Published: August 20, 2009 10:13 pm      

Gilmore catches lunker bass

David Gilmore recently took a special fishing trip to a local hotspot with his dad, David Gilmore, Sr., affectionately known as Goat from his high school days. Now the elder Gilmore will have you believe that the name is an acronym for “Greatest of All Time”. And by the looks of their fishing trip, that might not be much of a stretch when it comes to angling and catching the big ones!

“Dad was ready for some rest and relaxation after a recent unexpected medical problem affected his vision, and he hadn’t been able to golf lately, so I decided to take him fishing,” said David. Fortunately for the Gilmores they were able to make a trip to a nearby lake owned by close friends. The plan was to get some much needed rest, relaxation and maybe even catch a fish or two.

After launching the boat the father and son team cruised around the lake awhile searching for a bass. “Dad had his familiar Zebco 33 Classic and I had my casting rod and reel combo,” said Gilmore. “Dad’s always had a thing for fishing Rapalas and he uses them most of the time, while I’m more of a worm fisherman.”

In no time at all Mr. Gilmore broke the ice with his first bass, a nice two pounder that fell victim to the trusty Rapala. “It was just what the doctor ordered and I detected a big grin on his face,” related the proud son. After working around some lay down logs and trees they caught a few more bass. “My last bass was bigger than Dad’s and he quickly knew it was time to change lures so I offered to rig him up one of my red lizards.”



Lure change



In short order Gilmore rigged his dad up with a sparkling red lizard with a red hook and dad was ready to go to work. After a change of “weaponry” both of the Gilmores were catching bass and enjoying life. As it got later in the afternoon with several bass to their credit, Gilmore reflected upon the wonderful memories that were being made. “I was really enjoying spending time with my dad, my buddy, my mentor and friend, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon,” said Gilmore.

“It’s all good, but it gets better!” exclaimed the excited son. “Dad pitched his lizard up near a fallen log under a shady area and the next thing I know his line starts veering off to the left at a considerable speed.”

“I think this one is pretty good,” said the elder Gilmore. As the fish headed for deep water Gilmore implored his dad in an urgent tone “Set the hook!” Almost instantly he responded, “David, this is one huge bass.” Of course there was not any need for him to have to relay the message as the younger Gilmore clearly saw that a lunker bass was bending the rod double and straining the Zebco 33 as he exclaimed, “Hang on.”

“Get the net, get the net!” replied Goat. “By now the lunker bass was straining the Zebco for all it was worth, but dad was playing the bass and wearing him down. I just knew that the thing was about to snap, the rod or the line,” he recalled.

The excited angler worked the bass around the boat and finally maneuvered him in reach of his son and the outstretched net. “As I netted the bass, all I could think was, “Holy cow Pops, the lunker has been landed!”



Firm grip



And what a fine lunker it was. “Now the grins got bigger and the laughter starts with high fives all around!” Gilmore reported. He got the bass out of the net and handed it to the man who so nimbly performed expert dentistry for over 45 years. Gilmore seized the bucket mouth like he had a pair of vice grips. “He ain’t about to let this one get away,” exclaimed the glowing son.

As the proud son stood back and took several photos, the celebrating continued. The bass was the largest that his 83 year old dad had ever caught. “Dad had no doubt the bass was over 10 pounds, and I agreed.”

“It will probably be a state record by the time we get home and he starts bragging to his buddies at the Monday morning coffee club!” continued David. The lunker bass topped off a very good day of fishing and memory making. “We cruised back to the boathouse with Dad’s prized bass, smiling and feeling God’s grace and the memory is indelibly etched forever. And he has the pictures to prove it, just ask him,” finished Gilmore. What better way to make a lifetime memory than sharing a once in a lifetime fishing trip with your dad when he catches the biggest bass of his life.

If it gets any better than that I just couldn’t believe it!