These gear wreckers travel in packs hunting banks and bars killing anything in their way. Speed and noise are the triggers. The faster you go and the more you make, the better. The fishing is intense. Once angry enough your plug or fly will be lost in an explosion of whitewater, the drag will scream and you’ll have to fight like hell to get every inch back. Something I’m always excited to show someone.
Eric showed with limited time so I ran to a bar these fish had been traveling.
On an 8′ Heavy heavy Tactical Inshore rod (TAC IS 806-1) I had rigged a big top water plug.
“Cast as far as you can and sweep the rod up and burn it as fast as you can and whatever happens don’t stop it.”
“What are we fishing for!?”
“The jack man”
His cast landed on the edge of the bar and in the first few feet of the retrieve the plug got cleaned.
Moments later he was holding his first Crevalle. It’s sickle fins lit up bright yellow against the gold green sides.
” kick her back and let’s get another.”
“Alright, give me a minute.”
We made a hell of a scene until the locals dropped in on us and started hunting the bar. We motored off watching the Dolphins make a living.
Words by TFO Ambassador Jon Lee (@kalamazoo_river_guide). Photos by Eric Shaeffer (@ejshaeff).