Let the Games Begin!

I couldn't stand it anymore - the forecast was for 70 degree + weather today. No snow. I HAD to get out and fish. But, I have very vivid recollections of getting shut out and completely frustrated on days similar to this in the past. You know the days - the unseasonable warmth after a long winter. The sun's rays belie the frigid water temps - ice out was only 2 weeks ago. But I HAD to give it a try. So I hit the ponds over lunch.



A picture of the best fish I've ever caught - the first one of 2010


Well, the weathermen were wrong. It was a nice day, but the wind was howling out the SW, and the temp never scared the 70 degree mark. But the SW wind was blowing the water from the very shallow end of the pond toward the deeper water around the dam. I figured the fish might be along the dam as well. They weren't, but I found willing bluegills in about 3' -4' of water. A Cubby mini-mite suspended about 18" below a bobber worked it's usual magic. The waves imparted all the action you needed. 10 minutes yielded a hit per cast, and 5 small-ish gills brought to hand. I have never been so happy to see small bluegills.

I decided to try the lower pond for the next 20 minutes. This is the pond that holds trout, crappie, and walleye as well as the usual 'gils and bass. It took a few minutes to find the fish, but I did figure them out, and ended this part of the afternoon with 6 nice bluegills, 1 crappie, 2 trout (about 16" each) and a surprise largemouth that was heavy and between 16" and 18". The hook slipped out just as I was ready to lip him (her?) and get a picture, so you have to take my word for the largemouth.



Crappie




Trout

It looks like there will be plenty of posts to come from the ponds this spring and summer. I want to follow Butch's lead and try to incorporate at least 2 non-fish pics into the posts as well.

Looks like the summer of 2010 has begun!



I'll leave you with a few pheasants I saw on the way out. Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them.