Spring Perch fishing at Marsh Creek Lake

March 29, 2017

The water level in Marsh Creek is rising now. It is up 2 feet from last week. Fishing from the rocks at the bridge on Little Conestoga Road today was pretty good. A quick stop at Gordon's Sport Supply for wax worms and I was ready to go. Arriving at the bridge about 9:45 am I was surprised to see no one else. There was a breeze blowing from the northeast but I was protected on the lake side by the raised roadway. Air temperature was in the upper 40's and water was right around 50 degrees.

I set my slip bobber at four feet, impaled a wax worm on a long shank hood and tossed it out. After testing a few different depths I hooked my first yellow perch. Although there is no size limit on perch it was bit to small to keep. I was hoping for a few in the ten inch range to filet for dinner.

Another angler arrived and started fishing on the opposite side of the cut. He also took a number of casts in different directions searching for active fish. He began catching small crappies directly in the outflow under the bridge. Unfortunately they were also to small to keep but he continued to get one on almost every cast.

The bite continued for me but consisted of perch and sunfish. A few other people arrived and began fishing in the same areas. As I was sitting on the rocks enjoying the sun I caught a movement right in front of me. To my surprise a beautiful mink bounced up on a rock, not three feet away, and then slipped into the water and was gone like a ghost. In all the hours that I have spent outdoors in my lifetime this was the first mink ever to cross my path. Sure was a sight to remember and one that will never be forgotten.

Anyway, I did change spots a few times but eventually came back to the rock and caught a few more fish. Ended the day with five nice Yellow Perch and about twenty Sunfish. All were released to get a little bigger. Headed for home at 1:45 pm glad to see that spring is upon us.

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FINDING LOST GOLD IN LOCAL LAKES !

 In this neck of the woods, Southeastern Pa, we have many man made reservoirs that provide a source of water, recreation and flood control. Most are part of the State Park system. In the fall many of them are drawn-down to allow for the spring snow melt.

Usually they will drop around four to six feet which exposes a lot of the fishing structure.  Here is a good example of fish holding habitat that is normally three feet below the surface. I believe it is part of a old building foundation that was there before the lake was constructed.

I always visit one of the lakes in late winter, before the water rises, and walk the shoreline to make note of where these fish holding structures are located for future reference. This one, pictured to the right, is man made and will usually hold fish in the spring and summer. At normal pool level it would be three feet below the surface.



Ah, but there is also another reason that I walk the exposed shore lines.

 With the water low I can usually navigate the bank without worrying about bushes and other normal obstacles. My goal here is to look for hidden treasure in the form of lures that were snagged and lost by anglers during the previous fishing season.

It never fails that I come up with a few nice ones and some old crap too. Sometimes you have to look carefully and other times they just jump out at you. This picture, taken in 2013, shows one of the many man-made rock piles and posts. During normal water levels you would only see a foot or so of the top of the logs. A great fish attractor and one that could hold the riches that I'm looking for.

Finding these lost gems takes patience and concentration. I have learned to look high and low but especially in the prime target areas that I would be tossing my lures if fishing the shoreline from a boat. This picture was also taken in 2013 when the lake was dropped much lower than normal. Marsh Creek lake is full of old stumps like these that are hidden under the surface.

Last week, while on my little tour, my eye caught a bright glimmer coming from a old downed tree that would normally have been in three feet of water. The sun was at the right angle and it was obvious that this was a fairly new lure.  A beauty of a lure just waiting for me to free it from the snag.

 Turned out to be a Lucky Craft Pointer SP 128  in perfect condition.  I also found a few old rubber worms and various other old hooks and sinkers but no other keepers.


 Anyway, the Lucky Craft lure sure will get some new life now that I have it in my tackle box. Pure Gold for sure!

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Is it "Cabin Fever" or "Impatiens Captat ?"

 

"Cabin fever is an idiomatic term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group ends up in an isolated or solitary location, or stuck indoors in confined quarters for an extended period. Cabin fever describes the extreme irritability and restlessness a person may feel in these situations. When experiencing cabin fever, a person may tend to sleep, to have a distrust of anyone they are with or to have an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow, dark or hail."

(Definition from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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 But now I wonder, could there be something else? From time to time, especially in the winter, people claim to have "Cabin Fever" because of the lack of outdoor activities. This no doubt effects anglers to such a degree that they will spend hours on the computer looking at pictures of fish, lures, rods, reels, boats and just about anything that pertains to fishing.

 For most people a temporary cure for this malady is simply going outdoors. Not so for a avid angler! Visits to the local tackle store just make it worse. Driving by the lake only intensifies the sickness. Opening our tackle boxes and fondling the lures will result in flashbacks of fish gone by but will make us even more anxious. The only cure for us is to actually go the lake, river, pond or stream and take a cast or drop a line down the hole in the ice. This usually results in immediate relief from the ailment.

 Once the weather improves normal people rarely complain of "Cabin Fever" due to the regular doses of outdoor exposure. However, anglers are not normal people and there is another syndrome that attacks us, and is even more debilitating than any form of "Cabin Fever". It is called "IMPATIENS CAPTAT" which is Latin for Impatient Angler. Strangely enough this disorder is initiated by actually curing "Cabin Fever!" The initial symptoms, although negligible, sneak into our subconscious minds long before the real dilemma hits us.

 It works something like this... You arrive at the lake just before dawn full of anticipation and a feeling of absolute joy. Everything is going fine, the fish are biting, the weather is comfortable and the sounds of nature abound. Then, without warning, you receive a little message in your head that tells you that all of this will end and you will have to return to reality. Early on, this scant reminder has a very minor affect and is dismissed without a second thought. Then as time goes on and you are engrossed with the adventures taking place it hits home again. A glance at your watch tells you that five, of the planned eight hours, have already passed. There are only three left before it is over! This is when your mind starts haunting you with the realization that the end is near. Thinking about the upcoming deadline begins to overwhelm your thoughts. The final hour is so despised that you may wish that it was here now just to get it over with. Once the closing minutes arrive you give in and commit to that final and last cast of the day.

The moment your line is retrieved and secured is when "IMPATIENS CAPTAT" hits you like a brick wall. You now become impatient and can not wait until the next scheduled fishing day.

 Although you continue with the normal everyday things like family, work, school or whatever, you are obsessed with figuring out when you can go fishing again. People around you might notice your restlessness as you interact with them. Visions of the lake keep distracting your daily activities. Planning your next fishing day is a priority and the thought of any other obligations quickly irritate you.

 These symptoms begin to ease up once you have finalized a plan to get out again. Everyday things become easier to focus on and accomplish. As the big day gets closer you become less annoyed by little setbacks around the house or at work. Still impatient but under control knowing that you will soon be out there again to enjoy the start of another day on the water.

 Many years ago a friend and I were struck with this sickness in the worst possible way while returning from a three day fishing trip to Canada. We had literally fished 22/7 (yea we needed two hours of sleep each night) and could not keep count of how many fish we caught. The fins and teeth of numerous Bass, Walleye and Pike had scarred our hands and fingers till they bleed. We were tired beyond belief. His boat and all our equipment was in need of some TLC. In the middle of the trip home on U.S. 81

we were hit with "Impatiens Captat". We could not face the fact that our trip was over and normal life awaited our return. Our solution or you might say antidote was simple. Right then and there, we decided to not go home but instead head right to Marsh Creek Lake, which was close to home, and continue fishing for the remainder of the day.  We forgot that deep down in the depths of our minds, lurked another round of "IMPATIENS CAPTAT!"


So therefore I give you the first definition for this wide spread ailment called ...


"Impatiens Captat is a term that is used to describe any angler that has finished a day or days of fishing and is somewhat distraught because it has come to an end. When experiencing "IMPATIENS CAPTAT", also known as Impatient Angler, the unfortunate victim initially goes through a period of deep depression. He or she also has a tendency to irritate others by a general disregard for what is going on around them. As time passes slow improvement can be expected but is governed by how soon the ailing person can see that there is a chance to go fishing again in the near future. It is best to stay clear of the sufferer until noticeable change is obvious. You may first detect a smile, be it so slight, or even a sliver of interest in a project that doesn't pertain to fishing. This will be a sign that things will be back to normal soon. As a word of caution it is best to remember that "Impatiens Captat" is bound to happen again and is unavoidable."

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