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I waited until Saturday afternoon to
go fishing. Two reasons, too many
things to do in the morning and the
weather was warmer in the afternoon.
Still this is November and the water
is cooling off.
Headed out to a pond that I have not
been to since I went with Joe Hyde when
he was up to help with the anchoring
system. I have been going to other
ponds. Now I have to be careful with
all the folks out bird hunting. Some
of them do not pay attention to a
fisherman on ponds.
It was a nice afternoon with just a
slight breeze. Just enough to move the
canoe along as I cast to see if I could
find any fish. Since the breeze was
out of the east I went to the east
end of the pond and then cast as it
moved me to the west end.
One of the reasons I chose this pond.
I will admit that I am spoiled by
all of the ponds around. I can choose
ponds that face in all of the major
directions and that have dams in all
of the major directions. I can fish
into the wind or with the wind in
shallow or deep water. It is a
consideration with the two anchors to
not set up cross wind with them.
I had the black leech on that I used
last week and a red and yellow SMP (see
Ricks favorite bluegill flies) on the
other rod. I was using the leech
first. I would feel taps but I was not
catching any fish. I changed to the
SMP and the same sort of thing happened.
I was not sure if it was the fly they
were not hitting well or if I needed
to change size. I went to a smaller fly
on each rod. I changed to a size 12
white leech and went to a size 16 PTN.
I cast the white leech first.
The fly had just hit the water when I
had a small bass smash it. I had to
use the forceps to get deep enough to
get the hook out. This happened another
dozen times. Still, no gills out of this
pond. Time to try the PTN. This fly produced
no action at all. By this time I have gone the
length of the pond.
I head back up to the dam and decide to
try more flies. I tie on a damsel pattern
with dumbbell eyes that will get deep. On
the other rod I put a popping bug with a
midge dropper. I cast the damsel pattern
around the area where I have anchored, but
no luck finding any gills. I thought with
the deep water that they might be there.
I change and cast the popper-midge combination
out. I let this set with nomotion from me.
The waves from the slight breeze move it
a little. I figure I can always add more
action if I want to. In fact I let it sit
so long that I change the other rod to a
red nymph pattern and cast that out,
watching the popper.
Finally I notice that the popper is not
moving at all. Even the breeze is not rocking
it. I grab the rod and set the hook. I have
a nice gill on but it is hooked in the lip.
This fish has not taken the midge as deep
as the fish did during the summer. I begin
to think that I am fishing too fast.
I cast the combo out again and let it sit.
I changed to a nymph pattern that has a foam
underbody on so it will suspend. This is a
fly that I can move very slowly.
I cast this fly out and let it settle. I
notice that the popper is not moving and
set the hook on this rod. I have another
gill on this. Again this fish is just hooked
in the lip. I am getting ready to cast again when
I hear shots to the east of me.
There are some folks over there pheasant
hunting to my best guess. In any case part
of the shot lands in the pond. They are not
shooting at me but it is time to leave. When
I grab the other rod, I find a gill on this fly
also. The slow/stopped retrieve just might be
the ticket. But it is time to go.
After I load everything and head away from
the pond, I see the folks in the other field.
I know that we will meet near the gate where
I came in. I know these folks and they apologize
as they did not know that anyone was fishing
in the pond or they would have never shot in
that direction. I did get three pheasant tails
out of the deal. I also got the promise of more
and maybe a few turkey tails.
Even though I did not get many fish, I think
I came out OK. The chances you
take in the fall during hunting season.
Hope you can get out on the water. ~ Rick
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