Topwater Chains

The CGR and Chain Pickerel

Last night I was able to visit a small pond near the house.  It is a place I tend to hit more than the rest of the local spots, but for some reason I had not been to since early spring. I threw my small shoulder bag in the truck, and grabbed the 7/8wt CGR. 

I immediately noticed the water had an odd character to it?  There were no bluegill boils to be seen, and tying on a #6 FBC brought nothing. Not even a small gill short-strike. What I did see though were a few instances of baitfish fleeing, which caught my attention. 

Switching over to a Mule Deer Diver proved to be the answer to the riddle. The pickerel were turned on! In a body of water I only tend to bring 2-3 in a season to hand, 5 fish came in a period of maybe 30 minutes.

The largest of the night

Each take was as violent as the next, hitting deer hair bug like a rocket and leaving the water completely.  In the middle of the pickerel I was able to pick up one bass, yet not a single bluegill was to be seen.

They turned off just as quickly as it began with about 15 minutes of fishable light remaining,  But it coincided with the invasion of South Jersey mosquito's so my decision to flee had already been made either way. I noticed as I was half way through de-rigging, the boils on the edges had returned. The sight made me laugh, as I wondered just what life for the pond residents was like for the past hour? Judging by the strikes I managed to get, it must have been a huge sigh of relief when the "ALL CLEAR" was finally given.

Morning Bass

Morning Bass

This morning happened....and at 5:30 I was having a serious discussion with Parkinsons. It wasn't cooperating, it wasn't playing nice, and I was not going to get any more sleep. 

SO...I went fishing.

First Bass of the Morning

The fish were feeding from dawn until about 8:30, but all of about the same cookie-cutter size. They were slashing and cutting minnows, and I was able to get them to take a Black Gurgler with a fair amount of success. 

There was no hesitation on the take and they put on the show. Then when the sun began to heat up.....they stopped. But that worked because I was shutting down at 9:00 either way. When I got out of the water, my feet still hurt....but I had caught well over a dozen fish on the surface. A fair trade in exchange for not being able to sleep.

The Gurgler

SUMMER BUGS

Pond Running on the Clock

CGR 7/8 & Mule Deer Diver

While shuttling my youngest to an event last night, I was afforded a chance to hit a nearby lake for about 1 1/2hrs before I was needed again for pickup.  Tying on a Mule Deer Diver, the CGR 7/8 hit the water.

The night was a bit slow for this water, but through the short visit I managed two 9" bass, 1 cow of a female bluegill and 1 decent bass. The blue\gill was a good 10"+ and she ran me around a bit even with the 7wt. Eventually she bogged herself in grass and I was able to drag her in grass and all. While clearing the grass she dropped off. She was pale and heavy with little to no color except for the gill plate.

I nice stop for a quick fix

Fishing Creek Rainbow

Fishing Creek, PA

23" Rainbow

Feb, 16

#14 Apricot & Steelhead Orange McFlyfoam Egg

No Fishing Today Buuuuut.....

Forecast over South Jersey this morning was, "Partly Cloudy with a chance of old fat men".

My daughter got me a Jump for my 53rd B'day, and jumped tandem as well. It was an unbelievable day! 19 Years after my last HALO jump in uniform, Freefall jump #50 is in the bucket.

Blue Winged Olive Spinner

Blue Winged Olive Spinner

The Blue Winged Olive (Baetis) is a key hatch through September/October. This version of the spinner pattern is by far my favorite and most productive.

BWO Spinner Recipe

Hook:  #16 Orvis Tactical Wide Gape

Thread:  8/0 Olive Dun

Tail:  Medium Pardo CDL 

Abdomen: Tying Thread

Thorax:  Peacock Herl

Hackle:  Silver Badger 

Back Home!

Back Home

Well, the week flew by. a great time with family. Fishing was poor due to the tides and pretty severe rips. But we did manage a half dozen sand sharks and 1 kingfish. All of which was superficial since this was my grand-daughters 1st time at the beach.

Which made everything priceless