It was a clear and sunny day, the kind of day you wait for all year. The air was just right for a day of fishing. While setting in my favorite fishing spot, I kept hearing this splashing, like a fish feeding. I observed the strangest event I have ever seen in all of my years of fishing. I was seeing a buzzard-flying overhead, but each time the large bird cast a shadow next to this rather large stump a very aggressive bass would make a splash. I immediately cast my lure hit right next to the stump, and I waited for the bite. But to my dismay nothing happened. I retrieved my lure and tried again, but with the same results. After a few more casts, I gave up on that fish. I noticed the Buzzard again, and when the buzzard's shadow reached the stump, the bass came out of the water again. I kept my eye on that buzzard, following his shadow. As his shadow approached the stump I made my cast, timing it so as to land the lure at the same time as the shadow crossed the stump. The eruption of that fish was enormous. I felt the tug on the line and set the hook. That bass took line like a south bound freight train. After what seemed to be forever, I was able to turn the fish and get it coming my way. The fish made its first jump, and I could clearly see that this fish was well over ten pounds. The fish made another run, but I was ready and again turned the fish towards the boat. The fish finally came close enough to the boat that I was able to get the net under it. My excitement was uncontrollable; the fish was larger than I have ever seen. I am a firm believer in catch and release, but not this time. This fish was going on my wall.... As Paul Harvey is noted for saying " and here is the rest of the story". I received a phone call some days later from the taxidermist that was mounting the fish. "He informed me that the final weight of the fish was 12 pounds and 14 ounces, that included the "six buzzards shadows found in the fish's stomach"!!!!!!!!!
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