The Berry

[KC5]

I don't know what it is about strawberry, but sometimes I feel like its similar to the game of golf, you go out and shoot a good round of golf, gain some confidence, then, you are almost always humbled and reminded there is much more to learn. That is exaclty how I feel about the berry, It is interesting how the dymamics of the lake have changed. In the "old Days' we always caught fish at the berry, same lures, none of the fancy stuff, no electronics, just a good old aluminum boat and some flatfish, maybe some teasers and you would catch limits of fish. It has been difficult making the transition with this "new lake" new species of fish, every changing demands, and for you young guys alot less pressure on the lake! I remember days gone by that you could almost walk across the lake with the numbers of poeple fishing the berry.

To get on with my point, I have fished the berry 8 times this year, the first trip was a bust, working out the bugs from winter, no fish at all that trip. 2nd trip caught 2 fish, wore the paint of my old standby flatfish, 3rd trip I started to listen to those that are succsessful on the lake, started changing up my lures, presentation, learning my electronics and the next few trips I finally started to catch some good fish, including my biggest at the berry ever.

My confidence was getting high and the urge to get up there and perfect my new found technique was calling, so yesterday (sat) I found some time to get up there in the afternoon. Got on the water at a good time, this was my first evening trip, but my confidence was very high. I hit my usual spot and got the poles in the water, right off the bat I picked up a small cut, feeling like I was right back in the groove.

Well this is were humility sets in, I proceeded to go through the box throwing everything but the kitchen sink at them, no more bites for the evening, NADA, whats up with that! there fish on the finder had my lures in the zone! but nothing. It felt like a real kick in the butt, I seen plenty of boats around me landing fish to!

So lesson learned! still lots to learn, but that dang Berry, keeps sucking me in just like the game of golf!!!!!
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[OldTroller]

I feel/know your pain.
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[Darn]

I have fished at the Berry for most of my life, and I'm no spring chicken. I do not own a boat so most of my experience comes from the bank or through the ice. The last few yeaars have been disapointing at best. Today was no different. I caught several chubs and had to fish my but off to get those. When I was young you couldn't beat the fish off your line. Football sized fish that pulled your rod in the drink if you weren't paying attention. Those days are gone. Its to see. Now I have to pay 7 bucks to get skunked and I have to fish in the designated areas or walk miles to get away. I understand the draw you speak of but only because I have seen the potential of this place. Ole Smokey was the fish everyone talked about at the old camp strawberry. The one that got away was on everyones mind. Now we just hope we catch one. The Berry to me is best left a memory.
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[N.E.T.O.]

I hear you, and I feel the same way.

The 'Berry is a whole 'nother animal this year. The water level, temperature and normal rythm of that lake is way off this year due to the late late spring and extra runoff we've had. The places that the fish usually hang out in 30 to 35 feet of water this time of the year are not 30 to 35 feet deep this year. The fish don't know whether summer is here yet, or if it got skipped and they don't know whether they are coming or going.

I have spent a lot of time (since 2004) fishing that lake with some really good fishermen, most of whom frequent this forum, and have learned a lot from them. I go there quite often and consider myself a very good Strawberry fisherman. We've complimented ourselves many times on the way home from a good trip talking about how "good" we THINK we are and we kid each other about retiring and being full time fishing guides (...yeah, right!) on that lake. And usually, like you mentioned, the next trip out, full of confidence, we get skunked. And it's usually when we take a couple of newbies with us to "show them how to fish the 'Berry" when we get humbled and put back into our place. It's a good thing we never seriously quit our day jobs!

Anyway, it's not you this year...it's the 'Berry itself. It's way off this year. It will get back to normal eventually. I've had to change my ways to catch fish there this year.

Randy
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[flygoddess]

Sounds like someone needs a hug...LOL We need a Strawberry day!
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