LC Ranch December 13 -14, 2014

Date / Time: Saturday, December 13, 2014. Late afternoon to evening. Location: LC Ranch The Characters: Kory K. Weather: Calm, foggy, cold in the mid 30s or so. Water Temp: High 30s guessing Water Level: Ponds were all full for the most part Water Clarity/Quality: Mostly clear Moon Phase: Day before last quarter Best Flies: Light bodied chenille head sculpin. Fishing: Drove out mid day for the family Christmas Party on the 14th. The weather had been unbelievably warmer than normal the previous weeks and as a result most ponds were still free of ice which is typically unheard of in mid December. Fished cabin since I knew the giant tigers and other fish may be around. I saw fish cruising the shallows right when I got there which was also unusual considering the water temps and time of year. I walked over to the big rocks and saw a huge tiger race into the shallows like it was chasing something and notice a school of minnows huddled close to the weeds. I haven’t really seen minnows in significant numbers before on the ranch and again being this time of year was the last thing I expected. I thought the fish would be all over anything, but when I threw a blood leech at one of them, basically no interest. Changed patterns and retrieves various times until ultimately got them to eat a light colored chenille head sculpin with grizzly rabbit over white uv polar chenille. They were highly selective and would only eat it with short, fast, jerky strips and would follow it all the way into the shallows and swipe at it. Very entertaining fishing. Biggest one I landed was at the pipe inlet and that one just ate it with me dangling and jigging it. That fish was easily 7-8 plus pounds, but not huge fight since it got tangled in cattails. Had a lot of fish that would follow and refuse. Every time I kicked those minnows out of the shallows it would draw fish back in chasing them. It was foggy and cold and as the light faded, they were more willing to eat. Fished it again the next day in bright sun and they were still on it, but a lot spookier and selective but managed to hook a few. Also briefly hit dog at the inlet and got one brown and made a few casts on island literally 5-6 casts for nothing and didn’t see any fish.