An hour of fishing was too long
Drake and I finally got some time to get back on the ice, but it was only for a short time. I had another method I wanted to try, he needed some fresh air, exercise, and a fish lick or two. When all was said and done, we finally got our holes drilled about 1 hour before sundown.
A customer of mine said he was catching giant bluegills on leafworms. Really. Didn’t he know that was not convention, that you’re “supposed to” use leafworms only in the spring, summer, and fall? Never the winter, because worms aren’t out then, dummy.
Well, Drake ran around like an idiot on the ice, which is fine, but he didn’t realize that the ice was super smooth under the snow, and after a couple of too tight U turns and corresponding face plants he slowed down a little.
I hooked up a leaf worm, dropped it down to the bottom, and reeled up about 4″, set the rod down to rig another…bang! The spring bobber slammed tight to the rod tip, and I was on to a big bluegill not more than a couple of seconds after putting it in the water. Drake’s fish lick followed. A couple of more followed, and so did my abandonment of another convention. Leaf worms, or redworms, do work in the winter just fine. Can’t wait to explore with them some more, try them up against waxworms, mousies, spikes, the traditional baits as a comparison.
We didn’t stay until sunset, which would probably produced more fish. This day it wasn’t fun. This day I didn’t want to be…fishing. I had a personal matter which was consuming me. I thought fishing would offer a salve, a break, some perspective. Instead I just lost interest in fishing, grabbed up the stuff, and headed for the car. It’s rare when it happens, but sometimes a really big life things can captivate all your thoughts and feelings, causing even things you’ve loved to do your whole life to go pale. Such was this evening, and such is this time in life - for now.
Walking back, I was pleased Drake was having such a good time. “Drake come”, I said. “Stay out of the burrs this time, dummy”.
I was pleased he had such a good time, and even more pleased he was with me. Time (and good dogs) heals all wounds, and this one will be no different. I’ll feel better. “We’ll be back”, I said under my breath to no one as I loaded up the car.
