Back to School “Big Bass”

Just before heading back to school, 9-year-old Austin Curtis Johnson hooked into a big one. While fishing with his Papa, local businessman Dwight Roberts, Austin threw into the deep water a wacky rigged Senko 6” root beer colored worm. Not long before, his rod tip took a dip, signaling a bite. His eyes sprung open with surprise as he tightened his grip on the rod and began to reel. “Fish on Papa!” Austin yelled as his poll bent toward the water, indicating that this wasn’t just any little fish. It was a big one.

His Mom, Chase Johnson, quickly jumped into action, grabbing the net. As Austin reeled, the fish quickly rose and breached the surface only a few feet from the boat. He reeled it closer and closer within his mother's reach. In the final moment, just as he lifted the rod to bring the fish closer, she scooped the net under the fish, and the hook came flying out, but to their surprise, it fell directly into the net!

As she pulled the net back in over the rail, Austin couldn’t believe his eyes…a 5lb 5oz largemouth bass filled the bottom of the net. The biggest fish he has ever caught in his life, all in front of his mom and grandparents, Dwight and Julie Roberts. The other kids on the boat quickly ran to his side, surprisingly not to take a photo but to grab their poles and get a line in the water, but Austin knew they didn’t have a chance to beat his massive catch as he sat down with a comfortable smile filling his face.