod.

Then I felt it. A massive thump. Was there actually a fish there? I set the hook.

A bass went airborne and my adrenaline rose with it.

“I got something kids!” I shouted.

They came over to see what I was yelling about.

“It’s a bass, and a big one, too!”

A few more jumps and the fight was soon over. I smiled for a picture as my daughter pressed capture. I was hooked. It wasn’t small but it was a lunker either.

I tried to think. It had easily been 25 years since I caught a decent sized bass.

Soon after I hooked another and handed the rod to my daughter. She cranked it in and we let it go. Another, number three for the evening, soon followed.

The next night I was solo with a desire to go searching more. The rain was heavier so I dawned my jacket and took off with just a bag full of extra Powerbait bodies. After two more bass I went to a bigger part of the pond. Then I saw something oddly familiar. Silver backs. Tarpon!? I thought.

I watched for a few minutes and my suspicions were confirmed when multiple fish were rolling around the pond.

Another new challenge.

As I cast and worked different speeds and depths I felt another thump. Then it went airborne. I actually hooked one, a juvenile tarpon far from the nearest saltwater body!

I tried my best to keep it hooked and the fight was short. I slid it onto the grassy bank edge where it did a good job of unhooking itself. After a quick picture for evidence it flopped back into the water.

The whole experience brought me back to my roots of fishing. Unfamiliar waters, “new” species, light tackle and artificial lures. There was no pressure, only enjoying the challenges that were in front of me.