Well today I was lookin for a place to fish. All my favorite spots were occupied by worm drowners. Well I struck up a conversation with this ole boy and he gave me info that was golden. We have a local 18 hole golf course operated by the city that was closed down with the opening of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. They still mow it and keep it clean. You see joggers n peeps playin soccer and such. Well like every golf course it has ponds err water traps or whatever ya call em. Well these ponds are stocked with fish. I thought I would give her the ole college try. Nice walk. First cast with a Flash Back Hairs Ear nymph… Big slab Crappie. Well bugger me I thought. Caught a cpl big gills then switched to a Bead Head Crystal Nymph. First Cast… 2 foot Gar. He played me for about 5 minutes then did an auto release so I could go on my way… he also took my nymph with 1 slash of those wicked teeth to make sure I couldn’t repeat that again. I think he knew it was my last one. Well anyway 5 ponds, caught crappie, gills, gar, warmouth perch and largmouth bass. There is another pond way back thats about 40 acres. I hear it is well stocked cept it has those damn bowfins in it.Anywayz, thats the rundown for today.
Oh by the way just a warning watch where you put your feet. Here I was walkin around those ponds fishin my heart out and havin a ball. I always wear my Teva sport sandles when its this hot… 95 at 7:00 p.m. Anyway I felt a slight tingle on my feet, then it got more intense and became a burn. I looked down and there I was with both feet standin on an active ant mound. Not just any ant mind you, but The Infamous FIRE ANT mound. I did a quick drop and roll… oops, wait thats if’n your on fire. Well i started doin a Mexican hat dance at pond side slung those sandles off, dropped, slapped, brushed ,kicked and said " O gosh darn golly gee" (Yeah right). Anyway watch where ya walk…BTW Benadryl spray feels really cool when sprayed on burning ant bites
That’s a scary thought - the only thing I’m allergic to are those stupid ants!
I can’t wear sandals anymore - One bite and I’m headed for ice, Benedryl spray, Double dose of Benedryl caplets, and more ice on the bite. If lucky my foot only swells to double its normal size. If not it’s a trip to the ER!
Ducksterman,
A bowfin is a prehistoric lookin long fish with a mouth full of sharp teeth that eats everything in sight. The pond is landlocked and bowfins are not native to this area. My guess is they were mixed in with the fingerlings when that pond was stocked. I dont thing I want my feet dangling in the water with those things around, so a belly boat is entirely out of the question. The Bowfin is also called a dogfish. [url=http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/bowfin.html:279c7]http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/bowfin.html[/url:279c7]
An abandoned golf course, what a dream come true! Hey, it might be fun to get out there on a dirt bike and cut some dougnuts on the old greens just for spite
If fireants are an issue, try keeping a container of household ammonia handy. It neutralizes the venom if you can get it on very soon after the sting.
There is no flyfishing category that I could see for [url=http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/fishing/:05fbf]Alabama anglers[/url:05fbf]. If they were to set that category up you could go to town becoming a state record-holder in all kinds of categories. Might get some free lunches and speaking appearances lined up until the other anglers start horning in on the record book action
I’m originally from Florence ! Which course did they close? From the type of fish you were getting, it sounds like McFarland Bottom which floods about twice a year.
Hey Buddy,
Yup they closed the golf course at McFarland. AT least they are keeping it mowed. Shoals Creek, I have spent thousnads of happy hours fishing that. Great place to grow up. Glad ta see a hometown fella here.
<><Jim><>
I spent summers on Shoals Creek. We had a lake cottage near Emerald Beach and always had a boat in the water. I learned to fly fish for bream from my dad when I was about 10 (and still have my first rod - a fiberglass shakespeare). Do the willowflys (mayflys for those of you not from Alabama) still hatch in huge numbers and get so heavy they pull the willow tree branches down to the water?
yup Buddy, still have massive willow fly hatches. A couple of years ago, there was a hatch on the main river near Oneal bridge that was so huge, it was causing wrecks on the bridge. Ya know, what is that slippery stuff all over the road. They had to close it temporarily. A cop buddy of mine said he freaked. he got out of his car and was immediately covered with them. He also said that willow flys were hanging from the street lights on the bridge in columns 10 feet long. They blacked out all the lights. Man we are blessed lol
Went back to the golf course yesterday. Only thing I caught was a 5 pound blue cat in my 6 weight. Still a pretty good fight. We are under drought conditions and these ponds aren"t spring fed, so they are slowly drying up. Sighhh.I guess if they do go dry, I’ll have to wait till the winter floods for them to auto restock
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