The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Which isn't even Peter's any more, but I still have access to it.

Every year the sandhill cranes fly over us headed south on about Feb 25, and north about September 19. And every year the people first in spring and last in fall to try the pond are the trio of JET, his son Joey, and Joey's friend Andrew. Last year they came in the fall so late that every bluegill was tucked in bed, but it didn't stop them from trying to throw everything but the kitchen sink into the pond. And they didn't catch beans.

Yesterday all three showed up for this year's first visit. it was early afternoon, the temp about 40, the wind cold, and some menacing black clouds above. They came into the house to warm up. In about ten minutes the first spat of hail/sleet hit on the roof, and in another ten there weemed to be a quarter inch of white all over tha landscape. Good day for fishing. Boys even had a snowball fight. But the hail/sleet quit bouncing off the deck, the sun even came out, and down to the pond they trooped. Me, I stayed closer to the fire. Andrew pulled in a monster LM bass, maybe 8 inches, and that was it for quite awhile. Then up come the boys asking where they could dig worms, since neither flies nor other lures were doing anything. Provided thema shovel,a jar, and a spot in the garden to dig in. In minutes they ahd enough to get serious with and went back down. Fishing finally did pick up late in the afternoon, and by the time they left, at about seven, they had c'd and r'd a number of bluegill - maybe a bass or two? - all on worms. So everybody, JET & Co have broke the ice,and the bluegill are there. Come give it a try. And thanks, JET to you and the boys for emptying the canoe. It was full to overflowing with rainwater and I had been just too lazy to do it myeslf. it is now ready to be fished from.

It was some tough fishing and a bit cold. I didn't even string up a fly rod. Brought my chair down to watch the boys’ fish and to scope out the situation. Andrew caught a bass on a jig with in minutes and it was 10-12in. Then they threw everything they at then and could not buy a fish for several hours. It was cold and when the sun went away it was freezing. After no success they resorted to that four letter word "worm". They don't seem to care how fish are taken as long as they catch something. I think we hit the pond a little early but it should be prime any day. Now it's normally the kid's whining about when we are going to go home but this time it was me. I was cold because we didn't dress right. It was warm in Lincoln when we left and 39 degrees in Auburn. I kept asking the boys when we were going to leave and they kept telling me when it gets dark like every other time. Sure enough they make me stick it out until dark. I guess I trained them well. In the end we caught about 20 under sized BG and the one Bass.

Thanks Peter! I think we will be back next week because I have some of the little guys wanting to fish. I guess it my own fault for creating all these fishing machines. Taking some neighborhood kids fishing is a hell of a lot more fun than getting skunked on the Yuba.

Tight Lines,

Jet