Chunsum contacted me mid-week. We discussed wading a creek that was new to me that Chunsum had success in last weekend. Plans were made and we met at 5:30 AM, donned our breathable waders, and walked to an entry point to the creek.
I like so many things about creeks. Tall trees, rock walls, formations man-made, and natural. I find I feel a sense of calm wash over me as the sounds of traffic give way to the sound of moving water, the breeze moving the leaves, trees, birds and other animal sounds. I'm already in my happy place when we reach the first fishable hole.
Tall limestone walls look imposing but show they have given way to water and have pits and under-cuts. A gentile current flows against the surface of the wall then down stream. Chunsum pointed out the water line a foot above the current one. That's how much the creek had changed in a week.
Chunsum and I each caught a small smallmouth when Chunsum's Raven Specialist float went down. A hookset only made the float shoot down stream and his drag squealed with the strong pull of a three and a half pound channel catfish.
I had a little success and caught a few species here. All small but I was able to see even the most tentative bite of the creek chub with my Raven Specialist float.
All fish landed today had something in common. They all were thick and had big bellies. They were all eating well as the current carries food to their waiting mouths.
In the last hole we tried I wasn't able to crack the code as well as Chunsum was. I scored a few small fish. Chunsum figured out there was a portion of the hole where current created a deep pocket. Drifting minnows four feet down and more put them right in the face of some lovely smallies!
The second fish measured 16.5" long, 10.5" around, and weighed 2.5 lbs on my Boga-Grip.
We checked the time and walked back downstream toward our entry point. We picked up a few small channel cats and bluegill drifting our way back to our cars and reality.
I needed that. I really needed to take a walk in the water. I needed to lose myself in nature and I can't think of a better place to do that than in a creek.
