Life: Know Your Place (Or Secret Places When Fishing)

No…no earth shattering how to mend your ways or gain peace of mind here. No angst or poetry to help you commiserate.

No, this is about knowing those special places that we revisit because of successes, beauty, peace, familiarity. The ‘holes’, the ‘secret places’ in our fishing successes that we feel we are most likely to be dialed in on. “Most likely” is used because if we are wise, we know that things change. The why’s are why we often over analyze this pursuit but part of the enjoyment in moderation.

Above, is a back bay at a favorite lake we frequent a few times a year. It is inviting because, as I have learned, it is often wind sheltered in the afternoon, it is frequented by deer on the North side and geese on the South side. At the upper end is a brush/rock pile that is a Damsel fly & Callibaetis strong hold in the Summer. Along the edges, lined with snags and reeds are productive if patiently plied with a dry Damsel or Callibaetis dry.

The back bay is two to three feet deep at the upper end and ever so slightly drops to ten feet toward the mouth of the bay and then, into the lake, the bottom drops off to thirty feet in a hurry. Big Trout and  Bass compete in this drop off area.

This is one part of one lake, of many lakes and streams that we fish and each one is a study to develop patterns. Not foolproof patterns, but rather to create options of strategy. There is comfort in that.