A Very Slow Start

Fishing yet another overcast day in the 50's yielded yet another zero.  Fired frogs, flukes, and worms on Sr's pond and nothing but a pickerel to speak of.  Gotta break sometime soon...

(from phone)

First Fish of 2011

2011 is off to a slow start. After pitching a 6 man super skunk in what was supposed to be the FWD Classic, a full 8 hrs of fishing in rain and overcast skies on Long Pond produced nothing. Then, during a 10 minute temporary tease of sunlight I landed three fish in rapid succession - a crappie (aka. calico bass), perch, and large mouth. The crappie was caught on a baby bass jerked around on a 2# Gamakatsu EWG and the other two on a green super fluke fished with a huge 5# hook. So the Crappy's first catch was, quite appropriately, a crappie. Seems that the fish are dying for this spring to actually start too.

I'm digging these rubber fluke baits worked slow and paused, like a perch would behave. Just ordered another round and plan to run a yellow marker along the sides of a few. Also rigged a small octopus hook (also called a finesse wide gap) to about an inch of line connected to the larger 5# hook after getting balled at and nibbled a bunch. Might try a weighted swim bait hook to drop it down some.

I'm thinking that this weekend marks the start of the real season with Saturday and Sunday set to deliver at least a little sun and >60 degrees. Will work some local ponds and expect Tommy to check in with a win or two from the southland.

Probably most impressive are the instant messages from newest member to the FWD team, BL claiming to be scouting some shore fishing spots. I'll post pictures of his new boat shortly after he tries shore fishing.

The Spring Classic That Wasn't

The temperature outside was a balmy mid-60's. Unfortunately, with a water temperature of 48 degrees there was no love to be had from the fishes. Three boats and six men took to the water with high expectations on Fri morning. By lunch time Saturday they had boated one 4" perch, two fresh water clams, and the skirt of a dead hooker. That officially ended all fishing activities and possibly any interest in the sport for the two rookies.

Down but not out, the organizers of the 2011 Spring Classic have changed time, location, and format to rebound from the disaster caused by Tommy's sperm. This year's Classic will be re-held on Father's Day on Long Pond. The tournament will necessary be shrunk to two shifts. All other details to be determined...