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Port Henry - 3/29

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 10:58 am
by ChessieMan
I've been on a self-imposed quarantine having just returned from a business to the southeast Urals in Russia and it was wearing thin on me and my wife - when she, less than subtly suggested I go fishing, I need no more prompting.

When I rolled into the launch yesterday morning, I was surprised to see eight other boat trailers – I’ve never seen more than four on previous trips – apparently a lot of people needed to go fishing.
I launched and slowly motored out into the morning mist and sunrise, setting up rods and down riggers with visions of salmon leaping in my head.

Once set, I cranked up the Yamaha and headed north, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my back. And then it happened – Crash, crinkle, crinkle, crinkle – WHAT the ...... - I’d run into a pack of skim ice shattering it, sending bits and shards all over – the sea gulls standing on it were particularly disturbed and I should have realized that they can’t stand on water! Fortunately, it was skim ice – no harm no foul.

Turning around, I set the rods as soon as I cleared the ice – a Fishy1 on the port rod and a blue/silver Speedy on the starboard and for the next 3 hours the only things that changed were the lure colors and the weather – nary a nibble as I worked down to the bridge, over in the bay and up to the pier. I was marking lots of fish, but none were hungry.

Around 11:30, I decided to head north, I picked my way around the ice and set out when I hit the 100’ line. The first thing I noticed was there were no fish around; my sonar screen was white as a snow storm. 20 minutes later, conceding the point I turned south toward the launch as I passed Presbury Point, I recalled a comment Fishy made about Beaver Brook, so I turned west. At the 20’ line I headed south and dropping the lines in.

Expecting more of the same, I was cleaning up the boat when I noticed the port rod bouncing up and down like a yo-yo – FISH!! Grabbing the rod, I felt the “thump-thump-thump” of a heavy fish and threw the motor in neutral. After 5 minutes of give and take, I caught sight of a very fat laker and in a few more minutes it was CPR (catch-photo-release) – a really prettyy28” laker full of smelt and alewives.

Image

And it got better, as I was resetting the port rod, the starboard fired off and again I felt the thump of a heavy fish – another fat laker – this one however, was battle scared with lamprey hits on its’ head and sides.

I did six loops and landed more 4 lakers and broke another one off over the next 35 minutes and then things went dead – but you know what – that was enough, the itch had been scratched, there was no stink on the boat and I was feeling pretty good.

Next week – April 1st – Trout or stripers????? - Terrible dilemma.

Re: Port Henry - 3/29

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:25 am
by ReelInvestment
The dock must be in then?! Thanks for the report.

Re: Port Henry - 3/29

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 1:18 pm
by ChessieMan
No teh docks are not in - wear your boots

Re: Port Henry - 3/29

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 1:27 pm
by Reelax
Great report.. Glad to hear you got out and Thanks for the story... Love reading your adventures....