Fished Allum Creek Res. in central OH 1 week ago today just after the rainy morning cause I had half a day off. I got into the float tube at about 3:30 in the afternoon just as the sun was trying to peek out of the rain clouds. I was totally alone. Not another soul around. “This,” I tought, “should be good.”
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I could see a lot of little gills hitting the top, but couldn’t see what they might be chasing. I saw a lot of hoppers in the grass on the walk down to the water, so I thought something along those lines might work out. I decided to tie on a green humpy in a size 10 hoping to entice the bigger gills and then put a PTN dropper underneath that. I kicked out in the more wooded area of the bay, thinking that the fish might love the cover.
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I had a small hit on the PTN, but missed so I cast into the trees again and had something almost yank the rod right out of my hands! It was on for 2 head shakes and then gone with my fly. In my excitement I tied on another PTN to the same tippet (6x) and the same thing happened on the next cast. Realizing I’d acted a little too quickly without thinking, I tied on some 3x and another PTN. This time, it yielded a little 8 in gill! Hah, not the fish I was hoping for. I stopped and analyzed then that each of those hits had happened when my Humpy sank a little bit, telling me that the fish were cruising a little deeper than I thought. I quickly removed the humpy and tied on a #4 black bugger and the PTN dropper again and started trolling. [url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2569711070101442662nXeoad:7555a][/url:7555a]
After kicking for a couple minutes I stopped to make sure I wasn’t about to run into anything and after checking over my shoulder started kicking again. I had another monster hit, but missed the hook up! Dang! This is getting old. I stopped, recast (as I’d pulled the flies out of the zone) and let em sink for 30 seconds. On the second strip-stop-strip, it hit again and I buried the hook. The fight commenced and after a little battle and a great aerial show that could have rivaled any smallie, this LMB was brought to hand. [url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2291718260101442662prRjxB:7555a][/url:7555a]
I was feeling pretty good and started kicking around again. Shortly thereafter another hard hook up resulted in the first fish’s twin. [url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2770902840101442662MogRiV:7555a][/url:7555a]
I kept trolling and lost a few more flies to submerged snags so kicked out a little ways to another spot. Nothing found in the middle, but a few good pictures. [url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2864192410101442662mUBUYx:7555a][/url:7555a]
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This little cove looked very promising so I threw it in. [url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2555790090101442662RVoIrx:7555a][/url:7555a]
On the drop I had the hardest hit of the day and its a good thing I had a tight grip on the rod, or it would be gone for sure. This fish fought different. No head shakes, or aerials, just headed down deep and stayed there. This thing found a spot and wouldn’t budge. Finally I kicked over a little bit, changing the angle and it sprung free. It circled me once turning me around 360 degrees and then finally started to tire. Just when I thougt I had it up close enough to see, it shot back down again and the fight continued. 5 or so minutes later (that is a long time for me!) I netter a 19" catfish. This thing took my bead head copper john and was not about to let go (like he had any choice!). Sorry no picture. It was exhausted from the fight and laying upside down in the net, so I quickly revived him and sent him on the way.
I paddled around a little longer not having any action, and decided I’d had a good afternoon. I’d caught a hand full of gills, one little crappie, a couple nice bass and great catfish. Not to mention, I’d taken some great shots with the camera. [url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2512192750101442662mEYdmW:7555a][/url:7555a]
With all the work that you put in writing this post (plus shooting then clipping those photos) you ought to be contributing stories to the Warm Water features column.
Give it a think. The Features categories are more fun for everybody when more writers contribute. You can do this!
Joe, thanks for the words of encouragement. I just may have to starte contributing a little more. My only problem is that I just don’t get out as much as a lot of guys. With a couple little kids (one is only 3 weeks old) its hard to do much but feed em and change their diapers. Maybe my next trip out though…
Like so many other impoundments in Ohio, I see that Alum Creek is also at very low pool, and much of the shoreline structure is now revealed. This is a good opportunity to create a photo diary of the lake so when it comes back to full pool, you’ll know where the structure is at. Just a thought to ponder.
Great photos…I looked at your whole gallery in a slide show. Made me think about playing hooky and going fishing tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your outing with us. I seem to fish vicariously through good folks like you lately, which makes the time between outings a little more bearable. Keep up the good works and keep those babies happy, too.
Joe V,
Thanks. The babies are doing good. The younger one is just about ready to be beating up his big brother and I’m counting down the days until the older one can come fishing with me. Sure hope you can get up to Chrome alley and knock em dead here soon
Chromers are in the system, and have been for a couple of weeks. We had a little rain this week and added some water to the rivers, but the Chagrin is already back to low water conditions. The lower stretches are fishing well from Toledo to Erie. A friend called me on Sunday to let me know he kept a 10-3/4# hen for eggs and the smoker.Got it at the soccer fields on the Chagrin. The Grand has fish up to 84 and a bit beyond. I haven’t crossed it lately to see if it benefitted from the rains. One good rain and they’ll be up to Harpersfield in a heartbeat. Then the crazies will come out in force.
I don’t fish much for steelies anymore, mainly because of time and the “idiot” factor that permeates NE Ohio streams.
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