Yikes!
serated hypo needles... Oooh, that makes my skin crawl-just thinking about it.
Glad you liked that. Story behind it was that one time a feller stated that you just couldn't use a big knife to properly do much of anything, and so the next year, I proceed to butcher a deer with my 12" machete.
Just seemed right to filet a fish with an 18" machete to drive the point home.
I usually prefer knives in the 3-5 inch blade range, but I never leave home without one of my machetes, you know.
About 30 yrds. up from that pic with all the splashing, I had ole leviathan nearly pull me from the yak, and break 30lb. spiderwire. Now if I was back home, I'd have assumed it was a small gator, but up here, I'd have a hard time believing that at this time of year. I'm betting it was a bit catfish, but sadly, I never even got it near enough to the yak to see it at all.
Place is hard to get to without a yak. Lots of log jams one way, and sand beds that even my 14ft. Johnboat will ground on, coming from the other way. Just a little island between swamp and main channel about 7 miles down, and 8 miles up. Sure do love camping there, though, just a bit much to get to without having the time to stay all night.