LAKEZERO❌ LAKEHERO ✅

After a tiring fishing trip, Vin Goes Around and I woke up a little later than planned, around 8 AM, on the final day of our two-day Toman hunt. But when we stepped outside, we were greeted by an overcast sky and a cool breeze. We looked at each other and knew we had to make the most of it. The conditions looked promising, and we weren't about to let that opportunity pass.

We hurriedly prepared our gear while my wife put together some quick chicken sandwiches for us to eat along the way. Of course, on the way to Lakeshore, we had the usual fishing conversations. We talked about the weather, what was inside the sandwich, and most importantly, hoped my wife didn't put any eggs in it! 😂

You know how it goes. One of the oldest angler superstitions is to avoid eating eggs before fishing, or you might end up getting skunked. We weren't taking any chances!

We finally arrived at Lakeshore a little past 9 AM. For those unfamiliar with the place, many anglers jokingly call it "Lakezero." Not because there's no fish, but because getting one to bite can be a real challenge. It's heavily pressured water, and the Toman here have seen their fair share of lures and presentations. Getting a bite is one thing, but actually fooling one into committing is another.

When we arrived, I told Vin that we'd set up our tackles in the car first before heading in. While he was tuning his rod, we were still talking about the weather and the cold breeze and, yes, that chicken sandwich. 😂

We decided to start at the dock near the entrance and gradually work our way towards the far end of the lake.

I told Vin I was going to start by working the bottom with the DUO Realis Fangbait 100DR. Despite the cool breeze and overcast skies, I noticed that the water was still relatively warm, so I figured the fish might be holding deeper.

And boy, did that decision pay off!

It was only my second cast. I was concentrating on keeping the Fangbait in contact with the bottom when I felt two short bumps through the line. I immediately picked up the pace of my retrieve. I had a feeling the fish had already taken a swipe at the lure but missed the hooks. A little more speed, and hopefully, it would commit to the bait.

Then came the third bump, followed by a solid pull!

FISH ON!

I quickly called out to Vin that I had one hooked. He immediately dropped his rod to the side, grabbed his camera from his bag, and started rolling. The result? That awesome footage you guys saw on my page, which Fang Ops also shared on theirs!

What a way to start the morning, especially in a place where getting a Toman to bite is already a challenge in itself.

And it didn't stop there. We managed to hook three Toman that day, all during our final day of the two-day hunt!

For this catch, I was using the following setup:

Lure: DUO Realis Fangbait 100DR

Rod: Fishing Villa Chase Wild Game 610H (New and upcoming model)

Reel: Shimano Exsence DC

Main Line: Villain HD PE 1.5

Leader: Villain 40lb Fluorocarbon

I also want to share my first impressions of the new Fishing Villa Chase Wild Game 610H. For a heavy-power rod, I really like how lightweight it feels. The balance is impressive, both when casting and when loading up during a fight. It feels comfortable in hand without sacrificing the backbone you'd expect from a heavy rod.

A huge thank you to Fishing Villa for giving us the opportunity to test this rod during its early development phase. It's always exciting to be part of something like this!

A special thanks to my wife for preparing our chicken sandwiches that morning. We spent the entire drive wondering if there were eggs in them, but thankfully, there weren't! Looks like we dodged the skunk superstition after all. ❤️

And of course, a massive shout-out to Vin Goes Around for capturing the photos and videos. These moments wouldn't be the same without you behind the camera!

Lastly, to all our friends, supporters, and everyone who continues to follow and support our content creation, thank you! We truly appreciate every bit of support.

Sometimes, all it takes is the right conditions, the right presentation, and a little bit of luck (and maybe avoiding those eggs 😂).

Three Toman in Lakezero. Not a bad way to end a two-day hunt!

May your lines stay tight and your rods stay bent! 🎣🔥