Andy Dear | Sunday, 1 December 2019
“Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.”
---Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Well, our dramatic saga with the Black Drum of Matagorda Bay came to an exciting climax on Wednesday night. After having spent close to 7 hours in a cold north wind peppered with intermittent rain, Jackson finally slayed the proverbial beast.
We started out around 2 pm that afternoon, soaking crab on two separate rods in a channel that has produced a dozen or more fish in the last week in excess of 30 pounds. Late that evening, around 6 pm the tide started to move into and through the channel, and in the process brought one heckuva school of fish with it.
Around 8 pm a gentleman on the other end of the pier named Dennis (who I now have the pleasure of calling a friend) hooked and landed one pushing 40 pounds. About 20 minutes later Dennis hooked a second one, and as I went down to net it for him I heard Jack SCREAMING at the other end of the pier. I looked back and his rod was doubled over as well. So, now we've got a double on our hands!
Before the night was through there would be 6 of these behemoths hooked and four landed. An incredible night well worth exposure to the elements that truth be told, were probably at least partially responsible for this incredible bite.
I haven't really discussed in detail with Jackson the long term ramifications of conquering this, or some of the other angling goals he's achieved. I am going to see if he can come to those realizations on his own. There are, however, a lot of very important life lessons to be learned here, none of which any of you need reminding of...you understand as well.
The next goal on the list is now to take one of these with a fly. I know for a fact it can be done because I have personally done it. In 2004 I landed a 27 pound Black Drum on a 7wt. in Houma Lousiana. My old pal "Bubba" took one not long after that, also in Houma, that went 39 pounds. Not sure what it is about those "Big Uglys" over in Cajun Land, but they seem to have a penchant for spending more time up in the shallows than the Texas contingent does.
In spite of the fact that the chances for success in taking one of these bulls on a fly may be marginally slimmer here in Texas, I remain convinced that this is eminently doable. All that is necessary is a 10wt stick, a buggy looking crab fly and enough time on the water to create an opportunity.
Stay Tuned, for as Paul likes to say...IT'S ALL ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
Hope you all have a great week,
Andy