Christmas Paddle

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We are collectors of Christmas ornaments.  This year we bought a few to remind us of the wildlife and paddling on our river.

It started as a nearly white Christmas.  A few overnight flurries had coated the ground, but it was just above freezing and the snow was melting.  I decided to get one more paddle in before the end of the year.

The skies were grey and leaden.  It was very quiet on the water.  The only sound was that of honking geese and traffic in the distance.

As I worked upstream I came across three blue heron standing by the river.  Two immediately flew off.  I was able to grab a shot of the other, though from a far distance.  I am surprised to see them all year round.

I paddled to the turtle marsh.  The winter winds had already beat down the cattails by the water's edge.  There was a curious white mound ahead.

It was a muskrat den!  I am not sure why I had not seen it before.  It may be a new one - maybe constructed in the late fall.

I headed back downstream.  I noted a curious white patch on the trunk of a tree that was overhanging the river.

Looks like beaver have been gnawing on this tree for a snack!

I hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a prosperous New Year!

Spring Music

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It was a cool late winter morning.  The sun was out, but clouds were drawing in.  I paddled about, more interested in just being outside than actually going places.

I then heard it.  The sound of spring.

I was the call of the red winged blackbirds.

"Spring is here!  Spring is here!" they say...

Welcome back my old friends!

Over Winter's Hump

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The first of winter's snows settled on the river, covering the backs of the geese in a cold and icy blanket.  In time, the cold settled in.

January brought in bitter cold weather.  The river runs very slow in the winter.  One morning we awoke to a smooth, frozen surface.

With the cold, more snow accumulated, though we never had more than a foot it seems.  We have a number of  stray cats we see about.  They seem to find a way to cope.

By mid-January, we were in the deep of winter.  It will be some time before we can relax on the dock (though I catch myself walking out to the dock and taking in the quiet).  Still. the weather has been brutally cold.

A another snow, and new crystals of ice sparkle in the low morning sun.

All is not dead or silent.  As soon as the snows eases and the sun appears, the birds are about.

The days lengthen and the sky is that much brighter.

We have a few warm days, and the snow and ice melt.  The geese return to the river.

I am amazed how quickly a few warm days change the world.  We look forward to the cardinals.  They are a welcome splash of color.

The birds start to appear more numerous.  There is a hint of change in the air.  The brutal cold has left.

I decide to get in a little paddle.  The waterfowl is coming back.  I see some hooded mergansers off in the distance.

The geese are more active - flying from lake to lake.

The turtle march is still iced-in.  It is shallow and freezes easy.  But it will be the first to warm ans attract the early season bass and pickerel.

I never know what I find, even in late February.  I finally got a good shot of an American mink.

I think the back of winter is broken . . .

Chasing Walter

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In the movie 'On Golden Pond' the Henry Fonda character talks about trying to catch Walter, a huge lake trout.

I think we all have our Walters.  Mine is a 4 pound smallmouth.  Every year I seem to hook a large smallmouth  or two, but never land one.  I have had broken lines or jumping fish throwing the lure.

I lost a Walter 2 weeks ago.  I had the drag set just tight enough to allow him to pull line without trying to come to the surface.  I played him for a while and had him next to the boat.  I could see he was about 19 inches long.  As I reached for my net he gave a shake and was off.  Son of a ....

I keep trying.  I paddle out at first light.  I work the abutments of the bridges.  I slowly paddle to the bridge and scan the surface.  It is calm and weed free.

Don't rush it.  Patience.  Patience.  I need that perfect cast - downstream right where the surface of the water hits the bridge abutment.  I take my time and cast.  The lure hits the water within inches of the abutment.  SLAM!  Fish on!

It jumps and then takes some line - but it is no Walter.  The fight is good and I am able to get him in the net.

A  nice 11 inch smallmouth.  Not a Walter, but it was a chance to practice and perfect my skills.

I'll keep trying ...

Blowout

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There is a reason I call this the Brown Water Journal.

A heavy rain caused the river to rise.  It was blownout!  There was so much runoff the river stayed very brown and turbid for several days.  Not so good for fishing.

Nature keeps going on.  I decided to paddle upstream to see how things were going.

Off in the distance I saw a blue heron - but there was something peculiar about his head...

Look like it was  having a bad hair day!  It must have just caught a fish.  It kept its mouth open the entire time I was watching him.  I wonder if it was now going down well.

There were more blue herons about.

The ducks were still waking up.

Though I wasn't fishing, I was so lucky to get a shot of a green heron...

... and a kingfisher.  What a treat!

The osprey were on the nest taking care of the young.  We have seen 2 young birds,

Such beautiful birds.

A killdeer was nosing around the shoreline.

There are times you come across scenes in the river.  I guess someone likes to sit in the river - maybe some evening fishing?

This heron was being very sneaky lurking under a bridge.

Off in the distance I saw several large birds.  Coming closer I saw they were vultures.

Another blue heron.  He had just caught a fish.  He dipped it into the water a few times, and then...

... it was down in a single gulp!

The Canadian geese are about with there babies.  As the goslings get bigger, the geese group together in large family groups (we have seen as many as 60 at once)!

I was surprised to see such a young family.

So cute!

A beautiful day!

Enjoy!

Rule of 50

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Since we bought the river house, I fish a lot.  I mean a lot - pretty much every day in the weekend.  Sometimes its 15 minutes on the dock, but more often it is about 2 hours in the morning from the kayak/

I have come to formulate a theory - the rule of 50.

For every 50 smaller fish, you will catch a big fish.  For every 50 big fish, you catch a very large fish.

Does it work?  Well, I have been catching a dozen or more small fish each outing.  It seems every four outings I get something larger.

Case in point, last weekend I finally hooked into some decent smallmouth.   The one on the right is 10 inches and about 2/3 or a pound.  The one on the left is 14 inches and about 2 pounds.

I figure I have a few more weekends before I see another 2+ pound fish...