Bluegill Strikes at the End of the Retrieve – Why You Should Always Finish It

Bluegill Strikes at the End of the Retrieve

Why You Should Always Finish It! 🎣 | Average Angler Life

Live highlight from a pond fishing trip where a bluegill strikes right at the end of the retrieve. This is a perfect illustration of why you should always finish your retrieve — you never know when a fish is following!

I share the real moment and the simple reminder that has helped me catch more fish over the years. Whether you’re using ultralight gear, a spinner, or a fly, completing the retrieve can make the difference between a missed opportunity and a hooked fish.

Always finish the retrieve — fish often hit at the last second.

Keep that lure working all the way in!

What’s one retrieve tip that has helped you land more fish? Share it in the comments!

Tight lines,
— Average Angler Life 🎣

Shop My Fishing Gear

Lures & light setups for pond fishing and finishing every retrieve

Visit My Amazon Store →

Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting my content!

Thanks for watching and reading!
Average Angler Life • Real Fishing Adventures

From Backlash to Bass on the Fly — A Two‑Part Pond Fishing Day - Spotify 165

Some fishing days feel like two completely different trips packed into one. This pond session started with a break in the weather and a plan to sight-cast for bass using a BFS setup. Average Angler Life eased up to the water, spotted a fish, made the cast—and immediately blew up the reel with a brutal backlash. The livestream glitched, the line snarled, and the whole moment turned into one of those honest, humbling reminders that gear doesn’t always cooperate.

After clearing the mess and restarting the stream, the day pressed on. But the real magic happened later that evening. As the sun dropped and bugs gathered over the water, the bass shifted into a new pattern—feeding on the surface and cruising the edges. The BFS gear stayed in the truck, and the fly rod came out instead.

What started as a frustrating afternoon turned into a calm, rewarding evening of fly fishing. Soft casts, rising fish, and that unmistakable feeling when a bass takes a fly during a bug hatch. Same pond, same angler, completely different energy.

This two-part day is a reminder that fishing isn’t about perfection—it’s about adapting, resetting, and finding the moments that make the whole trip worth it.

Average Angler Life Gear Shop

These are the rods, reels, flies, and tools I actually use on the water. If you want to explore the full lineup — or support Average Angler Life — the AAL Store is the best place to start.

Visit the AAL Store

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing moments, live sessions, and everyday angler stories, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

Bass With Shoulders — Ultralight Baitcasting Live Highlight

Some bass just feel different the moment they load up on the rod. In this live highlight, Average Angler Life is working ultralight baitcasting gear when a bass with real shoulders shows up. The first hit doesn’t quite connect, but one more cast back to the same spot seals the deal. Light tackle, quick reaction, and a fish that makes the whole setup come alive.

Ultralight baitcasting has a way of turning even a routine pond trip into something exciting. Every thump feels bigger, every run feels stronger, and every fish feels earned. This moment captures that perfectly—a quick miss, a reset, and then that satisfying connection that makes you say, “Got him!”

If you love light gear, pond bass, and those “one more cast” payoffs, this highlight is right in that sweet spot.

Average Angler Life Gear Shop

These are the rods, reels, lures, and tools I actually use on the water. If you want to explore the full lineup — or support Average Angler Life — the AAL Store is the best place to start.

Visit the AAL Store

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing moments, live sessions, and everyday angler stories, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.