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Left Bank
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I showed up Tuesday about 7am but found that the store that also rents the boats didn’t open until 8 so I grabbed a bite to eat and got my poles rigged. Their small row boats are adequate for 1-2 people (3 if there is a small child I would guess) and only cost $25 a day. Since I was up there for two days I asked the very nice gentleman to let me keep it overnight at my camp spot if I paid for two days. He was a little reluctant but decided to bend the rules so I could get the next morning’s early bite. I headed down the east side trying a few different lures, wedding rings, etc with no bites whatsoever. So I took the time to find a lakeside spot over at Camp 10 campground. I walked over (about a mile) to the store to get my rig then set up the tent and at a good lunch before heading back out. My new choice of hardware proved to be exactly what these rainbows were after. I immediately caught one then another going up the western bank and knew the games were just beginning. The wind had picked up but was still manageable. I even took a break from the rowing for an hour or two at a few spots and continued to catch them but not at the rate while trolling. At 8pm I finally got back to get some dinner. As long as I had on decent DEET the skeeters and knats were more of a nuisance except when heating up a meal. They swarmed like crazy on my beef stroganoff (Mountain House has the best freeze dried meals I’ve ever tasted, mmmmm) so I jumped in my car to eat in peace. I planned to head back out but had a headache so I stupidly jumped in the tent to get some sleep. The neighbors were partying like it was 1999 until they passed out at 10:30. Also, there was a group over in the Peninsula campground that were obviously having a great celebration that involved showing off a Harley until I finally feel asleep at midnight. I didn’t cause a stir because I knew they were having a good time and I probably would have been doing the same if I wasn’t so tired with a throbbing head.
Wednesday, I was “rudely” awakened by the sound of fish jumping just after 4am. I was amazed that it was beginning to get light so I got up (it was 39 degrees, burrrrr) got a quick bite with coffee and on the boat by 4:45. No wind, no sound at all except the morning birds and fish jumping. Oh, and me catching quite a few again. Then, like clockwork, as soon as the sun shown on the lake from behind the mountain at 8 the wind really kicked into high gear. I tied the boat about half way up the western side and caught a few more until 11. It looked like the wind wouldn’t die down so I rowed over to the dock and turned the boat in (caught a couple more on the way right out in the middle of the lake).
Overall, I C&R’d 33 beauties that were all 10-14 inches. What was I using did you ask??? Black/green wedding ring with a worm behind a chrome trolling rig. On the other pole I just had a black/chrome rooster tail. Both were very productive.
I didn’t get many pics because it was hard enough rowing with 2 poles but factor in the wind and it kept me busy : ) Here’s a few that I was able to take:
Wednesday, I was “rudely” awakened by the sound of fish jumping just after 4am. I was amazed that it was beginning to get light so I got up (it was 39 degrees, burrrrr) got a quick bite with coffee and on the boat by 4:45. No wind, no sound at all except the morning birds and fish jumping. Oh, and me catching quite a few again. Then, like clockwork, as soon as the sun shown on the lake from behind the mountain at 8 the wind really kicked into high gear. I tied the boat about half way up the western side and caught a few more until 11. It looked like the wind wouldn’t die down so I rowed over to the dock and turned the boat in (caught a couple more on the way right out in the middle of the lake).
Overall, I C&R’d 33 beauties that were all 10-14 inches. What was I using did you ask??? Black/green wedding ring with a worm behind a chrome trolling rig. On the other pole I just had a black/chrome rooster tail. Both were very productive.
I didn’t get many pics because it was hard enough rowing with 2 poles but factor in the wind and it kept me busy : ) Here’s a few that I was able to take:
