Angling is not just about the popular species

My rod doubled over, and I had to keep it from rubbing on the boat's gunwale.

The spinning reel's drag slipped free as line was being pulled out and disappeared into the deep blue.

There wasn't a shred of doubt because I knew I was in to a big fish.

Forty minutes later I still hadn't gotten a glimpse of my opponent.

Another couple of minutes elapsed and I finally got a peek at the fish. It was a huge jack cravalle, which subsequently scaled out at slightly over 40 pounds.

This contest took place just yards from where the mighty Mississippi River dumps into the Gulf of Mexico.

My guide expressed a little hostility and regret that this species took the bait and "wasted" his time. I assured him I was very happy with the great fight that fish gave me.

Photo ace Mike Seeling and I had been chasing big channel and flathead catfish on the Rock River just outside Sterling, Ill. Seeling's rod bounced up and down a couple times and then he set the hook. A short while later, following some real good give-and-take, I netted a 5-pound sheepshead, or white drum as they are sometimes called. Mike was not a happy camper.

During a recent walleye outing on the Fox Chain, a fish slammed the one-eighth ounce jig and leech combo that was being worked in fairly shallow water. It felt like a smallmouth bass on the line, but lo and behold, up came another white drum. But, I really enjoyed the fight because that species offers a far better battle than a walleye.

So here's my question:

Would you rather work a lake and not get hits from the game fish you're chasing, or rather pick up an occasional so-called rough fish that will raise your excitement level?

I personally prefer the rough fish aspect when everything else shuts down.

You see, it's not about the glamor fish for me. It's the thrill of the fight and matching my angling prowess against a fish's ability to elude capture.

When I lived in Minnesota, I was fortunate to have met a river rat named Mike D'Mato. He spent hours on the upper-Mississippi, just inside St. Paul, hunting for big carp. He taught me how to make enticing carp bait. He showed me the intricacies of chumming. My heaviest Minnesota carp weighed in at close to 40 pounds.

And when a fisherman has a fish like that or even one of lighter weight, I guarantee the battle will be something to remember.

Now back to the white drum.

In the Gulf States, the red drum is highly revered. It's also known as a red fish, which became popular table fare after a New Orleans chef started offering his restaurant customers blackened red fish fillets. They went wild over a fish that had been considered at one time to be an upstanding member of the rough fish family.

And finally, I offer for your consumption, poor man's lobster. This is the dish prepared with onions, red potatoes and chunks of freshwater burbot, otherwise known as a lawyer fish or ell pout.

They are absolutely delicious. In Alaska, this species is highly prized as much as salmon and halibut.

Personally, if I'm with another fisherman who makes a big deal about catching the so-called rough fish, I'm satisfied if I don't say another word to him or her the entire day.

To me this sport is about the repetitive battles with any species of fish rather than embracing a snobbish attitude.

angler@mikejacksonoutdoors.com

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