May 05 - Pondwood Carp Lake
Today we strolled past the mixed lake and on to the secluded, wooded stillness of Pondwood's carp pond. The first time we came here, to check out what it was like, we could see the carp practically begging to be caught. Loads of fish mooching around in the mud near the banks or calmly feeding off the surface with that characteristic slurping sound. Now it was time to give it a go. Steve had told his friend, Phil, about Pondwood and, being a pole fisherman, he had tried the carp lake first and was duly impressed. So much so that it is the only place he has fished at Pondwood to date. As a matter of fact we found him there this day.
Before we even managed to choose a peg to fish from I spotted a coot with her little ones in tow... right close among the reeds. I love baby coot, they are so cute, in an ugly sort of way. Their colors are bright: red face, fuzzy yellow head and neck and a black body. How is it they grow up to be sooty black with a white face shield? I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try for a decent photo and did manage to get just one before mama coot noticed me and escorted her brood away across the lake. She never brought them back, either, so this is the only picture I got.
Comical baby coots in their clown colors
There is a meadow, backed by a woodland, along one side of the carp pond, separated from it by a rail fence. This was the first time that I experienced the stunning beauty of bluebells in all their glory. I have no way to describe how the color impacts the eye, all that blue among the tender green of spring. It is amazing. After we got ourselves set up I took some time to immerse myself in this wonder of Nature. Of course I had to take photos. None of which, sadly, can capture the reality.
The beauty of bluebells
Steve, in the mean time was busily fishing and it wasn't long before he had one on the line, a very pretty common.
Hey Look what I've got !
As I wasn't catching anything I went walkabout again and took more pics of the meadow.
I went back to fishing, which entailed more waiting. Still I was having no luck... and this in a lake that is so full of fish you could probably wade out and scoop them out like a bear if you had a mind to. Then Steve pulled in another one... one of those dark commons, and I took his photo. In the background you can see Phil... he was 'oiking' them out right and left, too. It seemed a bit unfair, sigh.
Don't worry, you'll start catching soon !
While I had the camera out I noticed the light on the reeds in front of Steve. Late afternoon is one of the best times to be taking photographs, the light is excellent.
A contrast of Blues and Greens
I know I sound like I have been 'grumping' but it was all tongue and cheek. There are no more photos of fish for the simple reason that I started catching... a lot ... and didn't have time to be taking the camera in and out of its case. What happened was this. As I sat with my float about 10 feet out I noticed that there were fish feeding in the mud right at the edge of the water, practically under my feet!. The water was less than a foot deep and I watched backs and tails and other parts of fish coming out of the water. Aha ! I thought to myself... let's get the bait in close. So, I sat with my line wound in and, like a kid with no more than a stick, bit of string and a safety pin, I would drop my corn right in amongst the swirling mass of fish and quietly wait. It didn't take long and I had my first fish. That one went back and I dropped my corn in again... and within minutes had another. This went on for about half an hour. The hour was growing late, and Phil came over to watch after he'd packed up. Steve too paused to watch for a while as he was breaking down his equipment. It really was funny to watch, I imagine. And it was fun but... it was like fishing in someones backyard pond for pet fish that are use to being fed... no skill involved. I much prefer the challenge of trying to land wiley wild fish; cautious fish that when you catch them it makes you feel like you've accomplished something.
Next time we are going to have a go at The Snake, Pondwood's still water course, a little stream that has been dredged and widened a bit. It's in a beautiful area, I had a brief peek at it earlier in the day.