DOUBLE RAIN
On Saturday evening we got four inches of rain. Then Tuesday it rained another five inches. Both of these came in about two to three hour periods. The result is that there are no places to drive into. I know of one tractor that got stuck.
It was a lazy day so the pond to be fished was near the road. Also there was some rain that might hit. Most was supposed to say in Missouri, but the state line is only four miles away. Not sure that the weather radars are that sensitive when we are 60 miles away. If the weather got bad I wanted to be able to get out quick. I got to the pond and saw that the water was not very clear, but not as muddy as expected.
I had a Godlie Jr and a black furled tail mohair leech on the two rods. Bright and shiny and dark to start with so I can let the fish tell me which one they like.
I came in at one end of the dam, and started fishing across the dam with both flies. A few small bass showed interest as the flies were retrieved. I had the black leech almost into the shore when a couple of geese started to fly over. The fishing was so intense that I took time to watch the geese. They came by about 10 feet over my head.
When I started to lift the fly out the water there was this feisty gill on the hook. The fly had been very still and dropping about 8 feet of shore. If it works once then it is time to do it again. Tried it again and got a small bass.
This was the pattern, but a lot of the fish were short striking. Would feel the hit, but would not get them hooked. Tried a fly tied on a longer hook so the end of the tail is near the bend of the hook. The action must not have been the same as the fish did not take this fly.
I would get a few fish to hit at each location I stopped at, and then the action would stop. Not sure if that was all the fish that were there or if the rest of them spooked. The result is the same, no fish taking the fly.
It was time to clear the nostrils, allergy season, and the fly stayed in the water against the bank. When I started to lift the rod there was a fish on the fly. I was a nice crappie that did not have enough line out for me to be able to land it. I tried letting the fly just set near the bank and hooked a few more of these crappie. Tried to let more line out, but the fish were off before I could get this accomplished. I will have to go back with the canoe and fish this area from the water side. Those fish may be a little bigger by the time I get back.
I saw the rain coming and headed back to the truck. Had most of the fish filleted before the rain started. The rain was gentle enough to start with so everything was cleaned, buried and the fisherman was in the house before the heavy rain started.
Had fillets to share and a return visit to plan, since I hate to lose good crappie.
Hope you can get out on the water.
Rick