Graham Golas’ most memorable catch was a typical carp.
Preserve that in thoughts. He thinks somewhat totally different for a 13-year-old.
In early January Quinn Wunar messaged on X, “An excellent pal of mine, Graham “Pink” Golas, was affected by cabin fever one thing fierce. So we deliberate a winter fishing day earlier than the ice up. Gave Pink the selection between excessive share fishing (perch) or low share fishing (trout). True angler that he’s, he selected trout.”
To learn how it went, you’ll must learn on. However I’ll give this trace. “The true angler,” Golas, fished in 20-degree climate from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Or, as Wunar put it, “Like a champ.”
Golas’ path into fishing intrigued me sufficient that I reached out. His isn’t the standard path in some methods. He’s didn’t begin fishing earlier than he might stroll.
“Began actually younger, round 6, generally with dad [Matt],” Golas stated. “I finished after I acquired keen on different issues. Now it has taken off [again] and is now one of many my favourite issues to do.”
Golas is a seventh grader and residing in Naperville. Not surprisingly, his favourite spots are “a bunch of various spots close to my home. My favourite might be the DuPage River in downtown Naperville.”
In all probability no shock that his most memorable fish got here from the DuPage River.
“It was not the the most important, nevertheless it was my second time fishing with my buddy [Clark],” he stated. “I connected with the most important carp I’ve ever seen and other people on the opposite aspect of the river simply began cheering and clapping.”
That continued proper up till the discharge. He caught the carp on “random items of corn.”
Right here’s one of many issues I most loved about speaking with Golas. He covers the spectrum of fishing. Fishing corn for carp is among the most elementary methods to fish. But he additionally advanced into tying his personal flies.
The impetus for that got here from fishing the DuPage and paying consideration. “I first acquired into utilizing flies after I noticed rock bass selecting off aquatic bugs that have been falling down,” he stated.
Going to Bass Professional to purchase flies was costly, so he moved into tying his personal flies.
“I acquired a vise and a bobbin,” Golas stated.
Fly tying vises maintain the hook the fly is tied on. The bobbin is a tool used to maintain pressure on the thread used to tie the fly.
“Made an excellent fly for what I’m fishing for, largely foam, rubber legs and bleached elk hair,” he stated. “I put a cut up shot close to the attention and I jitter it again.”
Discover there are a number of species that he fishes for. His favourite is “in all probability a tie between largemouth bass and carp.”
In a whole lot of methods, Golas strikes me as different youngsters. He likes drawing and “generally enjoying video video games. I actually like making issues, simply crafting issues and I like biking.”
Biking is sensible. His dad owns Golas and Sons Bicycle Restore within the South Loop. There’s the join with Wunar, who helps and teaches many, younger and outdated, on fishing the lakefront.
“Quinn stopped by to service his bike, now we’re out fishing generally,” Golas stated.
That brings us again to early January and fishing the lakefront.
“So we set a pair backside rigs with spawn baggage and ran two floats one with a spawn bag, one with a hair jig and wax worms,” Wunar messaged. “Lined a shallow choke level at Jackson [Park] and fished very gradual, very affected person. Pink’s first run in with a salmonoid got here early on. Small jack coho on the hair jig.
“Then nothing for hours. Proper as we have been going to drag the underside rods, Pink observed one had some slight motion. After a pair lengthy runs and some jumps, Pink’s second salmonoid run resulted in a stupendous winter buck steelhead. I’m glad it ended with a pleasant fish and never only a lesson in soaking spawn sacs patiently.”
Extra classes to come back I believe, although Golas feels like he has fishing down proper, “It’s enjoyable to exit on the water, generally with buddies. It’s enjoyable to hook up and after I reel it in, it’s very nice to see after they swim off.”
