My Day Fishing

I decided to take a few minutes just to wet my line at the lake yesterday during lunch. I figured I'd only be there for about 45 minutes because I didn't want to overextend my lunch break. Since I only had a few minutes, I figured, "Go with what you know." So I T-Rigged a ribbontail and started working it like normal.

I fished that way for about 30 minutes, but then started thinking that the water is pretty warm now, and a friend Chris from work who fishes here a lot says the bass are going for faster prey now. So I decided to start fishing like an idiot. And wouldn't you know it....?

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There is a private lake nearby that I've fished once before on Father's Day with no luck. Yesterday I had a chance to go back there and spend a little more time trying different things.

I remember thinking last time, "I should have brought a second rod rigged for bluegill." This time I did bring that second rod. I started out fishing the main dock area. I didn't catch anything but I had a blast just playing with the bluegill. It's a little trickier to catch them when you're using some kind of plastic bait instead of hotdog. They don't hold onto it as long, nor attack it as hard. I was using a small piece of power worm, dropping it in the water just off the edge of the dock. Each time dozens of bluegill would come up and go crazy, but none would hold on long enough.

I moved on and started making my way around the lake. My first success came at a little inlet. There was a lot of vegetation because of the inlet and I thought I'd at least see a couple of bluegill. I tossed my bluegill line out and saw my bobber duck a couple times but I think it was just a turtle. Then on one of the casts I began to reel my line in a bit faster in order to re-cast and that was all the tempation a young bass needed. He bolted out of the vegetation, grabbed my little power worm, and was in my hand in a matter of seconds.

Later I found another small dock and played with the turtles a little bit there. After moving around to the other side of the dock I caught a small bluegill that nearly devoured that little power worm.

Moving around to the other side of the lake I found another dock (many of the homes that back up to the lake have small private docks) that also had some tall vegetation growing up out of the water. It looked like perfect bass habitat. But apparently I was wrong or they were smarter than I am.

My last catch was another young bass (not quite as young as the first) that wanted to eat my Senko out in the open water. Turns out he wasn't the only creature interested in that bait. I let him go and was still in the same spot when a huge bird of prey came out of the tree right above my head. I'm not sure what he was, but he had a wing span of about 6 feet. He had been watching my plastic worm come up near the surface then sink back down and wanted to get a closer look. He flew back and forth over the spot I was fishing, checking me out and watching for that worm. Eventually he lost interest and took off.

It was nice to have some success at that lake. You can only get skunked a couple of times at a new location before thinking, "Ah, there's nothing here" and losing interest.

I'll go back soon.

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We just got back from visiting my dad up in Idaho. It was great to see him again, and to see my brother Larry and his family again also. We only get a chance to see them about once per year, so we always enjoy our time with them up there.

This year I wanted to take the opportunity to do some fishing up there also. What beautiful country!

I had to pick my son up from Boy Scout camp on Saturday morning, so I thought I'd head up early and try out the small lake that is near the camp. I arrived at 6 am and everything was nice and quiet. It really was quite beautiful.

What a fantastic morning. I caught my first bass after fishing for about 30 minutes. In the next hour and a half I caught 3 more for a total of 4. Plus I caught them on 3 different types of bait. One on a jig, one on a spinner bait, and the last two on a Berkley craw.



There was plenty of action. I was feeling smaller bites all over the place. It was also cool to watch as the fish would strike the insects on the surface of the water. I think fly fishing here (for those who know how) would be a lot of fun. (hint hint hint)



Twice I got to watch as the bass came out of the depths to hammer my bait. The best was the very first one I caught. I was flipping a jig near the shore and was popping it off the bottom as I retrieved it. When I had it almost all the way in, I popped it a couple more times directly under the tip of my rod with my line vertical. The jig came up just under the surface and had just started its decent when a bass struck like lightning. I didn't even have to set the hook. He struck so hard and fast that he set it himself and I just lifted him straight out of the water. Very cool to see.



It was also nice to fish a natural lake for a change.  All the stuff I've heard and learned about visualizing the structure and contour of the floor of the lake based on the surroundings actually came in handy. I was able to take a look at what the hills and bushes did naturally and picture what it was like underwater. The lake is set in a steep valley between two peaks, so as I analyzed the bank, it wasn't difficult to see where the lake gets deep quickly and where it's more shallow.

I fished for about 3 1/2 hours, and caught 4 bass on 3 different baits on a nice, beautiful, quiet, natural lake.  By far one of the best fishing days I've had yet.

Next time I'll have to bring someone to share it with.

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