08-07-2003, 01:39 PM
Well, I finally got up to Jackson Lake, west of Wiggins, CO. It was a waste of time. Irrigation demands is draining the lake about 12" to 18" a day and will do so for the next fifteen days. The only thing biting was the carp and mosquitoes. I talked to a few fishermen and they weren't catching anything to write home about. Because of the rapid change in water level, catfish, wiper, saugeye, walleye and bass were off their feed. By the time the water stops dropping, they'll be swimming in mud.
Speaking of carp. There was a large school, numbering approximately 100, swimming around the outlet. At first I thought the dark patches was just dead brush, but no, it moved. And there were some good size ones in the school, rivaling a small torperdo. I was tempted to break out the fishing gear and try for a few, just for the fun of it. Really Dave, I would have released any I caught.
The situation reminded me of my fishing days back in Waco, in the summertime of 1958 and 1959, below the Lake Waco dam. I'd make myself a batch of dough bait (my Mom sure got mad at what I did to her pots), get out there early (just to pick out my favorite spot) and throw the line in the water. Usually I didn't catch much, a small catfish here and there and maybe a small carp. I just enjoyed being outside, even if I did bake in the hot Texas summer sun. Well, on one particular morning, something grabbed my dough bait and took off. I'm here to tell you, I had a whale of a time playing that one. After I finally had it in hand, it turned out to be a 26# carp, the biggest I'd ever caught at that time. Carp may not be pretty, they may not taste good (too many bones) and they may be called trash fish but get one on your line and you'll have the time of your life.
Have a nice day.
[signature]
Speaking of carp. There was a large school, numbering approximately 100, swimming around the outlet. At first I thought the dark patches was just dead brush, but no, it moved. And there were some good size ones in the school, rivaling a small torperdo. I was tempted to break out the fishing gear and try for a few, just for the fun of it. Really Dave, I would have released any I caught.
The situation reminded me of my fishing days back in Waco, in the summertime of 1958 and 1959, below the Lake Waco dam. I'd make myself a batch of dough bait (my Mom sure got mad at what I did to her pots), get out there early (just to pick out my favorite spot) and throw the line in the water. Usually I didn't catch much, a small catfish here and there and maybe a small carp. I just enjoyed being outside, even if I did bake in the hot Texas summer sun. Well, on one particular morning, something grabbed my dough bait and took off. I'm here to tell you, I had a whale of a time playing that one. After I finally had it in hand, it turned out to be a 26# carp, the biggest I'd ever caught at that time. Carp may not be pretty, they may not taste good (too many bones) and they may be called trash fish but get one on your line and you'll have the time of your life.
Have a nice day.
[signature]