floyd (US)

 Many of you guys can probably tell by some of my photos that I do my share of fishing at night. What was originally an only option (70 hour week job, two children 1 and 3, honey do list, etc, etc) has become my preferred time to fish. Night fishing may be easier for me for a couple reasons; first, I am fishing the same 6 or so ponds that I know the layouts of very well. Second, I have eyesight that borderlines bazaar. In fact I have had more than one physician call me a freak of nature based on my eyesight for a 42 year old!

So Monday night I’m at one of my spots and hook into a small one, maybe a pound, but this little guy makes a TON of noise on the trip in. Several jumps including one right at the shore line. So I pull this thing up, squat to sit on my heels, and I’m having trouble getting the hook out. About the time I reach to click on my visor light I hear something in the grass in front of me. I hit the light and there he is- A 4 FOOT GATOR STANDING ON MY ROD!

Now like most guys fishing in the south, we have to deal with gators now and again. And usually a 4 footer gets a wack on the head with the tip of the rod and they are gone. But imagine one in your personal space, mouth open, looking for the meal on the end of your line!!!

So I do what I usually do in this situation- stand up, put my arms over my head to make myself look at big as possible and lunge toward the gator. Ummmm, yea… DIDN’T WORK! He keeps inching forward, I keep backing up, and then realize my back is against a chain link fence that surrounds the pond.

This is where my Red Wings come in. With no other option, Mr. Luggage gets jacked in the chops with a steel toe! Needless to say, he then did a 180 and got his butt back into the water. I left my cap light on and scanned the water only to see 3 sets of BRIGHT RED EYES in a holding pattern about 10 feet from shore.

Next time out I will try and set the camera to work with my cap light to pick up those glowing red eyes. If you’ve never seen it, it’s pretty amazing how bright and how RED those eyes glow. Am I done fishing at night? That’s like asking if I’ll quit my golf round when there’s a little thunder in the distance! But believe me- with mating season starting this month, and these guys getting more aggressive and territorial, take my word, I will be much more cautious of my surroundings. I will upload the pic of the 7 footer that followed me around Saturday afternoon and stay tuned for that pic of the RED EYES!

Tight Lines,

floyd