Improv
11-12-2007, 07:13 AM
Despite recent reports of poor water conditions, slow fishing and the 175 mile one way trip with sketchy weather reports for the weekend, I decided to go ahead with my plans to give this southern lake a chance anyway. I arrived at the lake at 7:00 AM. I good a recent report saying the water clarity was poor, but might be a little better on the north end. So… I drove around the west side of the lake to the farthest north shore. With the lake being as low as it is, I drove the Explorer right down to the shoreline. I stayed about 20 yards from the shore, just to make sure I didn’t get stuck in some unsuspecting mud. However as fate would have it, I maneuvered around a large boulder, which put me dangerously close to the shoreline, and before I could do anything about it I was up to the running boards in mud. Thick, black, stinky cold as hell mud! Tried as I might, I was not going anywhere. I tried digging and jacking up the tires to get stick, rocks, anything that was not mud to give the tires traction – nothing. Thankfully my Verizon phone worked and the Beaver County Sheriff knew whom to call. While waiting for the wrecker, I took advantage of what I was sure was going to be a perfect day, after all I had just given an appropriate sacrifice to the fishing gods (stuck in the mud) that surly they would reward me with an epic fishing day. The sun started coming up and immediately the lake was alive with large dimple wakes and sounds of distant and not so distant fish coming completely out of the water.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w304/improvfisherman/MinnersvilleNov2007-4.jpg
I pulled the boat of the top of the car, which seemed to be a lot easier for some reason, and then I realized the car was a foot lower then it normally would be due to the mud. As I made my way into the water, I thought to myself that If the water clarity was better at this end of the lake, I hate to see what the south end looked like. I was able to get a full hour of fishing in before the moron twins arrived with the wrecker. I didn’t get a single hit in the hour, but was fascinated by the about of rising fish. With my car out of the mud, I could give 100% of my focus on figuring out these fish. I preceded south to the steep rocky shoreline and decided to give the ole’ indicator fishing a try. I tied on a Cheech Damsabaties and a soft hackle sow. With in seconds my indicator dipped – being that there was no wind to speak of, noticing the slightest movement of my indicator was quite easy. I lifted my rod tip half expecting to be hung up on a weed or at best a small chub. However to my amazement it was a nice large rainbow. I apologize in advance for the photo (I hate these types of photos too) but I wanted to show you what this lake is producing despite the water conditions.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w304/improvfisherman/MinnersvilleNov2007-3.jpg
I ended up with quite a few fish on Saturday. Sunday I landed 4 before noon. But would have loved to stayed longer.
This spring the fishing is going to be great!
Ben
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w304/improvfisherman/MinnersvilleNov2007-4.jpg
I pulled the boat of the top of the car, which seemed to be a lot easier for some reason, and then I realized the car was a foot lower then it normally would be due to the mud. As I made my way into the water, I thought to myself that If the water clarity was better at this end of the lake, I hate to see what the south end looked like. I was able to get a full hour of fishing in before the moron twins arrived with the wrecker. I didn’t get a single hit in the hour, but was fascinated by the about of rising fish. With my car out of the mud, I could give 100% of my focus on figuring out these fish. I preceded south to the steep rocky shoreline and decided to give the ole’ indicator fishing a try. I tied on a Cheech Damsabaties and a soft hackle sow. With in seconds my indicator dipped – being that there was no wind to speak of, noticing the slightest movement of my indicator was quite easy. I lifted my rod tip half expecting to be hung up on a weed or at best a small chub. However to my amazement it was a nice large rainbow. I apologize in advance for the photo (I hate these types of photos too) but I wanted to show you what this lake is producing despite the water conditions.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w304/improvfisherman/MinnersvilleNov2007-3.jpg
I ended up with quite a few fish on Saturday. Sunday I landed 4 before noon. But would have loved to stayed longer.
This spring the fishing is going to be great!
Ben