Wednesday, March 18, 2015

First Day on the Local Water for 2015

 photo P3120650_zpsi3ygkt3c.jpg
Joe and I just had to get out and enjoy some of the nice Spring weather we were blessed with this past weekend by Mother Nature. Unfortunately the same Mother Nature that gave us the sunny , warm weather around here decided to turn on the water faucet and create high water conditions on pretty much every one of my favorite Southern rivers and streams. We weren't about to let that spoil our day though , it just meant that we would have to stay a little closer to home and target a few different species.
We started off the day with a sack lunch in the park right next to the first stream I wanted to check out.
 photo P3120636_zpsocullfrs.jpg
Nothing special , but pretty much anything tastes good when eaten at a picnic table under the sun with a good buddy.
 photo P3120641_zpsyd2n9amu.jpg
The first stream we hit was a tailwater below a local reservoir and I was hoping to find a few carp or drum scrounging for food in some of the deeper holes, maybe even a white bass or two if I got real lucky.
 photo P3120643_zpsnl1m11v6.jpg
 photo P3120645_zpsexcsevgt.jpg
Unfortunately the water levels were dismal (we could use some of that rain they got down South actually) and other than a few schools of baitfish and a couple of small sunfish we never saw a thing. It was a beautiful day to be traipsing around a creek bottom though and we both enjoyed the hike and even saw an eagle and a couple of turkeys on our walk down the creek.
 photo P3120647_zpskpu41kqn.jpg
 photo P3120656_zpsem0pny1y.jpg
These are the kind of trips that make me feel like a little kid again. I don't have to be serious about actually catching anything , I can just enjoy walking through the muddy creek bottom with my best friend at my side. We looked for wildlife , skipped rocks across shallow pools of water and just sat on the bank and stared at the clouds in the sky...enjoying the nice day when that's what we felt like doing.
 photo P3120662_zpsttgt68zc.jpg
 photo P3120655_zps5pkibbue.jpg
 photo P3120665_zps5tdlwgoj.jpg
After cleaning the mud off of ourselves we hopped in the truck and headed for a couple of small city lakes that I often fish for bass and carp when the weather starts to warm up about now. The first stop I didn't even take a flyrod with me , we just walked the shoreline scouting for tailing fish in the shallow bulrushes. The story was the same here though , no fish to play with. While we've had a couple of warm days strung together I'm guessing that the water temps are still just a little cold to get the fish moving. We scouted out a couple of new spots that I'll have to come back to once things get rolling and then headed back to the truck for one last stop...the bass pond.
 photo P3120669_zpsbllaf3xe.jpg
I kind of figured that this might be my best chance at staving off the skunk for the day so I tied on a wooly bugger (catches ANYTHING) and we headed down to the water. The water was clear and still felt damn cold on my sandaled feet when I got a little too close. We worked our way around the pond in short order , fishing the deeper sections and shallow areas close to shore , all with the same results as our previous two stops.
As you've figured out by now if you're still reading , the catching part of the day was a bust. That being said , I havn't enjoyed a day of fishing any more than that in a good long while , sometimes it's enough just to get out and soak up some sun with a good friend.
 photo P3120671_zpsxcfml8pk.jpg

13 comments:

  1. hi joe!!!!! joe just makes me flat-out GRIN! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That makes two of us Theresa! I'll be sure and tell the old boy you said Hi (and maybe rub his ears a little as well).

      Delete
  2. Your waters look a lot like my waters Jeff. It was just good to get out, stretch my legs and feel the sun on my back. I sure wish Joe could talk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Come on now Howard...I saw those mountain backdrops and fast moving scenic waters in your last post. I just wish my home waters looked like yours do!!
      You're absolutely right about one thing though , sometimes it's just good to get out and enjoy what Mother Nature has given us.
      I'm pretty sure he'd just ask me for another bite of that sandwich!!

      Delete
  3. If I don't go, even when I know a skunk is unavoidable, I usually just sit staring out the window regretting my decision. You made the right decision.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear ya Drew. I've made that call many times before and regretted it later. There's nothing wrong with a good skunk every once in awhile , keeps us fishermen grounded!!

      Delete
  4. Bet it was nice to get out there in shorts. Joe looks like his happy self.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Man was it Justin!! I get tired of putting on those cold , clammy waders every time I head to the water.
      He's got the same mentality that I do....if you're fishing , Life is Good!!

      Delete
  5. We are 13 days away from the season starting over here. First day will be on the local stream with a good friend. We could sure do with some rain though.
    Tight lines for 2015

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That opening day is always something nice to look forward to isn't it Andy? By that last day before opening the anticipation is almost too much to stand for some of us.
      We're in the same boat around home , I'm almost afraid to wish for rain though because I know when it shows up it'll probably be more than I want. Feast or famine it seems!

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tis the season Jeff! Water will be up and you and Joe will be into all those amazing fish you consistently catch! Look forward to the next adventure and float ya have. As always nice pics! You and Joe make a great team!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks!! It's starting to feel a little like we're turning a corner on the seasons. I think we're all ready for it , although around here we don't really have much to complain about , our winter wasn't too bad. I hope to sneak in one or two more floats for trout and then start focusing on smallmouth for the rest of the summer...I can't wait!

      Delete