Boated my 1st of the season
Took me 4 trips but I finally got that first elusive calico in the boat yesterday. Took a trip on Friday afternoon and managed to find a couple more trout, basic brookie and rainbow stockers, as well as 2 pickerel. I had an osprey around all evening, too.
Sure is hard to capture a soaring bird with a cheap point and shoot camera. His luck was as poor as mine as I saw him make 4 dives and he came up empty each time.
Yesterday I took an afternoon trip back to the larger water I've begun fishing. Water temps were 65-66. Shortly after getting set up, geared up and with lines out the back I hooked the first fish of the day, my first crappie of the season, about an 8" fish but lost him at the side of the boat! Can't count it if it doesn't at least clear the water on the lift-in or actually make it in to the boat. He hit on the live minnow color BG Stroll'r. I got back to trolling along the weed edge with 3 lines, 3 different baits and 10 minutes later the middle pole loads up and this time, crappie # 1 actually makes it in to the boat; IT'S OFFICIAL!
Only about an 8" fish but hey, it's a start! Over the next 1/2 hour, I manage 2 more of about 10" or so. After that first one, the rest of the fish came on the Southern Pro minnow tube in bleeding shad color. Everything came along that weed edge, nothing from deeper water or the main basin.
I launched about 2:30 and pulled off at 6:15. Overall it was a slow day as I managed to only land 2 pickerel, 2 big golden shiners and one small bluegill the rest of the day. They said the wind would probably change as the low pressure sort of backed in as they said it might and once that wind changed, I didn't land another fish. Wind from the east, fish bite the least held true yesterday. Lots of kayaks out but only a couple others fishing. Late in the day I did have a bald eagle show up and circle around for a long time; that was a nice distraction from the fact I wasn't catching much.
With my area finally getting some warmer weather and with the nights not dipping down in to the 30's perhaps the bite will be a bit better for me from now on. Still hard finding the time to go but I'll take what time I can, when I can.
Yes, I was talking to myself; sometimes even I have to ask for expert advice.