Across 110th Street

This is one of the largest bass I have ever caught, anywhere. I've fished many largemouth bass heavy waters in many places, but if you take a careful look at this picture one can see buildings on the east side of 110th street. That would be the same 110th street Bobby Womack was singing about. North of that street 'the pushers won't let the junkies go free'. 'Women try to catch a trick on the street'. You might as well watch this to get a little flavor of the contextual life of my bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxCsIX6iU5o&feature=related

Pretty awesome, I know! Though these days 110th street has a few less prostitutes and a few more luxury condos.

The Harlem Meer is at the northern most part of Central Park bordering 110th street on the north side and 5th avenue on the east side. There's quite a remarkable history associated with the Meer including fights over the "vision" for the little lake, an 1812 battlement that never saw action, and most importantly for our conversation now, the sight of the first fly fishing contest in America! What!? I wish I could find where I read this mind blowing fact, but I swear I read it a few months ago. Not the Batten Kill, not the Delaware, not the Beaverkill, but the Harlem Meer! I'll get back to you guys with the truth when I find it.

The Harlem Meer is arguably my favorite freshwater spot in all of New York City. How can it not be when looking at a bass the size I'm holding at the top of this page? A funny side reason my friend Dave and I decided to start fishing the Meer in the first place... One night while watching basic cable or surfing the internet we learned about the ominous and deadly "Snake Head" fish, an invasive species to fresh waters all over the East coast that eats anything and everything. With the fascination and maturity of 12 year olds, we became obsessed, going as far as making plans to become Snake Head hunters. We decided to upgrade some of our gear at Dream Fishing Tackle in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. While there, the stories of the monster were confirmed by the Polish store owner. A snake head was caught in a Queens lake, was wrangled to shore, put in a bucket, jumped out of the bucket, and slithered back into the lake! I swear to God this was what was told to me and contextually, if you were in the store listening alongside, you would have believed this story as much as you would believe the sky is blue...

"Yeah, well... of course... we're talking about a snake head. They can hold their breath for like 10 hours you know. I heard they can fly! Well, not fly exactly, but glide like flying squirrels, except more like killer flying squirrels that eat babies. Yes, babies!! They're from China you know... not the babies, the Snake Head...(etc.)"

Dave and I were psyched, and we read internet rumors of the Harlem Meer being one New York lake infested with a snake head or two. Ripe with blood lust and a yearning to do good for the community, we set out via the 2 train on a most adventurous white whaling expedition.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this story coming to you next week... I swear, no more 2 month waits.