Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)

Species #2

**The picture depicted here may not necessarily represent my first catch of this species. It is simply the clearest and most beautiful picture I've taken of this species. The picture of my first catch of some species may not exist.**

My dad was an avid camper in his younger years. When we moved to Canada, the wilderness of this country called to him. He learned from his colleagues the beauty of Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world. It was just a few hours drive north of Mississauga where we lived but, for a first year driver and someone who grew up in the small region of Hong Kong, it was quite a hallowing trek.

Instead of a non-stop drive to Manitoulin Island, my dad planned an overnight in Muskoka. We hadn't reserve any campsite in advance and only learned to call campgrounds in the area after we consulted the Visitor Center on the way to Gravenhurst. During a lunch stop in Gravenhurst, I saw some red and white spoons displayed on the cashier's counter. Growing up, my parents never allowed us to beg for toys or other purchases. Being on vacation, my parents were generous and bought me the lure when they saw me eying the spoons longingly.

That afternoon, we arrived at Bonnie Lake Campground. Most of the sites by the facilities were taken and we were given a spot that was at the very edge of the campground at the end of the dirt road. There wasn't anyone close to us and we had complete privacy, plus the campsite was right by the water.

My dad taught my sister and I how to set up tents that day, a skill that I appreciate to this day. Once our tent was pitched and dinner was under preparation, I was allowed to fish by the shoreline.

There was a number of fallen branches in the water by our campsite. Standing on a rock, I cast my new shiny spoon toward the deep water as far as possible. Casts after casts, I didn't get a bite. Dusk was approaching and the dying light flashed softly off the inside surface of my lure. When I finally decided to cast the lure toward the branch, my poor aim caused the lure to snag. Luckily, my dad came to my rescue and taught me to free the lure by bouncing the line.

To any new angler, snagging a new lure was a very intimidating threat. Somehow, I was adamant to fish next to the fallen branches and willing to take the risk. Perhaps part of me knew that the fallen branches would make fine cover for fish. I made a few casts toward the branches again, snagging once but managed to free the snag on my own. As it was getting more and more difficult to see, I merely had a few more minutes before it got too dark.

And then it happened. I had just cast my spoon toward the edge of the branches, probably as perfectly as I could managed at the time, and started the retrieve slowly back toward shore. The spoon was rocking steadily and the silver reflection was barely visible when the water bulged behind the lure. Instantaneously, the line tightened and I felt the first strong tug of my life. By pure reflex, I pulled back as quickly as possible and started reeling furiously. I was mindful of all the snags and the potential of losing that fish.

Finally, I had the Rock Bass dangling at the end of my line in the air. It was the first time I caught a fish on a treble hook so my dad helped me unhook the fish. I do not remember if any pictures were taken of that fish. I never had any photo record of it. But the memory of watching that Rock Bass struck my lure was as fresh as it could be today. I learned an important lesson that day:

Lesson #2: Take the risk to reach the snaggy areas. Fish are usually found near structures.

That night, we saw the Milky Way, something that was very difficult to see from the light polluted Hong Kong. Some time during the night, we heard a chorus of wolves howling from across the lake. I was a little scared and so was my sister, but my dad reassured us that the wolves were well in the distant. Suddenly, another pack of wolves from our side of the lake responded and they sounded ever so close to our tent. The haunting calls continue to reverberate in my soul today. This was my first experience of the Canadian "wild" and it was a night I will not forget.

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