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Gone...casting?
Fishing in South County requires three things; a decent pool, a good friend, and an amazing sense of humor. None of them are negotiable, trust me. I’ve had several fishing adventures (or mishaps depending on perspective) this summer.
I’m not sure if my luck will change, but I can say that each outing has been memorable, whether it’s been a full gear, strap-the-canoe-to-the-jeep-and-grab-some-subs-afternoon or a quick run down to the old (new) covered bridge to throw a few lines in before the sun goes down.
I’ve been taking stock of the conditions in my fish haunts. The Stockbridge Bowl is, by far, my favorite. The best time to go is early, early on a Sunday morning. The lake is pristine, the houses are quiet, and birds are VERY helpful in locating fish and yes, the fish are diverse and yes, they do bite. Plus, you can work up a good appetite all morning and head over to the Elm St. Market for some good eats and coffee.
A word of caution about the Bowl, if you are a novice caster or just feeling off your game, stay away from shore. So far I’ve snagged my lure on several tree branches and even someone’s porch. So glad no one was home during the lure rescue. What? Did you think I would leave it there?
Another familiar hole, although I’m reluctant to even mention it because I usually leave it completely angry and shy at least one lure, is Gilligan’s Pond in Sheffield. One word; WEEDS. Weeds everywhere. It actually looks like a cornfield is growing underwater. So DO NOT USE a three-hook lure. Or, if you do, expect to spend most of your time randomly tugging on your pole trying to unsnag your lure.
Also, as if the weeds weren’t bad enough, there are some big, sneaky, fallen trees lurking on the edges. Just when you think you’re clear of the edge and the really bad weeds suddenly your line is tight and there is your lure, embedded in wet wood. In fact, on one of these adventures, I’m not sure if my pole was rebelling against the location, but I cast out and half of my pole went with the lure. I saved it from sinking completely but knew to pack up after that. On the positive side, Gilligan’s Pond has some really interesting birdlife and twists and turns and marshes. It is also a gorgeous place to watch the moon come up.
Lastly, and somewhat ironically, there is the Housy (formally known as the Housatonic River). The old (new) covered bridge in Sheffield is about a 40-second drive from my house. I go there when I am itching to cast a few lines, sometimes still in my work clothes. I grab my pole and my tackle box (which are both in my car at all times, as are my fishing flip-flops), trip down the slope to the river’s edge, set up shop on my little rock, and just start throwing lines in. I’m sure I should have more of a strategy, but so far, this has been my most successful fishing spot. I’ve snagged two enormous pike (the last one was over two feet long) within the first three casts. Which reminds me, since there are a ton of pike in the Housy, bring your needle-nosed pliers if you want your lure back because that’s the only way you’re going to get it out of a pike’s mouth. They’ve got some nasty teeth and they fight like demons.
I’ll keep you posted on more adventures. Might be heading up to Lake Buel on Saturday morning. Anyone know where I can get some decent shiners?
| Tags: fishing |
