A Day on the Mudpuddle

I am very interested in hearing about Warren Wolk's experience on Champlain.
It's always fascinating to hear what "really" went on out there. While we
are waiting for that report, I can offer my own experience on my little 3
acre pond.

I went out yesterday to do some bluegill and crappie fishing. I thought I
would thin the population out just a wee bit. I took out my trusty
ultra-light with 4 lb mono on a Mitchell 308-A. I rigged up 1/32 pink and
white jig heads with various itsy bitsy panfish grubs.

A rain front was only 8 hours away so I thought the fishing would be good,
and it was! On my second cast, I nailed a 1.5 lb yellow bullhead. He took
that grub just a foot below the surface and nearly bent the ultra-light in
half. Then the bluegill took over and over the course of several hours
floating around the pond in my little 10' Porta-Bote (boy I love that
thing), I must have caught 5 dozen or more bluegill.

As I was leaving the pond, I drifted along the weed edge and horizontally
jigged a tiny yellow and white jig. I had caught a 12" LM previously in the
week in this manner and was hoping for a repeat performance. I slowly
danced the jig and felt just the smallest amount of resistance. Weeds? No.
After a mighty struggle, I managed to boat the cutest little 4" LM that I
have ever seen. In fact, I have never seen a bass that small before. I
almost peed my pants laughing.

I gave that little guy a kiss, told it to grow up and released it.. As I
always say, A Bass a Day keeps the Blues Away. Beat that story Warren!

John
The Mighty Fisherman

I'll try john buddy, I'll try. Stay tuned.

A 3 acre pond sounds pretty darn nice to this guy about now lol...

Warren

"johnval1" wrote in message
news
I am very interested in hearing about Warren Wolk's experience on
Champlain. It's always fascinating to hear what "really" went on out there.
While we are waiting for that report, I can offer my own experience on my
little 3 acre pond.

I went out yesterday to do some bluegill and crappie fishing. I thought I
would thin the population out just a wee bit. I took out my trusty
ultra-light with 4 lb mono on a Mitchell 308-A. I rigged up 1/32 pink and
white jig heads with various itsy bitsy panfish grubs.

A rain front was only 8 hours away so I thought the fishing would be good,
and it was! On my second cast, I nailed a 1.5 lb yellow bullhead. He
took that grub just a foot below the surface and nearly bent the
ultra-light in half. Then the bluegill took over and over the course of
several hours floating around the pond in my little 10' Porta-Bote (boy I
love that thing), I must have caught 5 dozen or more bluegill.

As I was leaving the pond, I drifted along the weed edge and horizontally
jigged a tiny yellow and white jig. I had caught a 12" LM previously in
the week in this manner and was hoping for a repeat performance. I slowly
danced the jig and felt just the smallest amount of resistance. Weeds?
No. After a mighty struggle, I managed to boat the cutest little 4" LM
that I have ever seen. In fact, I have never seen a bass that small
before. I almost peed my pants laughing.

I gave that little guy a kiss, told it to grow up and released it.. As I
always say, A Bass a Day keeps the Blues Away. Beat that story Warren!

John
The Mighty Fisherman

"WARREN WOLK" wrote in message
news:qOzTg.1309$753.1125@trnddc05...
I'll try john buddy, I'll try. Stay tuned.

A 3 acre pond sounds pretty darn nice to this guy about now lol...

Warren

Looking forward to the report Warren. Glad you made it back OK.

John

Warren, I have not known what to say to you about your newborn fears & still
don't. I almost (or should have) drowned on the flooded Gasconade River in
SW Missouri in the early 70's, & I know those kind of fears first hand.
Unfortunately, memories of the details will never go away, nor will the sick
dreams that will grow from them. You are in my prayers, good friend.

Bob
.................................................. .................................................. ......

"WARREN WOLK" wrote in message
news:qOzTg.1309$753.1125@trnddc05...
I'll try john buddy, I'll try. Stay tuned.

A 3 acre pond sounds pretty darn nice to this guy about now lol...

Warren

"johnval1" wrote in message
news
I am very interested in hearing about Warren Wolk's experience on
Champlain. It's always fascinating to hear what "really" went on out
there. While we are waiting for that report, I can offer my own experience
on my little 3 acre pond.

I went out yesterday to do some bluegill and crappie fishing. I thought
I would thin the population out just a wee bit. I took out my trusty
ultra-light with 4 lb mono on a Mitchell 308-A. I rigged up 1/32 pink
and white jig heads with various itsy bitsy panfish grubs.

A rain front was only 8 hours away so I thought the fishing would be
good, and it was! On my second cast, I nailed a 1.5 lb yellow bullhead.
He took that grub just a foot below the surface and nearly bent the
ultra-light in half. Then the bluegill took over and over the course of
several hours floating around the pond in my little 10' Porta-Bote (boy I
love that thing), I must have caught 5 dozen or more bluegill.

As I was leaving the pond, I drifted along the weed edge and horizontally
jigged a tiny yellow and white jig. I had caught a 12" LM previously in
the week in this manner and was hoping for a repeat performance. I
slowly danced the jig and felt just the smallest amount of resistance.
Weeds? No. After a mighty struggle, I managed to boat the cutest little
4" LM that I have ever seen. In fact, I have never seen a bass that
small before. I almost peed my pants laughing.

I gave that little guy a kiss, told it to grow up and released it.. As I
always say, A Bass a Day keeps the Blues Away. Beat that story Warren!

John
The Mighty Fisherman

Bob Rickard wrote:
Warren, I have not known what to say to you about your newborn fears & still
don't. I almost (or should have) drowned on the flooded Gasconade River in
SW Missouri in the early 70's, & I know those kind of fears first hand.
Unfortunately, memories of the details will never go away, nor will the sick
dreams that will grow from them. You are in my prayers, good friend.

I know the terror too, from about the same time and near the
same place. I was on the Current River when I had absolutely
no business being there. But for the grace of God and a damn
good canoe I'd have been just another dead teenager drowned
in a totally preventable canoeing accident. It's hard to
explain to my wife why I spend so much time polishing and waxing
that old 18 foot Grumman. I keep a mirror shine on that old
boat and tell her it's because it was a gift from my grandpa.

You know what they say, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
And in my case a whole lot wiser too.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Thanks you guys, I really appreciate the kind words. I had this profound
notion after making it back on dry land Wednesday that if a guy dies out
there on the lake that those that visit afterward never have a clue what
happened there. I'm sure I've crossed such places on many occasions.

I completely "tanked" my boat at Champlain last fall after taking my eyes
off the giant rollers I was navigating through to look at my gps unit & get
my bearings. I was alone & chest-deep in cold water then, and until this
week it was the scariest moment in my career.

I will get my tale posted here in the next few days.

Warren



..
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
m...
Bob Rickard wrote:
Warren, I have not known what to say to you about your newborn fears &
still don't. I almost (or should have) drowned on the flooded Gasconade
River in SW Missouri in the early 70's, & I know those kind of fears
first hand. Unfortunately, memories of the details will never go away,
nor will the sick dreams that will grow from them. You are in my prayers,
good friend.

I know the terror too, from about the same time and near the
same place. I was on the Current River when I had absolutely
no business being there. But for the grace of God and a damn
good canoe I'd have been just another dead teenager drowned
in a totally preventable canoeing accident. It's hard to
explain to my wife why I spend so much time polishing and waxing
that old 18 foot Grumman. I keep a mirror shine on that old
boat and tell her it's because it was a gift from my grandpa.

You know what they say, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
And in my case a whole lot wiser too.

--
Ken Fortenberry