If you're a fisherman, the chances are high that you've been a prisoner of fishing jail at one point or another in your angling career. You may have found yourself pacing through the cabin as you slurp back your fourth cup of coffee, repeatedly discussing how nasty the weather is with your fellow cell mates. The cross sections of your windows may even start to look like bars of steel, as you try to convince yourself that "...there is no way that fish are going to bite in this weather!" or by saying, "This cold front is going to shut them down for days!"
When the weather turns sour, you can easily become held hostage by gail force winds, rain, snow, sleet, hail, or fog, but with the right gear and a positive pike attitude, you may find yourself free from the clutches of mother natures treachery, as you cradle the fish of your dreams. Fellow guide, and glutton for punishment, Dan Leyderman, and I did exactly just that as we hit the back bay of Utik lake in search of some foul weather toothy predators.
A hundred casts deep and with no fish in sight, Dan opted to switch over to a mid-sized, double bladed colorado spinner bait in a gold and black pattern. Moments later, SWOOOOOOSH!, the water boiled and our eyes opened wide as Dan set the hook on yet another beautiful spring time hog.
When the weather turns sour, you can easily become held hostage by gail force winds, rain, snow, sleet, hail, or fog, but with the right gear and a positive pike attitude, you may find yourself free from the clutches of mother natures treachery, as you cradle the fish of your dreams. Fellow guide, and glutton for punishment, Dan Leyderman, and I did exactly just that as we hit the back bay of Utik lake in search of some foul weather toothy predators.
A hundred casts deep and with no fish in sight, Dan opted to switch over to a mid-sized, double bladed colorado spinner bait in a gold and black pattern. Moments later, SWOOOOOOSH!, the water boiled and our eyes opened wide as Dan set the hook on yet another beautiful spring time hog.
We forgot all about the wind and snow, as we discussed the feeding patterns of large-class fish, in relation to water temperature and it wasn't long before this healthy little guy slammed my hook not once, not twice, but thrice! The third time was truly a charm and the boat was all smiles as we proudly made our way back to camp to prepare for another day in paradise….. Jail Birds, Fly!