Bites Only

As promised, I launched the Float Tube Cumberland in Bear River Reservoir this morning. After Coffee at Cooks Station (I have to make a comment about this because I think the reason for the bad day fishing, is that they were out of cream for the coffee) I arrived at Bear at 0815. Had the float tube in the water by 0830 and flippered over to the edge of the dam where I usually fish.

My plan was to parallel the dam across to the other side of the lake. I started with a size 8 olive Wooly Bugger. After several casts, changed to a size 8 brown Wooly Bugger. That's when I got the first hit. Bump and gone. Couple of casts later, bump and gone. Must be those little guys.

Started chatting with a lady on the shore and she asked if I'd fished the tournament over the weekend. Said I hadn't, but that explained why the bite was quiet. Was probably a zillion people fishing right were I was.

Continued across and back without any more bumps. At 1000 I took a break and grabbed another fly box. This one had bigger Buggers (which is the reason I left it in the truck in the first place), but it did have the Size 8 Tungsten Beadhead Thinmint and I wanted to try that.

Flippered back and started across again. No interest in that or another streamer I tried and I even tried a Clouser Deep Minnow in a rust color without any bumps. The I noticed a little movement on the surface back at the corner where I started. Changed to my rod with floating line and put on the little fuzzy mosquito thing I tied the other day.

Set it out and in seconds, there was a flash and the fly was gone. I lifted the rod and the fish was gone. Man, that was fast. Second time, same thing. Flash, fly gone, fish gone. Quick little suckers. This happened a couple more times and then nothing. Changed to a Yellow Humpy, but no interest in that. So, I changed to a Zebra Midge just to mix things up a bit. Nope no interest there either.

At that point, I could feel a cramp coming on in my right leg, so I called it a day. Hit the shore at 1130 and figured 3 hours of flippering was enough for one day. Too long a period in between to keep the legs in shape. Guess I'll just have to do more float tubeing.

Analysis of the day: No cream at Cooks for coffee = no limit of fish. In fact, no fish at all. It's all their fault. Please, no comments on this paragraph.

That pretty much sums it up. Till next time.

Mark (Shoreman)