Poppin'

I started out the day with a bit of an upset stomach. Not enough to stop me from going out to Rancho Seco Lake, but enough that I didn't stop for a cup of coffee.

I got to the lake at 0830 and after check in and driving to a new spot, I launched the Float Tube Cumberland with the intention of fishing the new poppers I got from J and M Flies. From where I launched I figured the area to the left (facing the shore) would be a good place to start. It had bushes in the water and cattails along the shore. Even though you can't see it by the calmness of the water, there was a pretty good breeze blowing. Another reason I chose this cove area over other places on the lake, it was calmer than the open water.

Once I got to the far side (way to the left) of where I wanted to fish, I set out a slip bobber rig with a red worm (what Crappie in his right mind could resist a red worm?) as an indicator or fish finder, if you will. On my fly rod I started with a popper called Lucious Lemon.  

Way to the left

Little further left

To the left

Four things occurred to me during the time I was on the water. First, there was absolutely no interest in the red worm. Second, I didn't get a cup of coffee from Starbucks (you know where this is going). Third, I didn't get any interest in any of the three colors (Orange Spotted Green, Gray Ghost and the lemon one above) of poppers (I don't even know if I was using them correctly, but they were popping) or the Road Kill I tried. Four, maybe the water was still too cold. I didn't stick the thermometer in and find out the temp, but they were still stocking trout as of last week. 

But I did try all the places I would be if I was a Crappie. In the bushes, in the cattails, and under the dock. I guess that's the price you pay for not stopping for coffee on fishing morning.

As the morning progressed, the wind picked (storm coming in) up to where it was a fight just to keep the float tube parallel to the shore and not be pushed out into the lake. Once I got back to where I launched I fished the worm under a bobber around the area, but still no interest so I packed it in. 

That's OK though, I'll be back once the water warms up some. Oh, did I tell you I got skunked? I guess you figured that out already.

That's it until Saturday and opening day. Supposed to rain Tomorrow and Thursday, but it shouldn't affect Angels Creek since it's fed by the power plant and has a steady flow.

Till then.

Mark