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This is not a Fish Story
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Posted Wednesday, November 30th, 2005 to Fishing Stories
I believe this (not so fishy) story could only be appreciated by those who live in Upstate NY near or above the #90 E/W Thruway.
Hi All!
Since winter has almost settled in on a couple of occasions as we've been blanketed with snow a couple of times but not nearly as bad as just S of Buffalo's Thanksgiving Day 18" and the heavy snow up at "Tug Hill" I've been spending my idle hours down in the cellar re-organizing etc.
But after I got a haircut yesterday morning 11/29 and getting home by 08:30AM and it was 70 degrees I said no way. Even with the bass boat all hunkered down in the garage I grabbed a pole and 3 lures and with the dog and we went for a ride to the nearest waterhole 10 minutes away.
It was the Old Erie Canal. It's a great place to catch Largemouths (right from shore) during the warmer weather. But on this day I didn't expect to catch a thing. It was more the thought of a walk with man's best friend, our dog. (And if you've ever questioned them being man's "best friend" have you ever spelled dog backwards?
I was a little bit disappointed when I walked up to the canal and there was a thin later of ice. But I knew a mile up the towpath was wider and deeper that should still be open water. I could tell it was over 1/2 mile away.
On the way up I did come across some open water. A little over a 1/2 way across the canal it was liquid and the other less than 1/2 was lightly frozen. I had on a lightly weighted crankbait and threw out on the ice just as though it was July and I was on top of the weeds. The bait skimmed across the ice right over to the edge. The perfect cast. The ice was clear and I did small jerks until it dropped off the ledge into the water. I was thinking that since it was clear ice maybe somethin' below would spot it and give chase.
Well it was a nice thought anyway. About 5 casts in kerplunk. Right through the ice. I was snagged up tight. I was thankful I had 15lb test on and as I pulled I could see the ice raise up a little. But I couldn't for everything I could give to get it free. So I began to pull. I felt the line beginning to stretch. I pulled harder and nothin'. Then I gave it all I had and snap, it broke free of the ice. My first luck of the day. I didn't lose the lure. (Don't be under the thought that I was gonna' be any luckier.)
I said enough of that and I went to the open water. It wasn't whitecaps but the wind was right in my face at probably gusting to 35 mph. I hate fishin' in the wind, but I wasn't about to complain. I didn't come out for fish, I came out for fishin' and I wasn't concerned about havin' any luck. I always remind myself a bad of fishin' is a good day.
I moved to 3 or 4 location and on one as I crept slowly down to get to the edge low and behold a 6" green frog jumped about 4". I couldn't believe it to see a frog that late in the year. But 70 degrees had to be the answer.
I gave up after about 45 minutes and decided to head back home. I took my time and as I was walking I saw some movement in the water near the edge. It was ringed and I thought could a fish be risin'? Then I'll be darned it didn't jump. It scampered. Right across the ice to the other side like I've never seen before. It was the first time in my life I would see a ferret in the wild. The dog noticed too and it just slowly walked along the rocky edge every once in a while looking up at us. They sure are cute little things. It acted like a miniature otter.
Then to top everything off as we walked the towpath back to the car Nova (our mixed breed sheltie/retriever/with I think a little boarder collie) began to chase something that was coming across the path. I quickly said, "Stay." Believe it or not she catches moles in the backyard, a "Good Dog!", one day she caught a sparrow with her soft bite (when I told her to drop it, the sparrow flew away, and even on one occasion a small rabbit. And that was a fun one to watch. The race to catch was a 20 to 30 seconds and when the rabbit knew it wasn't going to get away it played dead. Nova was ready to pounce when I said, "Stay", and when I walked up to the rabbit and nudged it with my foot it jumped up and hopped away.
Now back to my what was on the path. I knew almost right away, and I quickly hollered, "STAY!" She was about to go down on a almost 3' long Garden Snake.
I mean fella's and ladies it was quite a day. We've had several inches of snow and cold and to see a frog and a snake in Nov on a beautiful partly sunny 70 degree morning with lots of wind, it was phenomenal. It was a morning that only a soon to be cabin fevered Upstate New Yorker could appreciate? I'll take a not so fishy day like that any-day in the fall or winter.
Jim
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