July 4th, 2011

July 4th, 2011:

Kayuta Lake
Alder Creek, NY
Smallmouth Bass

As life progresses relationships can grow further apart. Brothers that once saw each other on a daily basis can get to the point where a handful of memories together is all that surfaces in a year’s time. Careful examination reveals no crime or victim, just people filtering out the “music” that flows through them.

One thing that is cool about having a brother is that no matter how much life changes us on the outside, we always recognize each other’s core. Certain characteristics that make a person who they are on the deepest level are recognized in a very translucent manner. We know the auras of the elements of each other’s awareness; An understanding that is beyond words.

This morning, two brother’s started the day by catching crayfish for bait. Months had gone by without spending much time together yet we took to the misty morning stream in unison. The real phenomena here, was that we did it without needing to have much of a verbal conversation. It had all been said before…

We caught our bait in the exact location where I began fishing over 30 years ago. It is a place that hasn’t been visited in quite a few years. Being there with him was a very mystical thing. Sometimes it seems as though life is just some sort of strange dream that recycles itself in infinite ways.

Proceeding from the Oriskany Creek in Clark Mills, our effort made its way to the dam on Kayuta Lake in Alder Creek. Hard fighting smallmouth bass were the target species. This location has proved to be quite a consistent producer of good quality smallies in the 12-18” range.

The bronze colored fish with its cool looking stripes have earned a special place in many an angler’s heart. Pound for pound they sure put up one heck of a fuss! Spastic bezerkoid fights for freedom and survival are deeply written into the fish’s genetic code. Perhaps the common admiration comes from the ability to relate with the rugged little fish.

Our tactics for enticing the fish to bite were simple. A crayfish is placed on a hook below a bobber and drifted through the pockets of water below the dam. The leader length is adjusted to the depth of the water one is drifting.

The action was fair today. Quite a few fish received free meals at our expense. A lot of good strikes with submerged bobbers came back with only an bare hook. Perhaps it was smaller fish for the most part. Hard to say when you never see them.

A few hook sets did find there mark and we managed to land a handful of bass. The best one being a hard fighting smallmouth that ran about 14 inches long. It came after a few drifts through a deep hole with smaller sized crayfish. It wasn’t a small crab that did the trick though. The fish came on the first drift after switching to a larger sized crayfish. As soon as the mini lobster hit the water, the bobber was sucked down into the depths. Guessing that fish was looking for a meal, not a snack.

Some bigger fish would have really put the icing on the cake, but we really did enjoy our time together today. Making it the best was warm breezes and sunny blue skies.

May 14th, 2011

May 14th, 2011:

Backwoods “Pond”
Western Adirondacks
Brook Trout

Fully awoken at 3am in the morning, Jim and I set the day in motion by rounding up the gear we needed for a backwoods trip into the Adirondacks. We fumbled around in the dark trying not to wake the others sleeping nearby. It was a fairly smooth execution that even included 15min of catching worms with a flashlight.

Jim agreed to drive his car and to use his gas today. Saving the money was great, but dealing with his driving is not! The S.O.B has a terrible lead foot that leaves the passenger griping at anything secure in the vehicle. We were at the trailhead to our destination before the sun even started to show itself on the horizon.

Jim is one of my oldest, closest friends. Our conversation while making the three mile walk into our fishing spot often ran very deep. At times it almost seemed as if I was talking to another version of myself.

There was a light misty rain that accompanied our outing. It wasn’t a cold rain, and it helped to keep the pesky black flies from becoming overwhelming. The greenery was about half way developed; Leaving the scenery looking like a natural “buzz cut.” The long, shaggy, hippie hair will be here soon.

Our technique for catching the brook trout is simple. We simply cast out Lake Clear wabbler spoons that are trailed with a 12 to 24 inch long leader. At the end of the leader a simple hook and worm is attached. We cast them out into the deeper holes, and slowly work them back to shore. The trout are attracted to the flashy spoon and quickly locate the worm.

Jim had an immediate hook up on his first cast, but lost the fish soon after. It quickly became apparent that the fish were going to require a little bit of patience, and a fair amount of effort. The action wasn’t fast and furious, but it was consistent.

Fifteen minutes after Jim lost one on his first cast, I was buzzing with excitement. A beautifully marked, foot long brookie leaped from the water as I thrashed around on the shoreline spewing excitement like a five year old in the toy aisle. Slipping the first gorgeously marked fish into the net, and seeing it up close, was the epic moment of the morning. Those flaming blue halos are a masterpiece of nature. The intricate design and color seem to express the depths of life itself.

The two of us spent a couple hours meshing with the backwoods. Every so often we would dial in on a trout and our excitement would sing the lead vocals. We managed enough trout for a delicious lunch and had a great time in the process.

On the way back to our vehicle we found fresh bear tracks in the mud. It looked as though we may have scared it off just before we got there. Every time we have ventured into this part of the Adirondacks we have seen sign of bear in one form or another, including a very close encounter in the flesh. Plans have been made for a return bear hunting trip in the fall.