On a crisp early autumn afternoon more years ago than I care to count, a grasshopper and a bass came face to face.
The encounter was fatal for the grasshopper. But as the bug gave its life, a bass angler was born.
I am reminded of this day every time a grasshopper flushes at my feet and flits to a new spot on the sidewalk or a new stalk of grass in a field. It was from a field, in fact, where I plucked that unlucky 'hopper so many years ago as I loped to a pond with a spinning rod and a can of worms.
My thinking that day was the big grasshopper might come in handy. I'd never fished with such a bait, but had read that bass were inclined to take a surface offering.
As I scanned the water in front of the spot where the path stopped at the pond's edge, I spied a largemouth bass cruising ever so slowly near the bank. Hmmmm.
Somehow the grasshopper had survived being stuffed into my blue jeans pocket. It struggled with its barbed legs to push from my fingers while I secured it to the hook. On the water, the grasshopper's legs and wings beat a little stir on the mirror surface, just enough of a commotion to attract the bass' attention.
Temptation proved too much for the bass to resist, and it swirled up with mouth agape to eat the grasshopper. My first topwater bass. Bluegills, creek chubs and suckers no longer seemed enough to satisfy my angling appetite.
I'm bass fishing this morning at Mosquito Creek Reservoir. My first cast at dawn very likely was with a topwater plug. It's a fancy custom Japanese-made lure that set me back $15 — a tad bit more pricey than the bug that teased my first-ever topwater bass.
As I write, I have no idea whether I'll succeed today in raising any early-morning surface action. I am inclined, however, to believe that I will. My inclination is based on the seed planted in my brain back when LBJ was president.
Since then, I've learned many fishing lessons. My favorite was the very first one, when the grasshopper and bass came face to face. It was a pretty simple deal, but its impact was more powerful than perhaps all of the other lessons combined.
It would be many, many years before the 12-year-old boy would subscribe to Bassmaster magazine, buy a baitcasting outfit or put a downpayment on a Ranger. But that bug and bass lit the fire.
Fishing for steel
Ohio has some of the best steelhead fishing in the country, a remarkable fact that is lost on many Buckeye anglers. To open up anglers' minds to steelhead opportunities, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife is staging a free seminar Oct. 10 at the division's District Three Headquarters in Akron.
Those who attend will learn about Ohio's steelhead stocking program and tips to catch fish with spinning and fly-fishing tackle.
Presenters will include Kelly Reisen, Ohio Sea Grant program coordinator, who will talk about spinning tackle fishing on Lake Erie tributaries; Division of Wildlife biologist Andy Burt, who will discuss steelhead biology and stocking; Division of Wildlife communication specialist Jamey Graham on Web-based steelhead information resources; and retired Division of Wildlife biologist Vince LaConte on fly-fishing and how to stay warm while fishing the cold-water rivers.
The seminar will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Wildlife District Three office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron. Seating is limited and pre-registration will be necessary. Call Dawn McGonigal at (330) 644-2293 to register.
jwwollitz@aol.com