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| The secret spot we so longingly refer to as "Lake X". A gem to cross off my bucket list, and a new favorite spot. |
How many people do you know with a bucket list? How many of those folks have actually completed any of the items on that list?
It seems to me that bucket lists are for procrastinators. I believe it is great to dream, and have aspirations for something bigger and better, but there is a point where you have to keep these dreams realistic and timely. Bucket list items seem to frequently be activities or locations that will not even be considered until retirement. If I'm going to have a goal to get to a place, I need to put a time frame on it or it'll never get done. And if that doesn't get done, I'll likely sit around dreaming about the places I've always wanted to fish rather than being on the water.
I've decided that 2014 and 2015 will act as a pilot run for this annual initiative. I'll begin by selecting five locations that have epic possibilities for a particular species who have never seen one of my flies. I'll keep it in South Dakota for this first year, then we'll consider branching out. These five trips will be scheduled early and updated often. By the end of the year, I'll have five new experiences in my hat and likely some great fishing stories to tell around the campfire. If there is room for an additional destination or two, they'll get thrown into the mix as well. As one item is completed, another will replace it. While I'm fairly aware of great fishing opportunities around our state, by no means do I have an all inclusive list of possibilities. Please comment if you have a fishing hole that just needs to be tried with the fly. Here is my current list:
East River Trout - Gary Creek, Gary, SD: Sept 27-28
Gary creek is home to the only naturally reproducing trout in eastern South Dakota. While I've caught a number of fish in the newly revitalized Lake Elsie, these were stocker bows. My goal will be to find the brown trout that call this creek home and bring one of these beauties to hand.
Fall Salmon Run - Whitlock Bay, Gettysburg, SD: Oct. 10-11
Each fall, the Chinook salmon of Lake Oahe migrate to Whitlock bay to spawn. This process brings thousands of salmon back to the bay allowing SDGFP to collect 250,000 - 1 Million eggs. Anglers flock like hungry seagulls to cast for the hard-fighting giants. I've never fished this with Glory-a, but will do so in 2014. With salmon numbers suffering, my expectations are low. Possibilities for an epic adventure, however, are certainly great.
Westbend Smallies - Westbend Recreation Area, Lake Sharp: Oct. 18-20 or May 2015
I'm ashamed to admit that I've never taken the time to pursue smallmouth at westbend with my fly rod. Not only are 18+ inch smallies a very good possibility, the sheer numbers of fish in this popular fishing hole make the most seasoned of veteran fisherman salivate. Most go for walleyes, few chase the smallies. I will join that elite group this fall or next spring. Pheasant hunting may be part of the October adventure.
Oahe Northern Pike - Lake Oahe - 2015 Ice Out (April)
I've said it for two years in a row, "I'm fishing lake Oahe at ice out." Each year has brought on a set of circumstances and eventual excuses as to why no attempts were made at 15 - 20 lb northerns. The main reason was my pursuit of big rainbows just below Oahe. It's time to break out of my comfort zone next spring and pursue the hungry monsters of the deep lake. Now if I can only get my boat working properly...
20+ lb Common Carp - Lake Poinsett: June 2015
I've had an amazing time fishing for carp so far in 2014. A friend shared a secret location with me, and I've found some new spots to add to the list. Lake Poinsett is one of those NE SD lakes that holds mass quantities of big fish. Northerns, smallies, white bass, walleyes, crappies and perch can all be found with relative ease. There is one species, however, that grows big, and is rarely targeted...the common carp. This will be a priority of mine in 2015 if not sooner.
This is my list. As soon as I have the experience, and write about it, I will replace it with a new adventure. Future adventures on the waiting list include: Jim River cats, Rapid City racetrack pond carp, evening mousing on Rapid Creek, Smallies and Carp on the Cheyenne River below Angostura, Summertime cats on the Belle, Shadehill Reservoir northerns, Mobridge/Pollock Spring walleyes. As you can see, I need some more options for epic adventures. Let me know what fishing hole deserves to hold a spot as a "destination visitation" location.
East River Trout - Gary Creek, Gary, SD: Sept 27-28
Gary creek is home to the only naturally reproducing trout in eastern South Dakota. While I've caught a number of fish in the newly revitalized Lake Elsie, these were stocker bows. My goal will be to find the brown trout that call this creek home and bring one of these beauties to hand.
Fall Salmon Run - Whitlock Bay, Gettysburg, SD: Oct. 10-11
Each fall, the Chinook salmon of Lake Oahe migrate to Whitlock bay to spawn. This process brings thousands of salmon back to the bay allowing SDGFP to collect 250,000 - 1 Million eggs. Anglers flock like hungry seagulls to cast for the hard-fighting giants. I've never fished this with Glory-a, but will do so in 2014. With salmon numbers suffering, my expectations are low. Possibilities for an epic adventure, however, are certainly great.
Westbend Smallies - Westbend Recreation Area, Lake Sharp: Oct. 18-20 or May 2015
I'm ashamed to admit that I've never taken the time to pursue smallmouth at westbend with my fly rod. Not only are 18+ inch smallies a very good possibility, the sheer numbers of fish in this popular fishing hole make the most seasoned of veteran fisherman salivate. Most go for walleyes, few chase the smallies. I will join that elite group this fall or next spring. Pheasant hunting may be part of the October adventure.
Oahe Northern Pike - Lake Oahe - 2015 Ice Out (April)
I've said it for two years in a row, "I'm fishing lake Oahe at ice out." Each year has brought on a set of circumstances and eventual excuses as to why no attempts were made at 15 - 20 lb northerns. The main reason was my pursuit of big rainbows just below Oahe. It's time to break out of my comfort zone next spring and pursue the hungry monsters of the deep lake. Now if I can only get my boat working properly...
20+ lb Common Carp - Lake Poinsett: June 2015
I've had an amazing time fishing for carp so far in 2014. A friend shared a secret location with me, and I've found some new spots to add to the list. Lake Poinsett is one of those NE SD lakes that holds mass quantities of big fish. Northerns, smallies, white bass, walleyes, crappies and perch can all be found with relative ease. There is one species, however, that grows big, and is rarely targeted...the common carp. This will be a priority of mine in 2015 if not sooner.
This is my list. As soon as I have the experience, and write about it, I will replace it with a new adventure. Future adventures on the waiting list include: Jim River cats, Rapid City racetrack pond carp, evening mousing on Rapid Creek, Smallies and Carp on the Cheyenne River below Angostura, Summertime cats on the Belle, Shadehill Reservoir northerns, Mobridge/Pollock Spring walleyes. As you can see, I need some more options for epic adventures. Let me know what fishing hole deserves to hold a spot as a "destination visitation" location.
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