ACCIDENTAL BAITS !

  Searching for the perfect lure or bait is confusing to say the least. There may be times to just let Mother Nature take over for you in this quest. This is not a lesson in "Match the Hatch" but more of a "I can't believe I caught this on that". My good buddy Rick has a story that he tells over and over when he gets the proper opening. It goes something like this...

 "I was fishing with my cousin at a farm pond one evening. My cousin was kinda new to all this but ready to learn. As darkness was moving in I knew the bass should be in a feeding mood. Cast after cast went unrewarded until one of my cousin's flailing attempts went higher than it did further. The trajectory of the lure attracted one of the little brown bats that fluttered about. Getting hooked in mid-air, this creature of the night came down with the weight of the lure. The crash landing, in the water, was more than the normal uncontrolled flight pattern of bats. This left the little bugger, with lure attached, flopping around and squealing quite loudly. The whole incident was unexpected and left my cousin in a panic. He quickly turned to me and said, "What do I do now?". Without hesitation I ordered, GIVE ME THE ROD ! Seconds later a five pound bass hit the bat and was hooked with the entangled lure."


 Seems that a pattern has developed that, among other things, always includes an arrant or unintended cast. As is the case in this next little tale...

 Some years ago, during the "Spring Crappie Bite" I was being successful with a small jig head tipped with a rubber grub. The Crappies were congregated under the overhanging bushes as they often do when in spawning mode. This made it a requirement to cast precisely at the very edge of the bushes. Well it wasn't long before the inevitable happened. My tiny lure landed a bit further than planned and snagged up in the flora. Now since these lures are pretty much "a dime a dozen" there was no need to move closer to the target to retrieve it. That, of course, would have also spooked the school of procreating fish. So I figured a few quick tugs would either snap the light line or free the lure. The latter being the result with the addition of a leaf that remained attached. The kenetic energy of the line springing back sent the lure with the impaled leaf over my head and twenty feet to the rear of the boat. So, ok I thought, just turn around, reel it in and all is back to normal. Well since the leaf gave the lure a bit of buoyancy it remained on top as I retrieved it. Just about back to the boat is when I saw the Musky following right behind. All I remember from that point is the terrific swirl, the swoosh and the snap of my four pound test monofilament line. Ummm, now what kind of leaf was that?


This last fish story is one of hearsay but worth repeating so here goes...

A lone fisherman on a Canadian lake was watching a black squirrel pick nuts from the very end of a low overhanging branch. The weight of the animal had the weak limb bent and nearly touching the water. To his amazement a large Northern Pike jumps out of the water, snatches the unsuspecting critter and disappears into the depths. The old man is flabbergasted by what just happened. He returns home, calls his buddy and relays the details of the just witnessed event. The following day, on his pals insistance, the man takes his buddy back to show him the scene of the crime. To their astonishment, as they paddle around the corner to view the tree, there is that darn old pike putting more nuts on the end of the branch!


Thanks for reading ... "ONE CAST ... ONE FISH !"

My "Fishing" Bucket List ...

I was recently getting bored with my life and decided to see what was not checked off on my Bucket List. My intention was to find something that would excite and motivate me. I wanted to again feel the anticipation of what was to come. So, looking forward to the preparation stage of whatever was next, I reached into my dusty, if only imaginary, bucket.



Most folks have a diversified list of things they want to do before the final day. My collection has only one theme which is of course Fishing. It is, however, a mixed bag of where to go, what to fish for, whom to fish with and what to visit. After my many years of enjoying this sport I have crossed off quite a few things. Now all I wanted was something that perhaps has eluded me or maybe a forgotten quest that was still actually feasible.I knew there must be something left at the bottom.

Gazing at my list brought back memories of the things that had been done. Recalling some of the accomplishments, now check marked, slowed me down a bit. From catching my first fish as a child to now proclaiming that " I have the burning desire to go fishing although I know, that if I never catch another fish that I have caught enough fish". There were simple things done and others that required intense planning and a never give up attitude.

I was able to close my eyes and relive some of the trips to lakes in Florida, North Carolina, Minnesota, Michigan, South Carolina and Tennessee. Also, the first of many trips to Canada.








A trophy Walleye, Musky and Steelhead also had the telltale check-mark beside them.

Starting a guide business, which led to meeting and fishing with well known celebrities in the fishing world had also been checked.

 Could it be that there was nothing left? That thought brought me back to reality and it was time to look further down the list.  Ah, yes my boat which I was thrilled to get and more thrilled to get rid of!

Although it is probably fun to fantasize about doing things that really will never happen I have my limits. Some goals are set high but all have a real possibility. At my age I know that kidding myself is crazy.

 Sure enough, at the bottom of the list are two things without checkmarks! I fumble for my glasses so that I can read them and hope they are still in the realm of possibilities.

 The first item is one that has been haunting me for many, many years. It simply says "Go to Florida for Bone Fish". Ummm... perhaps a guide down in the Florida Keys will read this and send me an invite for a all expense paid trip out on the flats. Hey, it's possible!

 Next is a more recent wish that I have tried but yet to succeed in. Again simple in words it says, "Catch a Lake Trout". Since my best shot at this is in Canada during ice fishing season I will plan to try it again next season.

Bittersweet it may be but I'm glad to see the list almost complete. My plans at that point would be to not add new stuff but pick out a few that standout and do them all over again!

                                But I ask .... No one really has a bucket do they?

FLEA MARKET FISHING ...

Fishing at Flea Markets

 I have the ability to smell fishing gear at flea markets or yard sales the moment my foot steps from the car. The first visual signs usually come by my line of sight being above the crowd and scanning for fishing poles in the upright position. Once I spy them, get out of my way because I'm on a mission!

 Sunday mornings usually begin with a trek to Jake's Flea Market just outside of Boyertown, Pennsylvania on Rt. 100 North. Jake's has weekly vendors and also one time sellers that display whatever your little heart desires. I only mentioned Jake's because it is pretty close and convenient for me. There are, I'm sure, a few other ones that could hold great fishing treasures also.



 Each new season usually yields an abundance of used fishing equipment. Almost every type of rod, reel and lure can be found and purchased for a fraction of it's original price. Once you find what you want don't forget to negotiate for just a little better price.

 Buying at a Flea Market usually means no returns. With that in mind you should take your time and inspect things very carefully. Tackle boxes will be displayed with or without lures. Look at the hinges, snap locks, trays and especially the corners for any abuse. Rods can look nice at first glance but again be aware of worn line guides, reel locking mechanisms, cracks, scrapes and loose handles. Rods with cork handles need special attention to make sure the cork is not split or loose.

 Lures are pretty simple unless your looking at the vintage or antique ones. Rubber worms and other creatures should only be purchased if they are still in the original manufacturer's package or at least in a well maintained plastic box.



 Reels can be tricky. There are so many possible reasons that a used reel is not up to par. I rarely purchase a used reel but I'm not saying you can't find a good one either. If what you want has some damage but still usable it will give you the advantage to haggle a bit.

 Last week I picked up a nice box of assorted rubber crayfish and frogs (see picture) for just seven bucks. If I would have had more money it could have got crazy because this guy had a ton of similar stuff that made me weak in the knees.

 Next I found a vendor with a pile of fishing rods. I found one that I really had to have and it was tagged at eighteen dollars. After my inspection I made my offer of twelve bucks. He countered with fourteen and I agreed. So for twenty-one greenbacks I took home what would have originally cost over sixty hard earned dollars.

 

  A few notes about Jake's Flea Market or any other one that you should visit. Try to arrive early for the best selection. Usually by 7 AM everyone is set up and ready to sell. Many of the vendors will pull up stakes by Noon if the weather is hot. Walk the rows of tables in some controlled pattern so that you don't miss anything.


 Look at all the tables because sometimes a fishing item can be hiding where you least expect it. Most items are negotiable but at times just fondling an item will get the seller to come down in price without you saying a word.

 There are usually many yard sales in the area but it takes a lot of running around to find any fishing gear. If your looking to add to your existing tackle or need a few things just to start out a good flea market can be the best spot.

  So now is the time, get out there, have some fun, and hunt down some fishing gear at bargain   prices!

Thanks for reading ONE CAST ... ONE FISH !

SUNFISH, PERCH, OSPREY and FISH WARDENS !

FISHING FOLLIES ...

Once again it's time for a few laughs so take a minute and enjoy this
edition of "FISHING FOLLIES"

Here are some things that I have learned, the hard way, over time:

1. Bait Casting reels make better bird nests than birds do.

2. Grabbing a hellgrammite carelessly will cause great pain. (See picture)

3. Wading in moving water, on slippery rocks, can turn you into a floater.

4. Falling asleep while driving a boat is the quickest way to shore.

5. Submerged logs are boat magnets.

6. It is hard to hide from lighting in the middle of a lake. (See picture)

7. Bees will fly two miles off the coast just to irritate you.

8. The wind always blows in the opposite direction you want to go.

9. There is always someone in my secret spots. (see picture)

10. Power windows easily break unbreakable fishing rods.

And now we continue with ...

"The Saga of the Black Fury"

 Many years ago, my buddy Rick and I were preparing for a trip to Canada. This included research to determine what the "hot" lure for Walleye was at the time. Finally, after many interrogating phone calls to the Great White North, it was obvious that we should cancel the whole trip unless we had a lure called the "Black Fury". Strangely enough, we also found out that this particular lure was not available across the border.

 Manufactured by Mepps, the "Black Fury" (see picture) is a beautiful in-line spinner type of lure. Attached to the shinny brass body is a spinning blade painted in brilliant black and adorned with yellow or red dots. Red plastic beads separate the blade from the deadly treble hook at the business end. Our tackle boxes were stuffed with every lure under the sun except for this Mepps Black Fury spinner thing. With no time left to order from a catalog we began our quest with the soul intention of buying every last one in the Tri-State area!

 The primary and first stop was a local fishing tackle shop that, without fail, always had everything. Upon bursting through the door with frantic anticipation we stated our goal to the shop owner. Without a word his body language made it obvious that his stock did not include even one "Black Fury". Ok, so now it was on to plan "B" which was another tackle store on the other side of the county. Now this was before cell phones and stopping at a phone booth would just waste time. The two hour ride would surely be worth it in the end and besides we had to get these lures before the word got out!

 Now this next place was basically a weathered wooden shack set off to the side of the owners home. He primarily sold live bait but behind the shabby exterior we always found what we wanted. Parking in the stone driveway we eagerly jumped from the truck with uncontrolled excitment. Standing near the padlocked doors of the shop we knew that it might take a few minutes until we were noticed from within the main house. Finally the door opened and the proprietor slowly limped down the five steps to the driveway. I wanted to scream BLACK FURY, BLACK FURY, WE WANT BLACK FURYS ! It was, however, polite to offer a kind hello, hand shake and some other chit chat before getting down to business. After all of that and voicing our request he turned the key on the padlock and slid the barn type door open. It wasn't until then that he spoke the words that we hoped not to hear. "Well boys", he said, "I don't have any Black Furys but you can look around". Ah, show us the candy in hopes we find something else was this guys intention. We jumped back in my truck and made a three point turn in his gravel driveway with one turn of the wheel. Stones flew from the rear tires as we exited his property!

 Panic had set in and we knew that we only had one more shot. Off to the "BigK" we went. Our stride was fast and direct. The upright fishing poles in the far corner of the store were now locked in our sights. Would the two rows of fishing lures hold the Holy Grail? To save time I took the first row and Rick searched the other. This was the first time ever that the other lures did not distract me in my intense search. Then I heard his voice from the other side, "I found 'em!", he yelled. As I galloped around the end of the aisle I hoped no one was standing there for they would surely be knocked over. I continued my whirlwind pace to where Rick was now kneeling with pressed palms and bowed head. Sure enough, there hung the coveted MEPPS BLACK FURYS. Not one or two but six rows full of them in all the different sizes! It was a glorious site to behold and we quickly cleared the display leaving only empty metal hangers.

 Fast forward to Canada.... After hours of trolling with the Black Fury and getting no result we changed to a simple one-eighth ounce jig head and night crawler. This, not the Black Fury, resulted in a full stringer of tasty Canadian Walleyes! The "Saga of the Mepps Black Fury" will forever be remembered as a lesson in the magic lure myth.

Thanks for taking time to visit my blog.

You might like my YouTube fishing videos too. 

Here is the link ...

LEN F ... YouTube Channel

ICE FISHING ON MARSH CREEK LAKE

 This year Mother Nature has given Southeastern Pennsylvania a real treat. She gave us a prolonged cold snap that began in late December. Then early in January many of our local lakes froze over and provided safe ice for skaters, hikers and of course Ice Anglers.  We even witnessed the mighty Schuylkill River frozen over along with other small streams and creeks.

 A few years ago, due to the many previous winters of poor or even non-existent local safe ice, I sold most of my ice fishing gear. I realized that I needed a few things in order to take advantage of the coming ice age! Taking a quick inventory of my existing gear revealed that I needed a ice auger and a few other essentials. After a hasty trip to the local sporting goods store I was ready to get out there as soon as conditions permitted. On December 31st I was out checking the ice conditions at Marsh Creek.

 The cold weather continued and I was able to get on the ice at Marsh Creek State Park on January 3rd. It just so happened that on that day the really harsh cold took a break. The temperature rose to a balmy 28 degrees and the wind was calm. This made for a comfortable day on the frozen lake. The main lake still had open water but the coves had about five inches of good ice. The fish were also hungry this day and I brought home a bunch of nice Yellow Perch that provided my family with a nice tasty side snack at dinner time.

 The Arctic chill continued and I was out there again on January 7th. The entire lake had now frozen over and there were many people ice skating, walking their dogs and of course ice fishing. Most of the lake had five to eight inches of nice clear black ice. Somehow, on this day, the weather again took a pause and provided us with comfortable conditions for all the outdoor activities. Again the fish were in a positive mood and were biting most of the day.


 During the next few days the weather broke and the thermometer climbed well above freezing during the daylight hours. This made me wonder if the ice would still be safe enough for my next outing which was planned for January 10th.

 My anxiety was relieved as I again found that the area I wanted to fish was holding up just fine. It was obvious that the warmer temperatures had taken a toll but the ice was still winning the battle. Here was my third time out and again the wind was calm, the sun warmed my back and the fish were on a feeding binge. This time I brought home enough fish for a main course that the whole family enjoyed.

 The weather forecast was now telling us that the cold wave was over and we could expect warmer weather for the next few days. Past experience now told me that a few days of warmer temperatures can make the ice unsafe real quick.
A week would pass before I could get out again.


 One of my grandsons had indicated that he would like to try the ice fishing thing and plans were made to have him accompany me. The day prior to our planned outing it had snowed about 3 inches making the ice even more unsafe. I knew that the ice would present a challenge this time around and I would need to be very cautious of conditions.

So on January 17th we were out at Marsh Creek again. I wanted to fish the same area that had all the action last week and also I had a good idea of the ice conditions there. To my dismay the ice close to shore had deteriorated because of melting and now the first 10 feet out was very slushy and the ice was soft. After checking a few areas I was almost ready to call the trip off because the shoreline ice was so bad. After a little more soul searching and determination I finally found a spot that would allow use to cross over that first 10 feet and gain footing on solid ice. The fish were biting good and I took some time to teach him how to use the basic ice fishing tools. After a few hours the cold got to his hands and feet and it was time to go. A half dozen Yellow Perch provided for a tasty treat for his Mom, Dad and Sister. It was a memorable day for both of us.



 My last outing was on January 21st. This was a solo adventure. Weather reports indicated that the next few days would bring warm temperatures along with some rain. That combination would take away the existing ice and might just end the ice fishing season for this part of Pennsylvania.

 I arrived before dawn and hoped that the shore line ice would allow safe passage. It turned out to be in good shape and the fish were really hungry too. This was Sunday and I expected to see a crowed on the ice but only eight other anglers showed up. Maybe the word was out that the ice was getting thin or maybe it was all the hype about the Eagles game later in the day. The temperature was in the middle 40's by noon and the ice was melting fast. A thin film of water covered the ice and I decided to call it quits for the day.


 Anyway, it's time to let Mother Nature do her thing again. She will determine if I get to go ice fishing again this winter or will it be an early Spring ...


You can view all the action on my YouTube Channel with this link:

Ice fishing at Marsh Creek and other fishing adventures ...