Pickwick 9-13-2012-Great day.

[Alphahawk]

Had a great day at Pickwick...although it did not go as planned it turned out fantastic. I started fishing at the lock trying to locate crappie...no luck..not even a Gill. Then walked a couple hundred yards down to the flats and was hoping to get in on some Large Mouth action....dead...also no Gills there either. I was getting discouraged after a 100 mile drive....no fish. Walked back up that long sidewalk and drove over to generator side looking for some Stripers and or Whites...nothing. I was down.....then thought about my spot on the lake side. Drove to there and got settled in on the bank...in the shade all day. Was hoping to see some Large Mouth busting the water but that was not the case. Made a few casts with bass rod and started throwing the Trout Magnet. Started catching these big chunky Gills...some of the thickest ones I have ever seen. These fish are all about 7 inches...no more....but they weigh 3/4 of a pound! They were suspended in about 8 feet of water. Decided to put a split shot on the Trout Magnet and let it go deep and started twitching it across the rocks on bottom in about 14 or 15 feet of water. Started catching football Smallies. I knew...was hoping....sooner or later some bigger Smallies would hit...and they did.....not giants but 14 and 15 inch fish. Which with 2# test was quite a battle. Heck with the water being 81 degrees there the Gills were making my drag scream. I caught about 3 dozen of the football smallies...and 8 in the 14 to 15 inch range. As to how many of those bruiser Gills I caught....I don't know...70...80....I don't know ....it was a bunch. I was on the phone with browntrout telling him I was going to stay until dark hoping to get in on some Large Mouth action or hoping to hook up with a 4 or 5 pound Smallie. That did not happen. I caught a few more fish and looked down at my feet and there lay about a 2 foot Copperhead. I eased out of there and home I came...LOL. That place I was at is known to have Copperheads and Cottonmouths....but this is the first time I have ever seen one down there after all those years of fishing. Don't like them...but I will be back...LOL. That spot is a great place to fish...I wish there was a close access for launching a kayak. You have to put in on the other side of the lake...at the State Park......that would be a long paddle.


Regards

[MNfisher]

Great day and great post! Wonder why the whites and stripers didn't make much of a showing yet there?

[Alphahawk]

Great day and great post! Wonder why the whites and stripers didn't make much of a showing yet there?

Good question...but i know when you pull into that parking lot next to generators and see only 3 cars it ain't looking good...LOL. I talked to two guys in boats on the lake today....they couldn't get over me using the 2# test even for 14 and 15 inch Smallies......anyway they told me the bass are not schooling yet. Told me that the lake is full of minnows all over the place and they think within two weeks it will be large mouth heaven down there.


Regards

[browntrout]

I personally would have like to have seen pictures of the snake. Next time please get some pictures of the snake. Preferably some good close ups. You didn't mention needing to stop and the bathroom and checking the old pants. That would have been my first stop. 💩💩💩💩

[tkwalker]

I personally would have like to have seen pictures of the snake. Next time please get some pictures of the snake. Preferably some good close ups. You didn't mention needing to stop and the bathroom and checking the old pants. That would have been my first stop. ��������

Browntrout ... Your dangerous !!! <'TK>< LOL !!! :eek:

[Alphahawk]

Browntrout ... Your dangerous !!! <'TK>< LOL !!! :eek:

You know tk I read in one of your posts about you having water snakes all around your feet. I have had that happen too....but a Copperhead was more than I could take....LOL. I never really thought about it until today but that place is ideal for them. At the bottom of the bank is huge rocks that look like small ledges...perfect for a Copperhead to hang out in.



Regards

[tkwalker]

Alpha ... I Know ... I have learned to tolerate them in my old age BUT I HATE THEM ... But now I let them live .. Even those that are in my Barn when I am looking for old Outboard Parts ...Spiders I enjoy especially the beautiful wood spiders ... (Large yellow and black that make enormous webs)

The day you are referring to was in front of my Cabin In Lancaster ... I was about knee deep and wearing shorts ... There is always Gizzard Shad schools passing by and running into you and a peck here and again ... But this was a more solid peck and solid ... I looked down and a snake was wraped around my right leg ...

Jesus Christ is not the only one that has walked on water !!! But mine was for a different reason !!! <'TK>< :eek:

[nomad60]

Nice gills, Alpha! Sounds like yet another great day out on the water. Except maybe, the part about the snake.

Jesus Christ is not the only one that has walked on water !!! But mine was for a different reason !!! <'TK>< :) LOL

[vincent]

... Spiders I enjoy especially the beautiful wood spiders ... (Large yellow and black that make enormous webs)
<'TK>< :eek:

I've had one of those make a web in my Odyssey van's driving seat in 2010. I went fishing to Hobson pike the day before, and came home at night. Next morning, I opened the door and almost placed my butt on the driver's seat when the web and spider was almost on my face, and I somehow managed to jump out. Not sure if it was poisonous or not, the spider sure was big, and it was dead in the next couple of minutes.

[vincent]

BTW, nice gills there Alpha....

[Alphahawk]

Nice gills, Alpha! Sounds like yet another great day out on the water. Except maybe, the part about the snake.

:) LOL

Yeah I dont like poisonous snakes. But you can bet you will see more fishing reports from the same location in the upcoming weeks...LOL. That place...and everywhere else is going to be on fire in a few weeks.

Regards