Posted By: Capt. Mac
Running the creek - 03/22/21 01:54 AM
3/20/21
Just a few short weeks ago I was out in my back yard, scooping up five gallon buckets of snow and waiting for the electricity to come on just long enough to melt the snow on my stove so I could flush toilets and wash hands. But this afternoon trees and bushes are budding out, weeds are sprouting up in my lawn and there is a Southeasterly breeze bringing warm air up from the Gulf. I slide my center console Jon boat off the trailer, crank up the engine and point the bow North. Running the creeks in the Springtime, regardless of weather or not you catch any fish, is worth the price of admission. The way the light falls through the newly leaving out trees and the wildlife drawn to water lend an extra excitement to the prospect of catching lots of fish in shallow water - particularly on a fly. I always keep my Nikon tucked up under the center console, ready to shoot.
I stake the boat out at the first big gravel bar were there is flowing water. I know there is more fish farther up the creek but I'm alone and don't feel like pushing the boat through inches of water by myself. Besides, I don't need to. There are fish here. They will be fewer and farther between and I'll have to work a little harder to catch them but that's ok. I'll have more time to walk the banks and look around. You never know what you'll come across in these creeks.
Just a few short weeks ago I was out in my back yard, scooping up five gallon buckets of snow and waiting for the electricity to come on just long enough to melt the snow on my stove so I could flush toilets and wash hands. But this afternoon trees and bushes are budding out, weeds are sprouting up in my lawn and there is a Southeasterly breeze bringing warm air up from the Gulf. I slide my center console Jon boat off the trailer, crank up the engine and point the bow North. Running the creeks in the Springtime, regardless of weather or not you catch any fish, is worth the price of admission. The way the light falls through the newly leaving out trees and the wildlife drawn to water lend an extra excitement to the prospect of catching lots of fish in shallow water - particularly on a fly. I always keep my Nikon tucked up under the center console, ready to shoot.
I stake the boat out at the first big gravel bar were there is flowing water. I know there is more fish farther up the creek but I'm alone and don't feel like pushing the boat through inches of water by myself. Besides, I don't need to. There are fish here. They will be fewer and farther between and I'll have to work a little harder to catch them but that's ok. I'll have more time to walk the banks and look around. You never know what you'll come across in these creeks.