equity line of credit: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Northern Michigan

Thursday, July 9, 2015

{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Northern Michigan

Sorry, I got distracted thinking about bowfin (and the elusive Ambystoma talpoideum, grandest of the genus). I have a picture of my closet with multiple "mole" species.......65F house, happy amphibians, boy those were the days!

I meant to say good report! Beth thinks you're among the group's stronger writers, so I'll share this with her.

Gene

On Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 8:06:19 PM UTC-4, TurbineBlade wrote:

Ah, bowfin! They ranged into the "bootheel" of Missouri on a wildlife refuge I frequented, usually to collect salamanders for some grad/undergrad projects.

Good aquarium fish, if you can house them. I sold my 125 gallon before moving here in 2009. You really need a 180 gallon or larger to do it.

Gene

On Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 6:18:36 PM UTC-4, Dalton Terrell wrote:
Over the long weekend of the 4th, I headed up to Northern Michigan for fishing trip; but don't tell my girlfriend, she thought it was her family vacation. Near her parents house, I managed to spend a few evenings on a local lake and headed to a prominent trout stream for the famed hex hatch.

Right after we arrived, we grabbed some dinner and a few drinks before taking out the SS Shady Lady. My girlfriend's brother had never night fished but was luckily crazy enough to tag along. We quickly got into a few small largemouth and rockbass before the sun set, but the real action started around 11PM on top in the night's full moon.

The next evening, I hopped in the rental to hit a trout stream known for big hex hatches. When 10PM rolled around, it was game on. Hexes were absolutely everywhere but rises were sporadic. I had a few misses but no dice; however I did see a fellow net a 20" bow.

On the night of the 4th, my motor vehicle skills may have been lost so I headed back out on the lake. This time I brought a bigger popper to see what I could get into. One cast into the reeds and this beast of a bowfin showed himself. After this fish, I got cut off by a pike and luck was gone.

The final evening Up North, I sought vengeance on the trout stream. It was a bit warmer this night and the hexes were even thicker. I waded back into the spot I'd tried before and had two risers in range. My first cast, a fish jumped out of the water as my fly hit the surface, knocking the fly way out of the way. I missed a few more hits and went home empty handed but ready to go back to the family vacation next year.