Breezin' on Deer Creek

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]TubeBabe and I did not get out over the weekend and she was busy today. I figured I would sneak in a trip to Deer Creek between storms and catch some walleyes. I figgered wrong.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I rolled up to the gap in the fence at the "island" just after 6 AM. Nobody else there. Water had just a teeny bit of a ripple from the east. Air temp was only 32 and there was frost on the weeds and grass. Cool. Put my gloves and hooded sweatshirt on.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hooked up my "stroller cart" and easily pulled my loaded down tube to the water...just to the east of the north side of the "island". Noticed the water level is up a bit since we stopped to look a couple of weeks ago.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Was on the water by 6:30. Water temp at launch was 57, and fairly clear. No surface activity visible...unless you count carp. Some huge ones cruising along and occasionally leaping clear of the water. Some rolling in the shallows too. That time of year at Deer Creek. A huge old carp spooked right next to me and just about jumped into my tube with me. But, I told him I had a headache.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Rigged a worm harness and started dragging it across the flats while I made casts all around with spinners, crankbaits and even a bubble and fly. Nary a touch on anything the first half hour. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When I reached the 17 to 18 foot depth on the sonar, I began to see some bottom huggers. Rigged a little fire tiger roadrunner jig and started bottom bouncing and yo yoing. That was good for a couple of smallies, but still no walleyes. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Changed the worm rig and put on a minnow. Same old nothing. But, I continued to exercise the occasional smallmouth by bottom bouncing small jigs. Biggest was almost 16". Several in the 12" - 13" range and a few dinkos. They hit soft and fought more like walleyes than smallies. Had my hopes up a couple of times.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I covered a lot of water. Went clear across to the rocks below the railroad tracks. Worked a hundred yards of shoreline without a whack. Saw several boats trolling, but did not see anybody boat a fish. Also saw some other tubers later, and they were also fishless.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Worked back across the channel to the island. Deepest water between te island and the north side was 23 feet. The "flats" of former walleye habitat are dry. The current flats do not hold the fish like they used to...at least right after the recent weather patterns.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Had a HUGE rainbow on a white fly behind a bubble. Took some air...about 4 feet out of the water...and gave me my fly back. Mighty thoughty. Kept me from gettin' my hands all slimy.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Worked in and out around the island...shallow to deep and back...casting and vertical jigging. Used jigs, cranks, spinners and plastics. Nada, zip, zilch, zero. Not a hotspot today.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There had been a fairly constant breeze from the NE all morning. About 10:30 it picked up briefly and then everything got real calm. Been there before. I began kicking to shore for serious. Got to my takeout spot right about 11 AM. Made a few casts at the big carp swimming next to shore on their way to the orgy in the shallow corner water. Had one hooked for a few zings of the reel. Then I long line released him. Saved some more sliming.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]By 11:15, I had my "stroller cart" reattached to the tube and was ready to trudge back to my vehicle. I had not taken 50 steps when I felt a rush of wind on my back and turned around to see the west wind huffing and puffing...and kicking up some waves. Whaddayaknow? I had timed that one right. By the time I reached the overlook, on the way home, the lake was popcorn. That's Deer Creek.[/#0000ff]
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[road]

Nice report TD, sorry the fishing in my neck of the woods is still a bit slow. Had that good week after ice off for the slimmers, then it slowed again. But the waters raising and it will only get better ...... provided summer ever gets here!! Snowed again today, can you say global warming.
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[hartz]

C'est la fishie... C'mon, you know wanted your hands all slimy! Give in to the slime side.[:p]

At least you missed the wiiii...... oh yea, thats a bad word around here.
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[doggonefishin]

Kastmaster and I went up there last afternoon-evening after work. We launched on the main ramp at the State park and fished Wallsburg bay. In the early evening, the smallies came out to play big time, (typical DC fare though, almost all rats ) but neither of us could find any walleyes either. And I did try, after tiring of 8-10 inch smallies. Also typical of DC, later in the evening, the wind barreled right down Wallsburg bay, leaving us a long, difficult kick back to the ramp. Hopefully, the burn will stop sometime today. Water temp was 59-61 degrees. Sorry we couldn't help in the location of those pesky 'eyes.
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[Majja]

TD I am really waiting for you to come up with a sail for that thing. that way you can just run up wind and still fish.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Oh, but I do have a sail. Those rigid aprons (sushi boards) work great for sailing DOWN WIND. Wonderful for aiding fin power when the wind is (rarely) blowing you back to your launch site.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Only problem is that I just can't seem to tack into the wind very well...especially when casting or fighting a fish. Too "tacky" I guess.[/#0000ff]
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