| "Dan!" I yelled and pointing excitedly down the beach | | | | bends deep to cork as his reel is singing out running |
| "Blitz!" I had just noticed A hundred yards down the | | | | line. A two foot silver torpedo flings out of the water |
| beach, past Dan, the water was being whipped to a | | | | and springs back towards the beach as the rod |
| frenzy of bait and predator. Known as a "blitz" on the | | | | unloads. Finally my line is free from my feet. I rush |
| east coast, we carry the term with us south of the | | | | my cast and send the fly 60' out into the frothing |
| border. By the time he is able to whip around to | | | | water. |
| where I am pointing I'm already in full sprint, running | | | | As I tuck my rod under my arm to strip, my line |
| down the warm wet sand. The frenzy is often short | | | | comes tight, then slack, several more strips and it's |
| lived and no time is wasted getting to the action. | | | | tight again. This time I'm able to set the hook and |
| Adrenaline fuels my body, I move surprisingly fast | | | | the fight is on. "Double!" I yelled. My rod bends deep |
| when the fish are feeding! | | | | as my reel spins off line. The fish zigs, then zags |
| Dan is only 200 feet from all the commotion and first | | | | through the surface waves. Jumps and cartwheels |
| to the action. We are never quite sure what to | | | | punctuate short quick runs. After a winter of trout |
| expect until we get close. Members of the jack | | | | and steelhead fishing, I am always so surprised at the |
| family are the usual suspects, but sometimes we are | | | | pound for pound strength and the shear fun these |
| surprised. As I get close, my bare toes tangle in my | | | | ladyfish are on a fly rod. Both my brother's fish and |
| fly line. "Ladyfish!" yells Dan. The predators are ID'd | | | | mine are landed simultaneously, surfed up onto the |
| as seen streaking through the surface, seconds | | | | smooth wet sand. The fish are admired quickly, then |
| before the first one grabs a hold of his flashtail | | | | gently released back into the water. While not a |
| clouser, "Whoohoo!" "Sweet!" I call out as I do the | | | | glamor fish like a dorado, we both agreed we could |
| dance to free my line. Dan's two-handed beach rod | | | | catch these little guys all week long! |