SMALL LAKE FISHING SAGA

I'm currently fishing in a small lake, about 1/4 mile diameter,(the trout
season is over in the streams & rivers.). It has 3 springs that feed it, I'm
told, and it is 35 ft. deep somewhere in the middle, I've found it not
deeper than 20 feet). I haven't found any inlet or outlet yet.

It was stocked with 4800 rainbow trout in the fall of 2004. I've caught a 2
eaters since Sept. 16, (fishing once a week), but I'm told that there are
some very large trout in the lake, (maybe 20 lb). I've tried everything I
know at this point, (which may be not much). No one is catching much there,
those that do are fishing worms.

My last adventure there was a beautiful afternoon, and I fished until dark.

Nuthin' happenin'.

I tried a lot of flies, and even a Rapala minnow lure. A fisherman in the
fishing store told me he had caught lots of fish there by trolling it.

There are a couple of rafts in the lake for summer swimmers. No one swimming
now. I figured there should be trout under those rafts.
I rowed near one of them- the water was about 10 feet deep. I cast a lot,
nothing.

I had a tandem on- a Parmachene Belle 12 with a Royal Coachman streamer 8
behind it. Nothing.

Then a fish jumped right beside the boat, dispelling my fears that the boat
was scaring them. I had a handful of line, and I flipped the tandem
immediately near where the fish had showed.

It took the fly, but I had so much slack that I didn't set the hook hard
enough, and the fish started away with the fly, but gave a shake and was
loose. It was maybe a 1-1/2 lb fish, by the feel of it.

So, I'm encouraged. My next outing, I will wait for a while after anchoring,
and then fish the Bead Head Hare's Ear.

The only fish I've caught in this lake were fish that showed just before I
caught them. Very few fish show on the surface of the lake.

If anyone has a reccommendation, I'd be glad to hear it. The season ends
Nov. 15.

-- Lionel
The more I see of people, the better I like fish.