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April This photo gives a good idea of the fishing conditions
on the lake during high water. This is an old deer trail that is now
knee deep in water. I have caught several bass where that log enters the
water. |
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The fish are usually found in water that is knee deep to
crotch deep. They seem to like to hang out around the trunks of the
trees. As can be seen it is impossible to get a boat back into the
jungle, which allows me to fish untouched waters. |
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This pair of beavers have taken up residence on this old
water skier float. The float washed into the jungle during a storm about
10 years ago. The lighter colored beaver is a female, and the darker one
is the male. |
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They snoozed away while we snapped their photos. We
backed away and on this day the pair never did know we were around.
There have been other days when they have wacked their tail in alarm
after diving off the float. |
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This little bass had big ambitions and swam off with my
tube which was almost as big as he is. When I set the hook he sailed
through the air and over my head. I flip and pitch plastic baits on 6 to
6½ foot rods, but still usually break a rod every
year or two on overhead branches and tree trunks. |
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Here a little bigger fish puts up a pretty good fight
for being on a short line. I use heavy braided line to keep break offs
to a minimum. I still lose many larger fish, but have landed a few that
were around 6 pounds. |
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May 4. My first good fish to come from the lake
this year. It was 19" long, but very skinny. These fish are obviously no
where near ready to spawn, and it is early May. I guess this fish could
have already spawned, but the weather and water were both still quite
cold. My fishing partner, Fudge the Boykin, has really taken to
fishing and loves going in my boats. He is an advocate of catch and
release and gets very excited when I put the fish back. |
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May 5. This one was caught the next day, and was
in better shape than the fish above. It was 19.5" long and had a pretty
good belly on it.
The fish above was in about 3' of water positioned against a floating
log. The fish shown to the left was at the base of a bush that was in
about 6' of water. Both fish were caught on a Senko type bait.
Fudge inspects all fish before their release. |
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May. The lake is an irrigation reservoir and
water levels depend upon the amount of snow that is stored in the
surrounding mountains. This is a view taken from outside the willow
trees looking into the same area where I waded the lake in the photos at
the top of this page. |
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June. By June the willows and cottonwoods have
leafed out and the Swamp Smartweed has begun to take over the flats. At
the time this photo was taken the topwater fishing is terrific.
Fishermen can also swim a spinnerbait, worm or jig through the weeds.
However, shortly the smartweed is so thick that a boat or a wader is
unable to penetrate the heavy growth. Good fishing is still available
along the edges, but my preference is then to spend my time on the
river. |
