In preparation, I decided to fly-fish Lake Petocka on Thursday evening for some "legacy trout" that may have survived the Summer. It was cold miserable drizzly conditions, but I dressed for it. I tried two spots. I saw a fish dart away from shore at the first spot. Not sure what it was. At the second spot I landed 2 chunky Largemouth Bass. Then it was too dark to bother, so I went home.
I finished tying up some flies I hoped the trout might be interested in the next day.
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Friday was again cool, breezy and with a light drizzle off and on throughout the day.
Since the trout wouldn't be stocked until noon, I decided to occupy my morning with a goal of catching 100 fish before I headed to Banner Pits to fish for trout.
I visited a local public pond where I had caught 58 fish during my lunch hour on Thursday. Fish weren't quite as easy to catch on Friday morning. I only caught 77 fish on micro jigs before I had to leave for Banner Pits. That total included an even 50 Crappies, 13 Bluegills, 12 Green Sunfish, one Largemouth Bass, and one Yellow Perch. The fish were mostly small. The biggest fish were a 10" Crappie and an 11.75" Crappie. I also lost another really nice Crappie that managed to throw the hook.
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By the time I got to Banner Pits, the stocking truck was about halfway done dumping the trout into the lake. The shoreline was crowded. I picked a spot next to the stocking truck simply because it was the only open space...and it afforded me room to fly cast.
I tried several different fly patterns, and found a few the fish liked. I was soon catching fish. In the next two hours I landed and released 21 Rainbow Trout.
Compared with those anglers around me, I am happy to report that flies outfished PowerBait, live minnows, and nightcrawlers. I could have fished longer...but I felt like I had fished enough for the moment.
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On the way home, I tallied my fish total for the day. 98. So close to 100, it would be a shame to waste that opportunity. I realized I would need to fish one more spot to catch enough fish to push me over triple digits. It was time for the schools to be letting out for the day. I had to take my kids to piano lessons, which lasts an hour, so I decided to wait and fish after I had dropped them off.
I fly fished a public pond I often just drive by. It was still gloomy and drizzling. I donned my rainwear and headed for the water, fly rod in hand. Fishing was slow here. Using a microjig under an indicator, I squeaked out 7 Bluegills, 5 Green Sunfish, and 2 tiny Largemouth Bass. By tiny, I mean like 2" young-of-the-year Bass!
So, those 14 fish put my total for the day at 112 fish and 6 species. Satisfied.
Wish you has the wild large tail water trout I have, but now hardly ever fish for, if you like trout. They do stock trout here also in ponds they will not survive the summer in, in this state never understood that.
ReplyDeleteGregg
I enjoy catching all species of fish, Gregg. :)
ReplyDeleteFor folks that enjoy a more realistic trout-fishing experience, Iowa has the Driftless Region trout streams in the NE part of the State. Brook trout were native to the region. Rainbows and Browns have been "naturalized", and the streams support trout year-round, including some natural spawning. During the cooler seasons, trout are stocked in certain ponds/lakes across the state. The increase in the sale of trout-fishing licenses funds this project. It brings trout to anglers across the state who might not ever take the opportunity to fish the NE Iowa streams.
Although it is considered a seasonal "put-and-take" fishery. There is evidence that some trout survive even over super-hot summers like the one we just had...at least in some of the lakes.
As fishing for our warmwater species tends to slow down before ice-up (although crappies and bluegills can still be caught regularly), I like that the trout are still really active and aggressive.
I enjoy trout, they are what I term my foundation. I like them wild or at least in a very fertile still water that they can grow large in and obviously survive the winter and summer in. We've some of those that have no special regs, but sre so fecund thay can provide large trout that evade the bait fisherman, I like those a lot. The huge desire for trout though and the crowds they can attract is an odd thing for me to wrap my mind around. I know of the driftless region, actually I know of most places trout exist, naturally or exotic now. Somehow I grew away from them here.
DeleteGregg