Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - 11

I
am not one of those anglers who
attributes the day's catch results
to a lucky hat, shirt, or lure. Good
fortune with fishing, in my opinion, is a
harmonious blend of timing, weather, skill,
science, and art.
I have a good dog, two great kids, and
the best wife. My grandparents' family
farm makes home a slice of heaven. Ample
woods grow adventure and wildlife. A
trio of farm ponds offers fishing in our
backyard. To put it simply, life has been
good and that is my luck.
The following is a time-tested invitation to
fishy fortune:
When: Late spring to early summer
Where: Any of the many small farm ponds
sprinkled across Pennsylvania
What: Soft plastics such as Senko worms,
Finesse TRD, and molded swimbaits
Who: Largemouth Bass and your
entire family
To prove the credentials of the
aforementioned instructions, I have a couple
aquatic anecdotes.
Last year, as spring surrendered
to summer, my son, Noah, and I
serendipitously found ourselves along the
banks of our farm pond. We squeezed
in some fishing between other activities.
Noah slowly brought a sparkling Finesse
TRD across a bass-laden bottom, and six
consecutive casts yielded a Largemouth
Bass. One of the fish became a personal best
for the budding angler, each shimmering
scale forever converted to memory. The
unforgettable bass stretched a formidable
21½ inches.
I spent the rest of the year thinking
about that outing. Late summer was too
hot or its water levels too low to replicate
the magic, and fall and winter did not
seem as successful with this technique. I
impatiently awaited the exact season and
conditions. Once our ponds glistened
beneath the late spring and early summer
sun, our family returned to try our luck.
A handful of small bass, as quick
as cooperative, ensured each child
happily landed a few fish. Attention
waning, little brother, Noah, splashed
off in search of frogs, snakes, and some
form of mischief. As long as he did not
disrupt the fishing, I encouraged his
farm pond frolics.
My daughter, Leah, was determined
to catch one of these big fish I spoke
about with such reverence during the
entire previous year. Any normal day,
Leah would have been tickled with a
handful of small, scrappy fish. Today
was different. Leah felt lucky.
The water was warm enough to
comfortably wade to the ankles, but not
tepid enough to entertain thoughts of
purposefully submerging for a swim.
The water was high from spring rains,
yet clear in the summer sun. As I threw
an oversized pink swimbait, Leah
disappeared from my side. Given her
admirable commitment, this seemed out
of character.
Leah returned with something small
in her hand. " Here, Dad, " she smiled.
Extending her sun-kissed arm, " I found
the perfect lucky stone. Maybe, it will
bring us some luck. "
I nonchalantly swapped rod for rock.
A kind gesture from a lovely girl, I
grinned as the smooth, polished piece
rested in my palm. Her ear to ear smirk
was a splash of sunshine.
And perhaps it was a lucky rock, because
the instant I contacted quartz with my
fingertip, the rod was nearly ripped from
Leah's grip.
After a sincere scream, Leah mustered,
" Daddy help! I got one! It is big! I cannot
do this! "
" Yes, you can Leah! " I coached.
With that, my girl discovered a
Leah's lucky stone.
rhythmic pump then reel. For good
measure, she even added a few
intermitted pauses when the fish made a
run or gave a particularly hard pull.
" You know what to do. Great job! " I
proudly professed.
May/June 2022
11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022

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