Good Old Friends

NumenOn the Water

Date: 8-22-15

Body of Water:  Whitefish Lake

Boat: DC's Lund

With: DC

Target: LMB

Time:  6:15 AM - Noon

Conditions: Generally overcast; mild southerly breeze; water temps 75-75 F; lots of boating activity as the day progressed.

Good old friend DC and I got together for a morning's fishing and a meal.  Whitefish Lake is a favorite of mine, and his new home on its shores provides super easy access to her largemouth bass.  DC and I are also very compatible in the boat (whether it is mine or his) and so the fishing is always a pleasant experience, but with concerted effort and appropriate intensity.

We left his dock in the pre-dawn darkness and were soon on the spot.  We both started with top-waters, and my Yozuri prop bait got inhaled on my first or second cast.  At 16 inches or so, this prooved to be my biggest bass of the day, but it was followed by a succession of short bass with big intentions.  I soon added another keeper-sized bass to our tally, but everything else on this bait for the rest of the day was between 13 and 14 inches; just too small to matter in a Michigan tournament, real or imagined.

Looking for bigger fish, other baits entered the mix.  Fish were caught on just about everything, but I concentrated on drop-shotting while DC threw tubes, cranks and swim jigs.  I caught a small walleye (13 inches; origin unknown other than improbable natural reproduction) on a slow-rolled spinnerbait and a bunch more short bass on the Yozuri.  DC caught the largest bass of the day at 17+ inches on a tube, but that was our last qualifying "keeper" of the day.  Our virtual bag was just three bass at 5.5 pounds or so.  While that doesn't sound like a great day on the water, it certainly was.  The ease of access, the muted but colorful sunrise, the birds, the fish, the companionship all contributed to a wonderful day.

What do I have to say about this?

The day was enhanced by a shared meal with DC and our spouses.  Burgers, Key Lime pie, and a pontoon cruise, mixed with 30 years or so of mixed memories and our time on the water all contributed to a peaceful, relaxing day.  With some fish!

Go Big and Go Home!

NumenOn the Water

Date: 8-9-15

Body of Water: Lake St. Clair, Canada

Boat: Numenon

With: Alone

Target: Muskies

Time: 8 AM to 4 PM

Conditions: Belle River Hump, water 73-75 F, from clear green (deeper) to soupy green (shallower); variously cloudy with East winds 10-15 mph and a nasty half-meter chop

My recent conclusion that successful local, summer-time muskie fishing is only a marginally viable proposition did nothing to scratch my current muskie itch.  I could choose to apply a temporary balm incorporating bass or salmon as ingredients, or I could seek a cure.  I knew that cure should be available about four hours away, in the Canadian waters of Lake St. Clair. 

As I crossed the border at about 7 AM, the Canadian Customs Agent asked the usual questions; Where did I live?  Why was I here?  How long was I staying?  Based on his reaction, I guess not too many folks cross the border from afar for a day trip.  But I had a desk to be at the next morning, there was no other choice.  He simply wished me well, and Numenon was launched and clearing the protective arms of the Belle River harbor by 8 AM.

About to clear the arms of the Belle River harbor for the first time...

The waves weren't tall, but they were steep and quick; and those Langmuir Spirals are an indication of a steady wind.

I was greeted by a sustained east wind and a bit of chop.  Neither was a surprise and the waves were within the “half-meter” forecast; but there was a choppy nastiness to the seas that made moving around much more difficult than expected.  My radius of fishable waters instantly shrank, and so I chose to focus on the Belle River Hump.  This is the only significant “structure” in southern Lake St. Clair, and it proved to be a busy spot (by Canadian standards) for the rest of the day.  Trollers, casters, walleye drifters and bass fisherman were all working this area.

I started near the Hump’s northern tip in 20 feet or so of clear, green water.  Scruffy weeds and bait were both clearly evident.  What else could a muskie want or need?  I started my day of casting Big Rubber (Pounders, Dawgs, and Medusas) with some confidence.   That confidence easily sustained itself for several hours as I made repeated drifts over different sections of the hump.  Conditions looked fishy, and clearly the bass guys were catching fish.  (Mental note filed.)  And, I knew each cast could be intercepted by the fish of a lifetime; that’s always enough to keep me throwing!

I’ve only fished for muskies on Lake St. Clair once before, and the guide on that trip seemed to focus on water clarity as much as anything.   He was seeking a certain “look” to the water, and the water I’d been fishing was perhaps too clear for his liking.  I took a short troll into shallower water, and when I shut down where the easterly wind hit the southern base of the hump, I noticed the water’s green soupiness.  Visibility was greatly reduced, but plankton means shad and shad means…muskies?  

At about this time (12:15 PM and half way through my allotted fishing time), I noticed that I wasn’t feeling so well.  I slowly realized that I was sea-sick!  This possibility had not even entered my mind in preparing for the trip, and it’s tough to maintain a positive attitude while sea-sick.  But cutting the trip short was not acceptable, so I continued to fish.   Once the inevitable kneeling and heaving took place, I felt a bit better, and I finished out the day, casting Big Rubber* all the while.  My confidence was diminished, but I also believe in occasional Good Luck when fishing, so I simply made the best of it.  Plus, Lake St. Clair (and muskie fishing in general) has that “every cast could be intercepted by a fish of a lifetime” thing going for it.

I was back in the harbor by 4 PM, and as I slid Numenon onto the trailer, the ramp attendant noted that very few muskies had been entered in the current derby; local catch rates were way down.  I was perhaps in the Right Place, but at the Wrong Time(?)

I was home, safe and sound, with Numenon garaged by 8 PM.  It was a long day with minor pitfalls and with no really interesting stories.  But, it was still a day full of interesting pursuits.  In the end, it was a good day!

What do I have to say about this?

Of course I am disappointed in the lack of fish action for the day.  I’d much rather have seen, hooked, or caught fish during the trip, than not.  Reverse for the sea-sickness; I’d rather have not been sick.    It clearly was by no means a perfect trip, but at least I tried.

In recent leadership/work/blog explorations, I’ve come across the following notions:

·       If one is truly happy, motivation to take action is low.  Why risk upsetting the cart?

·       Seeking happiness provides the necessary motivation to act.

·       Action is necessary for results.

·       This action might be uncomfortable and not provide the desired outcome.  But it might be fulfilling.  

·       This action is necessary to grow, to improve, to achieve; to be our full selves; to be “happy.”

 I’d not have wanted to subject anybody else to this trip, but it probably laid a foundation for future trips, and I don’t think I used up all of my available Good Luck on this one.  Perhaps there are better outcomes in my future… if I keep trying.  And I think I’ll have to!

*Not quite true.  I trolled twice while moving up or down the Hump, and I ended the day in soupy green water with a dozen or so casts ripping a giant Sebile rattle bait.  All to no effect.

Detroit in the background; Red Sox beating the Tigers, 7-2.

Local Muskie Attempt

Date:  August 2, 2015

Body of Water:  M Lake

Boat:  Numenon

With:  Alone

Target:  Muskellunge

Time:  4:15 AM to 8:15 AM

Conditions:  Full (Blue) Moon plus One Day; quiet with increasing wind and activity; 79 degrees F water; clear and bright, about 65 to 75 F

Ideally I'd be fishing as the July Full Moon rises, but we're at the hottest and busiest part of the season.  Recreational boaters are dominating the waterscape, and the high water temperatures are stressful for the fish.  Enjoyable or productive fishing at 9 PM just didn't make sense.  Instead, I thought I'd try to take advantage of the peace and quiet and relatively cool temperatures of pre-dawn to try for some vulnerable, top-water muskies.

In the very early morning darkness, I rotated through high percentage spots and locations where I've had encounters with big fish before.  My lures swam over 2 feet of water and 40 feet of water, and all the depths in-between.  I have no evidence that I ever moved a fish.

As it got lighter, I mixed in some Big Rubber and bucktails, too.  It didn't seem to matter on this day.  All the while, the Full Moon (a true Blue Moon) stayed overhead.

By 8 AM the water-skiers were out, and my thoughts were elsewhere.  I look forward to these waters this fall, but I'll let them rest until then.

What do I have to say about this?

Local muskie fishing can be a "marginally viable" proposition, and especially so during the heat of summer.  I know this, but I was seduced by the ease of access and the prospect of a momentarily quiet lake.  It was a worthwhile attempt; the quiet lake, the chatter of Sandhill Cranes and Blue Herons, the variety of turtles and lack of mosquitoes were all welcome, and it was beautiful, although subdued, sunrise.  I'm not surprised at the muskie skunk; conditions were tough. But I sure wish I knew with confidence the important factor(s) driving my results; fish numbers, fish behavior, moonlight, location, presentation, lure speed color or size?

Only time and practice will provide the data to reveal these patterns.