Journey Into Spring: April 30, 2019

Almost the whole month of April slips away before I get out again. I hit Yellowwood Lake again because the month has been very wet and streams have been over their banks. I find a flying disc floating in the shoreline weeds--Sebastian will like that--and some hungry fish. I like that.

Journey Into Spring: April 22, 2019

Red bud is popping, a true wonder of Spring. Dogwood is close behind, and wildflowers carpet the warming ground. A few fish are looking up.

No Jacket Necessary

The red buds were in full bloom along the road to the boat ramp at Yellowwood.

It was one of the early really warm days. I began to work around the shoreline with a bead head leech.

Something round floated by: a brand new turtle. This took me back. I had a succession of turtles just like this one as pets in my childhood. I put this one back in its natural habitat and wished it luck growing old.

The wind was frisky. I made it down the east shore in a juffy.

Just before crossing over I found a nice crappie.

The lake showed signs of the recent thunderstorms. New leaves had been stripped from the trees. Their delicate beauty was short lived but appreciated.

On the west shore I switched to a little muddler dry. There were a few bluegill awake but they were shy.

I got one on a nice popping take.

I fished out the evening without another fish, but it was a lovely evening. I took this photo to mark a milestone of the young season: this was the first evening I didn't need a jacket.

It's the Little Things That Count

The day is in the 60's but with a cool edge to it, especially on the breezy lake.

Red bud is popping out all over, a sign that spring is ready to pop, too. Weather report says mid to high 70's ever day next week.

On the west side bluegill are flipping out of the water. That's good to see. They're going after a hatch of midges that drift in the air like dandelion fluff.

Some decide a fat stimulator is worth chasing as well.

I kick for the dam trailing a bead head leech. I get some yanks.

I work the dam with the leech and get a couple hookups that come undone. I think they're bass, but they might be crappie.

Then I catch a little bass. Maybe those others were bass. Or maybe crappie.

I cross in front of the spillway and cover the last stretch of shoreline before the take out. That's where I caught my lunker bass. I get another couple of hook ups that come undone. Then, just before I reach the ramp, I get a big yank that bends the rod double. I'm thinking big bass, but then pull this thing in.

I'm not certain what it is so I look it up. I find some photos of identical fish taken at Lake Monroe. They're labelled striped bass and they're just this size. I didn't know striped bass came in this size, but I'm happy to catch a new species at Yellowwood.

The lake is waking up, and I enjoyed breaking the skunk. The best part of the evening, though, was breaking in a brand new pair of waders. For the first time in months I was completely dry on the drive home. It's the little things that count.