An Afternoon on the Local

Finally got my boots (sandals) wet this weekend after a much too long hiatus. Nothing exciting, just an evening spent walking the shoreline of a local city impoundment looking for tailing carp and a little water time on the pontoon chasing surfacing white bass and hybrids.

The fishing wasn't anything to write home about, but after three weeks of being stuck at work an afternoon spent with my best friend and a flyrod in my hand was a very welcome experience.


With the cooling waters the carp seemed to have moved into a little deeper flats as we didn't see too many tailers. Maybe half a dozen small fish of which I was only able to capitalize on one(and I had to cheat and flip an egg pattern to entice him). No complaints here though...after a long dry spell it was just nice to feel that tug again!

The real reason I chose this specific destination though was the chance at surface feeding white bass and hybrids. With the cooler weather, I knew it was that time of year and I'd heard rumors of surfacing fish early and late.

The rumors were indeed true, unfortunately I couldn't connect with anything of any size. I saw several big groups of fish feeding out on the main lake but just wasn't able to move around fast enough with my oar-power to capitalize like I had hoped. I finally gave up trying to chase surfacing fish and just threw a sinking line with a baitfish pattern around areas where I could spot schools of shad.

I ended up with two small whites and one small hybrid, not nearly the kind of success I was hoping for, but still a fun way to spend an evening. The whites and hybrids are definitely in an active pattern from what I saw and I plan to get back out and chase them again sooner than later.

While we didn't set the world on fire in our afternoon at the lake, it was a nice quick fix to tide me over until I can get away for a real fishing trip. Until next time.....

Fall Issue.....So Much Water

I sincerely hope that everyone who reads this blog has been on the water more than I have this past month. A busy work schedule has had me working 3 of the last 4 weekends, leaving me with just enough time to keep things afloat around the house and no time for fishing.
Thankfully the internet is a great source of fish porn when life doesn't allow you to get out and do it yourself, needless to say I've been spending lots of time perusing my favorite fishing blogs and forums to keep the jones at bay. One of these sites is So Much Water, which just released their Fall issue today. Hopefully you've been on the river enough to not require an internet fishing fix, but just in case you havn't some good reads from the latest issue might be just what you need to take the edge off.
So Much Water


For those of you who havn't written me off yet due to lack of recent content, I can promise that the lack of activity surely isn't by choice and I hope to remedy the situation sooner than later. October looks to be a better month for me and hopefully I can get back out on the water a few times. Until then, keep your boots wet and continue to post those trips up...right now it's all I've got!!

Changing Seasons...Four Harbingers of Fall

During my three days off last week I managed to spend some time outside enjoying the refreshing break of cooler weather we've been experiencing here in the Midwest. Throughout the course of those two trips I kept seeing things that, for me anyway, are true harbingers of the upcoming season...Fall. I've said before that Summer is truly my least favorite season of the four, and if that's the case, Fall would have to be my favorite.

While the date on the calendar says September 1st, still Summer according to the meteorological society that decides these things, judging from a few of the signs I encountered during my travels I would beg to differ.
So put away those swim trunks and pool noodles, drag the box containing the fleece jackets down off the top shelf of the closet and make sure your favorite flask is full of something to warm your insides, cause the seasons they are a changing!!
Here, in no particular order of importance, are the four harbingers of Fall I witnessed last week that tell me it's getting really close to my favorite time of year...

1) Empty waters...


Granted that this was a weekday instead of a weekend, but I floated 5 miles of river and only saw one kayaker the entire day. A definite improvement over the past 90 days and sign #1.

2)Lonely rope swings...

I'd venture a bet that this was the first time I havn't seen a half dozen drunk floaters at this rope swing all Summer. Bravo!!!

3)Big campfires and dutch oven cooking...

I spent the weekend at the lake with the family and the fire was actually a welcome source of warmth after the sun made it's retreat. Dutch oven cooking is something I really enjoy, but sitting around a bed of hot coals and cooking large hot meals just isn't the same when it's 100 degrees outside. On the other hand, roast chicken with vegetables and a cherry cobbler for dessert tasted mighty fine on this cool evening.

4)Chunky smallmouth bass on the feed...


These guys seemed to be putting on the feed bag a little heavier after the last stretch of cool weather, let's hope that trend continues!!
So as you can see, there's just no way to deny the fact that Summer is officially over. before you know it we'll all be eating turkey and filling out those Christmas wish lists!!