I've been fishing at the Chu maybe ten times and caught fish on only two of the trips. Fish came unhooked on a few of the other occasions. Maybe the set was not right, or I tried to horse a trout, I don't know. It's frustrating when fishing becomes unforgiving and I cannot take advantage of the few opportunities I get at a place like the Chu. One of the reasons I find it difficult here is I am only learning to become effective with tins. Another is I don't forget about losing quality fish, ever, considering the time I put into catching one. I'm still disappointed actually. It only makes me more determined to go back and spend hours walking around in the woods for an opportunity at a fish. If I wanted to catch a boatload of fish I would go
elsewhere.
I like metals because I feel like I'm fishing, it's challenging, and I can move around, as compared to heaving and leaving live bait. What I have experienced is sunset and sunrise are the best times and lakers come in shallow then, otherwise they are deep in cold water. They spawn in the fall. You can reel the spoon in slow and steady, or with a slow jigging retrieve. Fish will actually pick it up off or near the bottom, and when they do you should feel it if your line is tight. Braid will help with sensitivity and long distance hooksets if you can stand it. I only use braid for surfcasting, in which case I use 30lb Suffix 832. I'm holding out with Trilene XL monofilament for all freshwater applications because I'm accustomed, and enjoy fishing with it.
This time after walking down the fire road to secluded Lamson Cove I come upon calm water and good conditions. It was close to sunset. A few fish were hitting bugs on the surface. I cast past a boil and hook up with a keeper using a slow jigging retreive. While keeping tension on the line I reach to turn my video camera on because I want to record what happens with this hard fighting fish, but the fish's head surfaces and shakes the 3/4 ounce gold Kastmaster off before I can turn my camera on. Another lost fish. I only saw its open mouth facing towards me in a splash. All I know is it wasn't a largemouth.
I also saw some deer and a bald eagle.
Today I went from gate 35 to Bull Rock. At around 6 miles round trip it's not the closest gate to Bull Rock, but I wanted the exercise and there is ample designated parking at that gate. Here are the files I had on my GPS unit:
Bull Rock
