At 5:30am, one hour before sunrise, we're hauling the largest shiners we could buy 1 mile through the woods in the dark to Greenhalge Point, also known as the Rook. All because the best time to catch lakers at
the Chu is now. The temperature is 20 degrees. Seems hardcore. It would be if we didn't like it.
We were at B&A Bait and Tackle 1/2 hour ago. The neon 'OPEN' sign was on bright. The owner was outside sweeping leaves away from the door. Trucks started pulling in, driving over the curb to get a spot, and the bait shop suddenly became a hotspot. Next door the Country Kettle sat in darness, soon to be prepping for breakfast.
The Rook is crowded with fishermen carrying full assortments of heavy metal spoons, blowing up nightcrawlers, and tossing huge shiners and perch they caught. Some catch lakers, some don't. It is not as easy as just showing up expecting to catch fish. We go home without catching one this time.
The following Saturday I visit gates 22 and 28. Early in the morning, around 8am, near Bull Rock, a lake trout mesmerized by a slow steady retrieve chased my Krocodile to shore, then darted away. Immediately I cast back eliciting a strike. I set quickly, but don't hook-up. This would become the theme that morning. Encouraging and disappointing at the same time. That's fishing. The bite died by 9am. Fishing at the Wachusett Reservoir is prohibited after November 30. Opening day is the first Saturday in April. Spring is lights out for lakers, so they say. I will have to wait until then.
While walking the trail near the water's edge I am startled by a loud wail. There is a loon with grey and white winter colors sitting a feet away that I probably would not have noticed had it not called out. I saw the bobber, then the braided fishing line entangling it. I observed the hook wasn't in his mouth, so I knew he did not swallow it. Lead sinkers are not allowed, so I knew he did not swallow one of those either. The line was tightly wrapped around the bird's neck, wing, and leg. I got out my braid scissors, making sure I removed all the line while he was biting me with his long pointy beak. The first thing he did when free of fishing line was go the bathroom. Then he went to the water, dove quickly under, resurfaced, and paddled away. Another loon came over to meet him, and they swam away towards the middle of the lake together.
See you in April Chu
