LITTLE FISHING RODS=BIG RESULTS
When my long time outdoor writing buddy Andy Lightbody first sent me a picture of his new EMMROD, a sort fishing rod that resembles a cross between a seventies vintage CB radio antenna and the butt end of an expensive custom fishing rod, I must admit I was a bit skeptical. While filming a TV show at Big Woods on the Trinity in East Texas, Andy found a little spare time to enjoy some catfishing at one of the lakes on the property. As I drove up to the little lake, Andy was doing battle with a chunky 7 pound channel catfish with his little Emmrod. I watched as the coil spring "backbone" of the rod flexed as the fish made several hard runs. Andy and the Emmrod soon had the battle won and the fish was added to an already impressive stringer. Andy let me borrow the rod and I caught a couple of smaller channels. I was impressed with the distance the little rod cast the baits. My goal for this visit to Big Woods was to do a little hog hunting; my first experience fishing with the Emmrod was short but fruitful as I passed the rod back to Andy and headed to my stand to hunt for some fresh wild pork. I liked catching fish with this very portable and very stout little rod. I vowed to put one of the rods to work soon on a lake fishing trip for stripers and catfish.
ON TO LAKE TEXOMA
Lake Texoma is situated on the Texas-Oklahoma border and is chock full of striped bass and catfish. Guide Roger Hill is proficient at catching both species. When Roger called and said the stripers had been on a tear and some impressive summer 'cats were also being landed, I knew the "test tube" for my new Emmrod was a short drive north from my home. I did get a few raised eyebrows when I broke my new rod out of the truck, tied a quick "Carolina rig" and headed to board Roger's boat. As we backed out of the boat house, Roger asked if we might wish to enjoy some very dependable striper action. "Catching limits of stripers has been as easy as getting live shad down about 35 feet in water 60 to 70 feet deep. You ought to give that little rod quiet a workout in the next couple hours.
Our graph marked a few stripers and Roger did a test "thrashing" of the water's surface. "Thrashing" is a tried and proven method of triggering fish to feed at Texoma. As Roger began beating the water's surface to froth with an old fishing rod, we watched the inverted hooks on the graph move upward toward the surface. No doubt the fish were triggered by what they thought was a surface feeding frenzy. We eased the anchor overboard and when the line drew taught and the boat came about into the wind, we dropped our live shad down. What I noticed first about fishing with the Emmrod is the exceptional "feel" the short rod provides. I could actually feel the small threadfin shad darting around below the boat. My first taker was not a big blue catfish but rather a feisty striper, one of four limits we proceeded to put in the ice cooler in the ensuing two hours. "I had a Pfluger Supreme reel mounted to the Emmrod. The reel is relatively small for a bait caster but it's exceptionally smooth drag system and ease of casting made it the perfect companion to the downsized rod.
It took a few fish to get the trick to setting the hook with the short rod. I learned quickly that if I pointed the rod tip down toward the water, I had much more vertical distance to set the hook. We were vertical fishing with the live and our baits were right under the boat. Even the bigger stripers put very little bend in the rod. On one occasion, Roger was watching the rod as a fish pulled drag. "You must have that drag set very light, Luke, the fish is stripping lots of line but the rod is hardly bending." He said. The coiled springs on the rod absorb most of the pressure; the rod's tip will bow but it takes a pretty good fish to pull it down.
After using the Emmrod on a couple of different trips, I have vowed to keep it in the truck at all times. It's ideal for backwoods fishing trips or impromptu outings to the local farm pond or lake. Regardless of its diminutive size, the rod is no toy. I have absolutely no doubt my Mountaneer model, rated for fish up to 25 pounds has the strength necessary to hook and hold a big fish.
Emmrod also offers the Gulf Master that is actually two short rods, the second comes into play when a really big fish puts sufficient stress on the main rod. This is the "heavy weight" of the line, rated for fish up to 50 pounds. These rods are set up to accommodate your favorite reel and can be coupled with anything from a spinning reel to a bait caster. Go online to www.emmrod.com and check out this neat line of fishing systems. Once you try one, I'm betting you will also become a believer.
To book a striper or catfish trip at Lake Texoma, give guide Roger Hill a call at 903-818-3474 www.wheresroger.com. The Light House Resort and Marina is a full service marina on the lake with comfortable private cabins. Call the Marina at 800-300-9300 or check out the website at www.lighthouseresort.com.
Luke Clayton
