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 ...

A FISHES' NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ...

For those of you that have followed this blog you know that I go in all different directions. Sometimes even beyond reality. Well, this week I bring back one that I did some years ago. So, leaning on the coming holidays ...

I give you a fishes "Night Before Christmas"

T'was the night before Christmas 
and all through the lake
not a fishy was stirring 
not even a Splake!

The Bass were down deep
and not moving to fast.
The cold water had slowed
them down at last.

Some Sunfish had gathered
near an old tree stump.
This is where they would stay
unless they got bumped.

Schools of Yellow Perch 
roamed far and wide
Among the sparse weeds
is where they would glide.

A Musky hovered a few feet
above an old road bed.
He could rise and fall
with a nod of his head.

The Crappies amassed
near the old sunken bridge.
Their quarry you see
was only the midge.

A few Walleye held
on a dropoffs edge
On sonar they would
appear as a wedge

Above this scene was a 
thick layer of ice.
It made their underwater
world real nice.

Out of nowhere came the sound
of footsteps and sled.
This caused all the fish
to turn their heads.

They knew a line 
would soon drop in.
But to their surprise
came a tree wrapped in tin.

Descending slowly it twisted
and turned with sparkling lights.
Never before had they
had such a delight.

As all the fish gathered 
around this sight
it was clear to them now
they would have a good night!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD BITE !

The "Sunday Funnies" go fishing!

Do you remember the Sunday Funnies?

 "Fishing Fever" is not confined to only humans. It also exists and flourishes in the world of comic illustrators. Their sketched characters have been testing the waters for many years. Humans, animals and even fish themselves have been exploited in various fishing situations.

 Anyway, during my childhood there was one day of the week that provided a special treat. Sunday morning meant the delivery of the bulky Philadelphia Bulletin newspaper. The anticipated timely arrival never failed thanks to our devoted paper boy. Before it even settled from his toss I was there to retrieve it and hustled back inside. My only goal was to get to the center of the mass for the section that held the Sunday Funnies! The instilled habit of going only for the comic section stayed with me as my youth faded and adulthood arrived.

 So, back in 1988, there I was relaxed in my recliner and enjoying a few silent giggles with the comics when I saw it. Here was a single frame "FAR SIDE" sketch that depicted the end of the world and two fisherman in a boat about to kiss it all good-by! Their reaction and words to the pending disaster which was obviously just moments away, have stuck with me ever since. It was that one single cartoon that gave me reason to start collecting any comic illustration that had a humorous fishing theme. I now have two albums filled with ones that seemed to really capture the humor of fishing mishaps, mysteries and secrets.

 Sooner or later every comic star goes fishing. On the lake shore, in a boat, cabin or out on the ice the illustrators prove time and time again that fishing can be addicting. The featured players include the nagging wife in THE LOCKHORNS, good old unassuming ZIGGY, the cavemen of B.C, the always sarcastic TRUDY and the underwater world of SHERMAN'S LAGOON just to name a few.

Here is one of my "Ice Fishing" favorites with the one of the "B.C." gang.

Then this on with good old "Ziggy" ... You just have to feel sorry for him!

Here is another from the "B.C." strip which reflects the 

way the fish are when I go fishing!

Let me add one more ... Here is the family from "Laff-A-Day" with words of wisdom ...

 I haven't been as diligent recently with searching and cutting out comics. I'm sure many good ones were overlooked or just missed. If you take a few moments with your Sunday Paper (if you still get one) there is no doubt that you will find a few. I hope this blog subject helps you remember some and gives you a good chuckle too.

As always.... Thanks for reading "One Cast ... One Fish !"

STRANGE CATCHES and FINDS !

 One of the perils of fishing is getting snagged and losing a nice lure but sometimes it brings  fortune instead of deprivation. Old boots and tires don't hold a candle to the strange things that have come up on the end of my fishing line!

 To put a little twist on a now familiar phrase let me say that ... "You never know WHAT will be on the end of your line!"

 Hiding below the surface of many lakes and rivers are stumps, logs and old tree branches. Since they are preferred hiding places for the fish they too are the prime targets for anglers to cast their lures. Most of the time the only thing to do when your lure impales itself to one of these is to pull until your line snaps. This results in the unintentional decorating of said submerged feature with your favorite lure. In just a few years some of the more attractive sub-aquatic fish haunts starting looking like a trimmed Christmas Tree. As time moves on Mother Nature eventually wears down what was originally solidly anchored. Every now and then a snagged branch will break off and reward me with another lure. So over the years lets just say I have been in the right place at the right time and the planets were aligned in my favor for this phenomenon.

Years ago, while fishing for Walleye at Marsh Creek Lake, I was drifting slowly over an old road bed and  pulled up one of those collapsible wire fish baskets used for holding your catch. Inside the wire basket, still kicking, were three sunfish and a crappie! Can you say.. "FREE FISH FRY"!

 One spring day on the Schuylkill River, near Black Rock Dam, I was lucky enough to catch a nice Musky. What made it even better is that in the mouth of this fish was another lure that had broken off from some not so fortunate angler.

 Just last year I was casting for Largemouth Bass up on Lake Nockamixon. Numerous "flips" into the thick weeds would end up with a "Wad 'O Weeds" on my hook rather than a fish. Well as luck would have it here comes a rather large ball of algae but I also noticed a length of fishing line within the tangled mass. Experience with this situation told me that a reward may be at the end of the other line. Sure enough a steady pulling of the line resulted in a nice six and half foot, medium action graphite fishing rod with reel. Showing no signs that it had been under water for long I cleaned it up and added it to my collection. This was one of four that I have brought up from their watery grave in my many years of fishing.

 In this same category I should mention a few items found while wadding shore lines. 

Yankee Dam, also know as Vincent Dam, on the Schuylkill near Linfield, was one of my favorite places for fishing. In the years prior to the dams removal you could walk out on the structure due to the water being diverted through a large break on the Chester County side. In it's better days the river flowed evenly over the dam and occasionally a non-attentive boater would be sweep over and capsized. This of course resulted in loss of whatever was in the boat. Well this one day my eye caught sight of what I recognized to be the handle of a tackle box buried in sand and mud where the water once churned.  After an hour of digging I was able to free the prize. This was a large tackle box packed full of lures, hooks, sinkers, knifes and other goodies. A fishing license destroyed by time was also in with the other stuff and was of no use in identifying the owner. 

Even more astounding ... Wading in three feet of water at Marsh Creek a bright sparkle caught my eye. With a little kicking around I was able to uncover and retrieve a antique silver teapot. Picture is for illustration only but it did resemble the one pictured. Having no use for this in my humble home I eventually sold it for $375.00. This was back in 1995. Can you beat that?

 Every time Lady Luck comes my way with these things I can't help but wonder.... Who, What, How, When. I got the "Where" part figured out!

What have you found?

Thanks for reading   "One Cast ... One Fish !"

FISHING WITH VINTAGE LURES ...

Many years ago, and I do mean many, the fishing lures that I used are now classified as "Vintage". These old lures which are sought after by collectors had their time and place in my tackle box. It was these same lures that fooled many a fish when I was young so I got to thinkin'... Will they still work?

It seems that these proven and time tested tools of the 50' and 60's have been forgotten except by those that want to display them in a showcase. Look in any angler's tackle box today and not a one will be found! Instead you will see lures made of rubber in every shape and size. Plastic lures that are detailed and decorated with the latest manufacturing techniques. All types of metal lures with spinning blades and skirts just to name a few. It seems that every time you visit the tackle store there is a new "magic" lure being introduced.

A few years ago I attended an auction near Bloomsburg, Pa. and they happened to have a old tackle box with some vintage lures. The bidding was furious but I hung in there and won the war. My intention was to resell them on EBay. Then, after doing a little research, it became obvious that my emotional bidding caused me to overpay a bit.

Just for the record...

I ended up with about fifty dollars worth of obsolete lures for a bid of almost twice that. To save face and justify my loss it was decided to forego the resale and give these classic lures another chance to catch a fish. My thought was that it had been a long time that any fish saw these offerings and that should make them the new "magic" lure.

Being pretty special for what they are I needed a unique place to try them out. They deserved more than the mighty Schuylkill River, Marsh Creek or Nockamixon Lake. Ummm... Then it hit me. Canada!  I just  happened to be planning a visit across the border and packed them up with my gear. As luck would have it during that trip, three of us took time to trek into the backwoods, via 4x4, to a hidden small lake that I figured would be the perfect and deserving spot to let these lures, once again, prove themselves.

It was early morning as I tied on a "Heddon Crazy Crawler" in hopes of some top water action. A precise cast landed the lure just in front of some lily pads and I paused to let the water settle. After about five seconds I began a slow retrieve. The Crazy Crawler is a floater and has two ear like metal flaps on its sides. These cause the lure to wobble back and forth. I moved it about ten inches and WHAM ! I set the hook hard and knew inside that something very memorable was taking place.

The now hooked fish, lure and me were as one. In just the short time it took to land this nice two and a half pound bass I had flashbacks to my youth and was overcome with emotions. It was a part of "Fishing Fever" that was new to me and I will forever cherish it.


NOTE...
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 Thrilled with the immediate result of the first lure I gently retired the Crawler back to it's compartment in my tackle box. Now it was time to try a different one. I chose a "Paw Paw" Baby Jointed Pike. This lure floats but dives when retrieved. The depth is relative to the speed of retrieve.

This next cast was to a more open water area to ensure I would not be getting hung up on weeds. My first few turns of the reel were deliberately fast to get the lure diving to a depth of about two feet. A solid jolt in my rod indicated that a bass could not resist the Jointed Pikes' wiggling action. Thirty seconds later I was holding up another bass of about two pounds.



Simply put, I had now proven to myself that these vintage lures, from my younger days, were still effective and fun to use. I enjoyed a few more casts with various other oldies before I closed my old tackle box with a smile. It was time to return to the present and use more modern tackle.

Thanks for reading "One Cast ... One Fish !"

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Fishing Canada's Rideau Lake Chain

My first visit to the area, Newboro Lake to be precise, was back in 1981. Making the plans and preparing all the gear was a monumental task to say the least. Everything was checked over and over to ensure that there would be no hang-ups or problems.
We studied for weeks in advance and gathered whatever information we could from any source we could find. It was also necessary to plan our driving route as well. This was before the Internet so a good old Rand McNally was our best friend.

The plan was that we would be camping near Mosquito Lake, well named I might say, and sleep in the back of my truck which had a aluminum cap on for protection from the weather and insects. We would cook outside on a grill and even enjoy a good old "Shore Lunch". In those days we were much younger and this seemed to be a first class arrangement!

Fishing from this base camp we could explore six different lakes without going through any locks. Other than Newboro Lake you can navigate to Clear, Indian, Benson, Mosquito and Loon Lakes.

Our many trips to the area have made it easy for us to get around without any navigational aids. First timers, however, should have a good lake map and keep track of where you are because it is easy to get lost among the many islands and coves. If you do take time to go through the locks you will be exposed to many more beautiful lakes with diversified fishing opportunities.

Here is a link for the Rideau Canal Lock System:
http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/map-waterway.html


Now that all went well but as the years went by things changed. I have returned almost every year since then.  As time went on my overnight accommodations changed from truck bed to a friends rustic cabin then friends house etc. During our trips we noticed that there were a two fishing lodges right on the lake and eventually we stayed at one or the other a few times. I have found that booking at any lodge makes your stay more memorable. Situated side by side, but offering different decors are "The Poplars" and "The Stirling" Lodge. I had stayed at the Poplars 3 or 4 times and the Stirling once before. This year, for my 3 day visit, reservations were made to stay again at The Stirling Lodge.

The Stirling Lodge http://www.stirlinglodge.com/ has accommodations that will meet any need. We choose the lakeside rooms that are situated, well, at lakeside and close to the docks.

The rates vary depending on your choice of rooms but include three meals each day and maid service. This is very common at most fishing lodges and is referred to as "The American Plan".

Our stay was comfortable, the food was great.

The rooms feature A/C and cable TV to make your nights relaxing. The Victorian atmosphere in the main lodge is intriguing.

There is a beautiful bar area and spacious pool room for those that care for a little evening entertainment.


Anyway, getting back to the fishing...

The waters here are clear and Bass, Pike and Panfish are plentiful for anglers of all ages. The lodges have boats of many configurations for daily rental.

Normally there are no crowds especially when you get off the main canal route that the pleasure boats use as they traverse the deeper channels and go through the lock systems.


The fishing can, at times, be challenging but with a little effort you can have a great time.

I'm not writing this to brag about big fish but just to share some information so that you too might plan and enjoy some time on the wonderful Rideau Lakes!


Again, thanks for reading ...


One Cast ... One Fish !

Downsizing ...



This past month was a excellent time for downsizing my tackle box since many of the lures I already had proved to be useless.  I didn't get rid of the ineffectual ones just tossed them in a bag and put the bag in a cabinet for now. In order to do this there needed to be some guidelines that could be used to make the final selections.

This would be the only fair way to ensure that I would have only the lures that catch fish instead of the ones that instead snagged me as I prowled the aisles of sporting good stores. After careful thought I came up with the following ground rules that would decide the winners.

(A point system for each qualification would be the determining factor and a total of 10 points would be needed to gain a coveted spot in my tackle box. Possible top score is 24)

a. Has this lure ever actually caught a fish? Yes = 3 points
b. Has this lure caught more than one fish? Yes = 5 points
c. Has this lure ever enticed a fish to follow it for a few seconds? Yes = 1 point
d. Can this lure be used in heavy weeds/lily pads? Yes = 2 points
e. Has this lure caught more than one species? Yes = 2 points
f. Can this lure be fished at various depths? Yes = 2 points
g. Do I actually have any confidence in this lure? Yes = 5 points
h. Do other people laugh when I use this lure? No = 1 point
i. Have I used this lure in the last two years? Yes = 1 point
j. Have I used this lure more than once? Yes = 2 points

You would be surprised how many of my lures fall short of the mandatory requirement. I know that you may disagree with my experiences with certain lures listed here but let's just agree to disagree and continue on here ...

Starting out with the now wildly popular WopperPlopper (try saying that 5x's fast) . This lure is over-rated, over-packaged and over-priced. It is useless in or anywhere around weeds. It can be found taking up lots of space on the walls of many tackle stores. We (Anglers), in turn, cram it into our tackle boxes while Larry Dalburg laughs all the way to the bank!

On my fifth cast, while fishing Marsh Creek Lake, with my model 130 a nice two and one-half pound bass smashed it hard. This one fish made me a believer but now after tossing it at least one thousand more times I can only count that one bass. Let's just say the YouTube video created to sell the WP is a stroke of genius! Although this lure gets only 6 points (a, h, j) I will have it ready to go when I travel to Lake St. Clair later this summer and see if the Muskies like it.


Next will be the Bill Dance Excalibur Spit'n Image.
Here is a top water lure that has proved itself time after time.

Bill deserves every dollar he was paid to put his signature on this baby! It is exciting and easy to use and the hooks are extremely sharp. Although it works best at dusk or dawn many bass have been fooled at other times too. This lure gets a spot in the top row of my tackle box and 18 points. (a,b,c,g,h,i,j)


If you haven't noticed the "Live Target" brand of lures yet you must be blind .Arguably one of the most realistic looking line of lures ever to adorn the tackle shelves of Sporting Good stores.

Again I was sold by it's introduction video on YouTube. The Sunfish lure enticed big bass and tremendous strikes. I had to have one! I purchased five on my next trip to the tackle store. One for my buddy in Canada, one for another friend here at home and three for me! I couldn't wait to cast this lure into thick lily pads. So far ... nothing! Ok, so I have not used it alot but enough casts have been made for me to loose all my enthusiasm that I had when purchased. Somewhere, sometime I will try it again but for now it is destined for the shelf above my computer only because it looks soooooo good! A generous but undeserving 6 points (d,h,i,j) will keep this beauty out of my box for now.

Ok, let's look at Wacky Worms (a.k.a. "Senko) for a minute. Here is creature bait that will be in my box for a long time to come. Fished "Wacky" style is a sure-fire way to fool bass. A smooth soft flip in the weed bed holes is usually the best presentation. The worm will slowly wiggle it's way toward the bottom as it draws attention from nearby fish. Total score for this one is a most possible 24 points (a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j)

Single or Double blade Buzzbaits are one of my favorites. They produce heart pounding top water strikes, and can be effectively worked by novice and seasoned anglers alike. From early spring to late fall there is always one tied on and ready to cast whenever the conditions call for it. They get top priority in my tackle box and score 22 points (a,b,c,d,e,g,h,i,j).


Crankbaits take up a lot of space in my box but personally I don't catch many fish with them.

Some folks swear by them but me... nope!

I have a bunch of them for all different depths. I don't do any trolling which could make a difference. There are one or two that  are made for shallow retrieves. They look enticing and I will keep them around for casting submerged weed beds. Also, shallow running Squarebills are good to have in the spring. Other than that, well, I just don't use 'em much. My favorite, even though it has produced only a few fish is the Strike King® KVD Series Crankbait. It, alone gets a score of 18  (a,b,c,g,h,i,j) So with all that being said most of my Crankbaits score a measly 6 points and will be evicted from their ill earned spaces.

Jigs of various color and weight consistently produce fish. Flipping jigs in and around weed beds, drop-offs and submerged wood is a sure winner. A great cold water lure but will shine anytime when other lures fail. Tip them with a rubber creature of choice and toss it in. Bass, Muskies and Catfish will not ignore this lure.  A solid score of 24 earns these lures a special box in my main tackle box all for themselves.

Spinnerbaits rank right up close to my Buzzbaits and share the same area in my box. They are best in the spring but if used properly will produce jarring strikes at any time. In addition to the big three (Willow, Colorado and Indiana), there are a handful of other proven  Spinnerbait blade shapes that can adorn a Spinnerbait. I always like a big thumping Colorado blade with a slow retrieve. Consider using a stinger hook to get those fish that strike just a little short. Be ready for Bass, Muskies, Catfish and even Walleye to chase this lure. Here is another real winner with a score of 24.


I will finish with the Rubber Worm and include with them any Rubber Creature that you can name. I became hooked on rubber worm fishing back in the 70's after reading the Bill Dance book titled "THERE HE IS!"

So fish 'em Texas or Carolina rig style and follow a few basic tactics and the bass will follow. Look up all the details for yourself  and pick any brand you like. There will always be Rubber Worms and Creatures in my box. Score these softies a foolproof and deserving 24 points!


So for now my tackle box is lighter and less cluttered. All I need to do is stop watching sales pitches on YouTube that feature the newest "Magic Lure!"






Thanks again for reading "One Cast ... One Fish" and please pass on the link via social media of your choice.