I've been fishing mostly teeny tiny brookie creeks and getting small brook trout with the odd twelve incher near dark. Though, every once in a while one of these things (look left) turns up. I'm a snob. I much prefer the natives. But, a guy like this does put a bend in my short 3 weight.That's what there is to report. That is what this summer has been like--beyond a series of family related disasters.
Though the rivers north of the cities that I fish for smallmouth have either been running perilously high and skeeter infested, or low and the big fish have dropped back to larger systems, and a few have been fished out. I mean this literally. The economy in the middle of Minnesota resembles the 1930's and people are hungry. People have turned to fishing and shining deer to get by. One creek that runs crystal clear and holds, held some enormous smallmouth now has well-worn trails along its banks and nightcrawler cartons and beer cans strewn along its length. The pools where smallies were clearly visible are largely vacant. It seems that fifty years of economic prosperity (and easy credit) had brought about big boats, trolling motors, and fish finders. And, if that didn't work the seafood section at the supermarket. These rivers were largely untouched, except by a few weirdos like me.
Trout streams with their fussy browns and high densities seem to survive. That and it has been so damn hot that people don't seem to want to don their breathable Sims waders and sweat it out on the stream. Seems, nay is... The Driftless is a planty, itchy place and the heat can be miserable.
Kia ora,
ReplyDeleteInteresting observations about the 30's and peoples hunger. In Jame's Michners novel Alaska he writes of a Minnesota family trying to hunt a deer to literally stay alive, yet on the watch the whole time for the cops. It is a shame that is coming to pass as reality in these "advanced" times. I understand the hunger, but wish people would also understand the need to respect the resource and nature.
Just returned from 4 days in the mountains here in NZ with an American mate. It is not fishing season right now so we had to content ourselves spotting a few large rainbows and browns rising up in the blue green pools. Tough to catch up there as they are well fed and picky. Kia kaha.
Cheers,
Robb
Yeah, i understand your point. But, I think that the respect for the resource unfortunately goes out the window when people are hungry, or have the possibility of making massive amounts of money.
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