Buggy Whip Bassin’

My first experience with bass fishing was with a friend during my early teens. Jim lived outside the city limits and had access to a small pond in a pasture across from his house. We spent many hours walking across the pasture, poles in hand, trying to avoid the big bull who patrolled the local real estate. On one trip we were not so lucky and were chased up the only tree in the pasture by the Brahma bully. After some time we were allowed to pass. We usually arrived at the pond and waded into the shallow waters. Partly to cool off but primarily to reach the pockets of lilly pads and submerged grass beds with our offerings.

This pond is where I learned to throw a fly rod tipped with a surface popper. With the first cast, I was hooked. Bass and bream were plentiful and willing to devour the small bug imitations. There is something about using a buggy whip (fly rod) that takes you back to the very roots of fishing’s existence. Learning to pick up the line and place it back in the perfect position takes patience and persistence. When it all comes together and you connect with your target species, the experience is quite gratifying.

Fishing as a young boy on small ponds and creeks gave me just as much pleasure as it does today. I think the challenge of reading the water conditions like depth and current, along with the wind and weather conditions, makes finding and catching fish very satisfying, even at the age of sixty one.

Here is a video I made of my experience fishing some small creeks and ponds with my son’s  five weight fly rod and an assortment of poppers.

As you can see, the enjoyment I get from fly fishing for bass which began as a young boy still pleases me today.

I am very lucky and thankful that the house we have lived in for the last twenty six years, which has a small creek behind it,  gave me an opportunity to introduce fishing to my children at an early age.

Being thankful for all God has given us is something God has called us to do. Colossians 4:2 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.”

I am thankful that we live in a country where we are free to worship as we choose, where we can fish so many public places and have regulations that preserve our outdoor resources for future generations.

I hope you have that peace in your heart. Thanks for reading my blog.

God Bless You!

Tim Lumpkin