~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The fishing was slow yesterday. We are just getting out of a cold front. Strong winds from the west and cool temperatures seemed to keep the fish down. I cast all sorts of lures from the dock, and was rewarded with a single perch taken on a countdown Rapala.
Today was another story. The winds eased up as a high pressure system parked overhead. I paddled upstream to the Crescent Islands and drifted down stream along the banks.
The shore-side bank has a faster current. I had no strikes, but was happy to see a small pickerel follow my lure. I then paddled upstream and drifted by the island. The slack water near the island seemed to hold the fish. I took a large mouth bass, then a yellow perch. After as few more casts I was rewarded with a good-sized chain pickerel. Another couple of perch.
Downstream of the Crescent Islands is an old pier and some deep water. My first cast into the pool was a strong strike, but I lost the fish. I then took another bass, more perch, and one more bass. My last cast into the pool connected me with a 24 inch northern pike.
I drifted downstream along the far shore across from our dock. Another perch and a rock bass.
I paddled back to the dock. I was happy catching six perch, three large mouth, one pike, one pickerel and a rock bass.
I tossed my lure from the dock. Bam - another rock bass. A baker's dozen! Five different species of fish on the same lure.
A nice couple of hours on the water. Maybe I'll try my action with the fly rod tomorrow...
