I know this may be hard to believe but here the story goes: during a fly fishing session at the lake Rognon (Vendée), I had all the trouble of the world to catch fish.

The day was really, really hot, better suited for swimming than fishing. Anyway, a bass with what seemed to be a strange mass on its back came around my fly, 3-4 times from underneath the water, around 3 or 4 feet deep.

I was going nowhere fishing wise and decided to trade my fishing rod for my camera, to try to get an image of the fish. I have put liquid silicone on one of my flies and dropped it on the water with no line.

After 10 minutes, the fish reappeared, still to deep to be caught on camera. Another 10 minutes passed, I was sweating like being in a sauna and was close to quit, when from nowhere, the bass jumped over the water as if he tried to taunt me. By sheer reflexes, I was able to take a single shot.

When it happened I didn’t have time to realize what went on, Man, what a surprise when a start to process the image to find that the fish was wearing a hat! Totally incredible, insane!

I thought I have seen many things in my life, but a bass with a hat…

On that note, I think I need a good scotch.

Camera: Nikon D90

Thanks to André Bouvrette for his help.

François Meehan