Fishing
First Time at a New Pond was a Success, Part 1
A subscriber suggested visiting this pond in Nampa, and I was finally able to make it out. The wind was wild and made fishing a little interesting, but the day was a huge success. Got into a couple of species of various sizes and had a blast. I don't know how many fish I caught in total, but it was quite a few. Changing to the smaller Crappie Magnet Jig Head significantly improved my hookset probability.
A Multiple Species Kind of Day
I returned to Sawyers Pond in Emmett, Idaho, for this trip and didn't expect the results. Started off getting into some trout just beyond the weed line and very deep. The float was getting some interest, but I couldn't get the hookset, so I tested the bluegill I was seeing in front of me. Turned out there was a massive slab of a Crappie hanging out there. This one made my new PB. While I waited for more trout, I used the Tenkara to fish around the dock and catch several gorgeous bluegill.
First Time at a Brand New Pond
Eagle Island State Park has been around since before I was born. There was a single winding pond that people would fish and swim in. Recently, they expanded the park to be more like other state parks in Idaho. They added a camping area and a new 5-acre pond, specifically for fishing. The pond is still under construction, but it did open to fishing this year and has been stocked. Time to test the waters.
Fresh Spring Stocking & Crowded Fishing
The nearby pond was stocked for the first time this spring, and the crowds were waiting. Unusually warm weather had the pond bank packed right as the sun rose. It was a decent day of fishing, even with people on either side of me. Everyone was friendly, and almost everyone caught a fish. Made for a pretty great day.
Micro-Fishing with a Tenkara Rod
The spring can be tough, even with stocked ponds. Once the weather warms, the people come out in droves. That means the fish numbers drop much faster, and usually, fishing is good for a single week, then you're left looking at other ponds more recently stocked to find some more fish to catch. Sometimes, the trout just aren't there, so you make it work in a fun way. The local pond scheduled stocking was missed, but the baby bass and blue gill were now numerous and hungry. Time for the Tenkara rod and some micro fishing.