Bassincaps (US)

 So it's the morning of my first day Bounty Fishing and I'm already nervous about doing everything right from bringing the code, taking the pictures, and heck even catchin a fish. I probably read the rules a million times making sure I had everthing down. On the way to the lake I stopped for gas. As I'm fillin up, some yahoo starts blowin his car horn and naturally I look to see whats goin on (Im a cop, it's my nature). Because I'm so intent on seein whats goin on, my hand follows my eyes while I'm holding the pump...opps! Gas goes everywhere. My face, my clothes, in my boat...everwhere. Great, I thought how the heck am I going to concentrate on everything I'm supposed to do with Bouny Fishing while fishing "high" off of gas fumes. I worked it out got cleaned up in the nastiest gas station ever. It was like a splunking trip in some cave exploring stalagmites with water dripping on you from all directions. Everything from that point on went as planed...until about half way through the day when I shook my hand after diggin a hook in it. As I shake my hand I see a silver thing go flying to the front of the boat, bounce on the gunnel and sploosh...into the depths. My buddy fishing with me asked, "what was that?" As I'm trying to figure it out, I realize...the sick feeling you get when you hit the chinese buffet after "prime time" or the feeling you get cause you know your wife is about to kill you fell on me like a sumo wrestler...my wedding ring was sleepin with the fishes. As I'm contemplating calling her right away, or waiting. I decide to soak a line and BAM! my first Bounty Fish worth recording was born. 21.25" largemouth. It took away enough pain for me to make "the call". (side note - I just got married in APRIL of '08) Surprisingly she was cool about the ring, she was more interested in the fish I was catching. Only thing though was she wanted me to come home early so we could go get another one. So I did what any dude with common sense would do to stay off the couch...I left the lake right when the bite was gettin hot : ( On the way home, my phone wouldn't work, so I hit the ALLTEL the day after and It was toast... All in all not a terrible day, but not the best. My $2.00 entry fee wound up costing me $200.00 for a new ring + $50.00 for a replacement phone. I know I won't win the Bounty with my fish, but it's not always about the Bounty, It's the experiences and stories we have at the end of the day.