Front Came Through and Put Fish Off

If you remember from yesterday, I wrote about muddy water from the Delaware River possibly reaching the Island Farm Weir area of the Delaware and Raritan Canal today. 

I rode I-287 to exit 12, seeing as I passed over it on the bridge that the canal was clear. I felt a little surprised at that. And then I began riding north on Weston Road. Within a mile, almost to the area of the weir where I would park, the canal became muddy. Muddy water had indeed reached the area where we fishing yesterday, but I simply turned around and parked at the little park by the South Bound Brook canal lock and fished there. Water was plenty clear. I saw my shiner three feet deep or more. 

I fished hard for two hours. I grew all the more convinced that because the front came through, the fish turned off. Extreme winds gave that away. The temperature really wasn't bad, as high as 52, but it felt cold out there. Gusts came through of perhaps 60 mph. I saw a fat limb fall from a tree into the Raritan River, enormous splash, and I was careful when standing high over the water at any edge, because I could have been blown off my feet.

When I had got there were a few small cumulus formations in the sky. When I left, I saw only one very small puff up there. All blue otherwise. 

I usually catch at least one fish when I fish the canal. Any time of year. As it went today, I was just glad I gave it a sincere effort. I did see a large turtle. Probably a slider. 

Near the end of the outing, I went into a mild reverie. Often that's when the fish hits, but not today. I began ruminating a little bit about catching up on a few spots I haven't fished in decades. For what they are, they're a long drive away. I routinely drive an hour to access spots to the north. Mostly, they're promising places. I wouldn't say the two I have in mind are bad this time of year, however. Not when temperatures have warmed. 

One of the spots is a very shallow, very weedy pond that warms five to 10 degrees better than the canal when temperatures spike early in the spring. The pond empties through a pipe into the canal, and while lots of fish can be caught in the pond, they're usually small, although I did once catch a 20-inch pickerel. But at the pipe, I've caught some of the biggest fish I ever have in the canal, which come and bask in that warmer water. A 22-inch pickerel and I have a vague memory of encountering a nice bass. My biggest crappie, too, and lots of that species. 

Thirdly, there's Baker's Basin, which I suspect is no longer fished. I might not be able to fish the pond effectively, because overgrown, but in any event, it will be interesting to evaluate. 

Maybe next year when I have more time. 

Millstone Memories