Spent this Sunday afternoon float tube fishing with Gillbuster on an idealic local kettle pond on what turned out to be a superb fall afternoon.
Saturday was a complete washout in our area and the local movie theaters were cleaning up. I am sure there were hardcore fisherman toughing it out and probably reaping the rewards of the crummy weather but not me (this time). I am sure glad I waited as it was perfect out there today.
This pond is not easy to access and thus doesn't receive much fishing pressure. It also gives one the feeling you are fishing much further north in New England than you really are due to the lack of houses and serenity it offers. We were able to see much wildlife around the lake such as the resident kingfisher making his way round the ponds treeline along with some wild turkeys calling to gillbuster like sirens.
Additionally there were numerous bug hatches going off not that I am any expert. The most prolific seen on the water were some redish colored flying ants.The fish didn't seem to be keyed in on them but there was the occasional rise.
The fishing. Well the last visit was going to be hard to top for me. Last time we visited was over a year ago in May and the fish were very hungry after spawning. So they were eager to take the goldie and I got a grand slam. A super nice largemouth, a solid 3 pound smallmouth, a two pound yellow perch and a monster pickerel.
This time we found the fishing to be much slower. I was getting a slow pick of smallmouths not too long after hitting the water but had to wait for a decent sized one until rounding the north end of the pond. Gillbuster was not feeling any love from the local fishes after making his way almost 3 quarters away around the bowl and was surely thinking the skunk was sneaking following not too far behind.
Then it happened. The sun dipped below the treeline as the afternoon wore on to early evening and the bite turned on. Gillbuster was on fire hitting several fish two on consective casts. Things being slow for me I started to double back to see what all the hubub was and I snagged the bottom. Or so I thought....until it started moving. Thats when I realized whoa....finally...a decent fish. This fish was kicking my butt! Had to hold on for fear of getting yanked off the float tube! They should put seat belts on those things
.
I was certainly wondering if my leader was going to hold up..but soon I layed eyes on a magnifcent 23 inch largemouth. Quite a surprise as we were targeting smallmouths and I was fishing with a small Jack Gartside Sparrow fly which was personally tied by local Boston tying legend.
The following are Gillbusters photos I left my camera behind today.
Thanks for a fantastic outing Gillbuster!
