09-29-2009, 03:51 AM
[font "Courier New"][#000050][size 3]Except for an empty hook, it actually wasn't too bad. Learned a few new things (about the area/landscape and some tips from a couple guys), and communed with nature...if you can call cussing up a storm, as such [:p]
I arrived at the South Marina about 4 P.M., and by the time I got all packed up and headed out, it was about 4:30 (my car trunk was a jumbled mess).
I've been wanting a red wagon to take all my stuff in, but for now I have a wheeled wire basket. The kind the old bag ladies have, in the city. Now this works fine, usually. But I got a nifty new tackle box, which is also a seat (so I don't have to lug around my lawn chair), but it's just vaguely (barely half an inch!) too big to fit in the wire basket. Guess I need to go on a wagon search again, after all. So I got what I needed from my tackle box, and put it in my backpack which does fit the basket.
I didn't do any fishing, but I did get to see where it was possible to do so. I went around towards the north, to find a spot that from the boat ramp looked promising. Though as I got up onto the dike, realized that the spot I wanted was separated by a canal. Oh well. I didn't feel I had enough energy to try going back around and hiking the southern path/dike, so I'll leave that for next time. Left around 5:30.
Speaking of hiking out. The North Marina got explored a bit, too. I parked at Pelican Beach, at the boat docks. That trail on the rocks that leads out to the inlet always seemed a little daunting to me - Google Earth says it's just over 1/4 of a mile. Well, I went slow and stopped to rest a couple times (and watch some critter that looked like a squirrel...but too far, too quick, and seemingly way too dark - almost black - for me to be sure). I got to the bunch of trees at the end. At the very end, I'd have to climb down rocks to fish. I found the little flat spot that faces the marina, and clambered down a few rocks there.
Ended up losing a new lure and bobber. I had met some guy named Joe (and when I asked for a handle, since "there's a lot of Joes in the world!", he said he knows about BFT, just never bothered joining). He gave me a lure (tube jig) that said crappie had been going crazy over lately. Pink head with green and yellow curly tail. A very slender bobber made of balsa wood, which I think I like better than the kind TubeDude showed me... sowwy Pat! [angelic]
After taking off my shoes and socks, and rolling up my pants a bit, I decided it was a bit too far out even with wading, to bother rescuing. So I cut the line... I hate doing that, both for littering and losing the stuff. There were quite a few carp, of course. It was then I realized I didn't bring worms or my blood bait. Bleh!
Air temp 75F, water 65F there. Didn't measure on my next spot.
6:30 back to the parking lot. There were LOTS of carp on the western side of the parking lot. Turns out, I had some anise-flavored shad in my tackle box, and I tried them. At first I stood on the parking lot edge and casted out, but after getting the bait caught a few times in cracks between the rocks on the reel-in, I decided to cast right at the water's edge. Climbing down (or up!) wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. In fact, I think I'll just go down there and fish right at the water's edge next time. Then I can sit on the rocks, too.
At about 8:15, I talked to "fishin' for eyes" (I don't know how to acronym/spell his handle). He said crappie were being caught from the docks (and indeed, Joe had gotten one there). BUT...yer not supposed to fish from the docks. Now I don't know if this means the platforms themselves, or even just near the docks. I don't want to get in trouble...but if I could climb down the rocks on that side and fish near the docks, I may well give that a try next time.
Left at 8:30.
SO! As stated before, a day of fishing is never a waste. I got fresh air, exercise, and some friendly conversation. Didn't take any pictures...there was nothing really special to capture.
At Wal-Mart, I bought some Boston Cream cake, Cream Cheese brownies and microwave dinners to soothe my wounded ego. The checker asked if I had enough sweets, and I said I didn't get any fish, I had to have something good. He asked where I went, and I said Willard. He asked if there were even any fish there! LOL I said there was tons...just that I can never get any.
P.S.
Somebody told me the bugs are just midges at Willard, and don't bite. Liar, liar, pants on fire! Sheesh, whatever was botherin' me, stings worse than mosquitoes! And yes, I had spray on, but they apparently knew that and went for the edge of my eyes where the spray ended [mad]
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I arrived at the South Marina about 4 P.M., and by the time I got all packed up and headed out, it was about 4:30 (my car trunk was a jumbled mess).
I've been wanting a red wagon to take all my stuff in, but for now I have a wheeled wire basket. The kind the old bag ladies have, in the city. Now this works fine, usually. But I got a nifty new tackle box, which is also a seat (so I don't have to lug around my lawn chair), but it's just vaguely (barely half an inch!) too big to fit in the wire basket. Guess I need to go on a wagon search again, after all. So I got what I needed from my tackle box, and put it in my backpack which does fit the basket.
I didn't do any fishing, but I did get to see where it was possible to do so. I went around towards the north, to find a spot that from the boat ramp looked promising. Though as I got up onto the dike, realized that the spot I wanted was separated by a canal. Oh well. I didn't feel I had enough energy to try going back around and hiking the southern path/dike, so I'll leave that for next time. Left around 5:30.
Speaking of hiking out. The North Marina got explored a bit, too. I parked at Pelican Beach, at the boat docks. That trail on the rocks that leads out to the inlet always seemed a little daunting to me - Google Earth says it's just over 1/4 of a mile. Well, I went slow and stopped to rest a couple times (and watch some critter that looked like a squirrel...but too far, too quick, and seemingly way too dark - almost black - for me to be sure). I got to the bunch of trees at the end. At the very end, I'd have to climb down rocks to fish. I found the little flat spot that faces the marina, and clambered down a few rocks there.
Ended up losing a new lure and bobber. I had met some guy named Joe (and when I asked for a handle, since "there's a lot of Joes in the world!", he said he knows about BFT, just never bothered joining). He gave me a lure (tube jig) that said crappie had been going crazy over lately. Pink head with green and yellow curly tail. A very slender bobber made of balsa wood, which I think I like better than the kind TubeDude showed me... sowwy Pat! [angelic]
After taking off my shoes and socks, and rolling up my pants a bit, I decided it was a bit too far out even with wading, to bother rescuing. So I cut the line... I hate doing that, both for littering and losing the stuff. There were quite a few carp, of course. It was then I realized I didn't bring worms or my blood bait. Bleh!
Air temp 75F, water 65F there. Didn't measure on my next spot.
6:30 back to the parking lot. There were LOTS of carp on the western side of the parking lot. Turns out, I had some anise-flavored shad in my tackle box, and I tried them. At first I stood on the parking lot edge and casted out, but after getting the bait caught a few times in cracks between the rocks on the reel-in, I decided to cast right at the water's edge. Climbing down (or up!) wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. In fact, I think I'll just go down there and fish right at the water's edge next time. Then I can sit on the rocks, too.
At about 8:15, I talked to "fishin' for eyes" (I don't know how to acronym/spell his handle). He said crappie were being caught from the docks (and indeed, Joe had gotten one there). BUT...yer not supposed to fish from the docks. Now I don't know if this means the platforms themselves, or even just near the docks. I don't want to get in trouble...but if I could climb down the rocks on that side and fish near the docks, I may well give that a try next time.
Left at 8:30.
SO! As stated before, a day of fishing is never a waste. I got fresh air, exercise, and some friendly conversation. Didn't take any pictures...there was nothing really special to capture.
At Wal-Mart, I bought some Boston Cream cake, Cream Cheese brownies and microwave dinners to soothe my wounded ego. The checker asked if I had enough sweets, and I said I didn't get any fish, I had to have something good. He asked where I went, and I said Willard. He asked if there were even any fish there! LOL I said there was tons...just that I can never get any.
P.S.
Somebody told me the bugs are just midges at Willard, and don't bite. Liar, liar, pants on fire! Sheesh, whatever was botherin' me, stings worse than mosquitoes! And yes, I had spray on, but they apparently knew that and went for the edge of my eyes where the spray ended [mad]
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