hooked
21
July
2009
ing—and usually hook into cats!"
Which begged the question: "So
why do they call it fishing the plops?" I
asked.
"Cause that's the sound the [excre-
ment] makes when it hits the water,"
responded the Texas guide. "You want
to try to copy the sound with your bait
size so it goes 'plop' when it hits the
water."
It was a noteworthy radio show, and
not my last, thanks to my producer's
fast action with the "bleep" button
keeping me one step ahead of the FCC.
"Strip fast!" is veteran 'guide-
speak' for "Set the hook!" Flats fish-
ing guides have learned that if they
yell "Set the hook!" to their angler,
novice fly fishermen—and some
rattled veterans who know better—
will often jerk their rod into the
air to set the hook freshwater-style
rather than pointing at the fish
and pulling sharply on the line to
properly set the barb in the maw of
saltwater gamefish such as bonefish,
permit and tarpon. "Strip fast"
rather than the usual "Strip slow"
is just another way to tell anxious
anglers what to do and when.
house
boat
magazine
READER
SERVICE
NO.
113
READER
SERVICE
NO.
93
