10-03-2019, 11:23 PM
Made my first-ever visit to Echo today. It won't be my last.
Arrival air 28°, water 55° and the lake was vaping beautifully. Launched kayak.
Pedaled up to the riprap and on my third cast, a 16" smallie engulfed my Ned rig so deep I had to retrieve it on the fillet table. Ditto the next cast with a 14"er.
Tied on the third jig and vowed to strike sooner next time. Next time was an 18" rainbow that led me a merry fight, earning his release. (I don't keep slimers.)
Ended up with two more smallies the same size as the second one. Released a couple more because I only wanted to keep four. After a nice hot lunch (gotta love self-heating military rations!) I caught one more and then got a premonition that I ought to head home.
100 yards from the ramp, the wind came up STRONG, and by the time I'd made that last 100 yards, there were whitecaps. Two guys in a McKenzie drift boat with a trolling motor were in trouble, so I suggested that a Tracker owner go out and give them a tow. They were very grateful to get it, too.
Departed glad to have beaten the gales at 3 pm. Air temp 70° and water 59° by then.
Never found perch, but the smallie fishing was too much fun, anyway. Released my worms in the flower patch. They were grateful, too!
[signature]
Arrival air 28°, water 55° and the lake was vaping beautifully. Launched kayak.
Pedaled up to the riprap and on my third cast, a 16" smallie engulfed my Ned rig so deep I had to retrieve it on the fillet table. Ditto the next cast with a 14"er.
Tied on the third jig and vowed to strike sooner next time. Next time was an 18" rainbow that led me a merry fight, earning his release. (I don't keep slimers.)
Ended up with two more smallies the same size as the second one. Released a couple more because I only wanted to keep four. After a nice hot lunch (gotta love self-heating military rations!) I caught one more and then got a premonition that I ought to head home.
100 yards from the ramp, the wind came up STRONG, and by the time I'd made that last 100 yards, there were whitecaps. Two guys in a McKenzie drift boat with a trolling motor were in trouble, so I suggested that a Tracker owner go out and give them a tow. They were very grateful to get it, too.
Departed glad to have beaten the gales at 3 pm. Air temp 70° and water 59° by then.
Never found perch, but the smallie fishing was too much fun, anyway. Released my worms in the flower patch. They were grateful, too!
[signature]