Fishing
What A Crappie Day, Part 1
On this trip, I visited a new pond. They don't stock this pond with trout, so I'm on the hunt for some different species. This time I catch my first Crappie as well as my biggest bluegill on the channel. I was blown away by the number of crappies I started pulling in. Throw in a few bluegills to mix things up, and it turned into a fantastic day.
Finally, a Good Day at the Local, Part 1
As the temperature was just above freezing and the sun was beginning to rise, I arrived to fish the pond closest to my home. I had not succeeded at this pond in months and hoped to turn things around on this trip. It started hot but quickly turned sour. I persisted, and that made all the difference.
Finally Catching a Rare Species, Part 1
A local pond was recently stocked with a rare trout species called palomino trout. Palominos are also called "lightning trout" and "bananas." Sometimes, they are called "golden trout," but I think that is confusing because they differ from the original. Palomino trout are a hybrid cross between golden and rainbow trout. Their coloring is mainly yellow and orange, with red cheeks and stripes along their body appearing during spawning season. Unlike another hybrid, the tiger trout, the palomino trout, can reproduce. However, no real data has been collected concerning the viability of these hatchlings in the wild.
Covering the Whole Pond, Part 1
The sun was out, but the wind was biting. The pond was busy, but I still found some trout. Nothing big, but they all were between 9 and 11 inches. Given where I was catching them, I was happy just to be able to get some hooksets. Once I found the fish, I changed my rig slightly to accommodate the situation better. If you find that your rig is a little more than you need and you can pair down to something more sensible, do it.
Rough Weather, Great Day
Back at Mariposa Pond. Some warmer weather thawed the ice on the pond, which was now completely fishable; however, the weather was not cooperating. It was supposed to rain all day, but the temperature dropped, and the rain turned to snow, then it warmed enough to turn back into rain. It never stopped, and I was getting wet and cold every minute. After more than an hour of fishing, I was getting ready to give up when I managed to catch my first fish. It was the beginning of a very good day.