Larry A. Smail's Blog

High water damage on island vegetation

  I haven’t been fishing this year until this morning. The rain and high waters, not to mention, the spring gobbler season kept me away from this interest. I hurriedly decided to go this morning and left the house by 5:15 A.M. I have been having a reprieve from bad allergy symptoms and felt the need to head out for some fishing recreation.

The first trip out for me usually ends up not so well and this first time out fell into the norm. Once on the bank of the Allegheny River at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, I came to the realization that most of the previous gathered worms had escaped. The second, not so favorable, experience was I had lost all of my hooks, swivels and weights on five of the first six casts. Not the start of a good morning.

Lock # 7 at Kittanning

  I moved farther down the river and had success with the snagging issue. I did become caught on something rather regularly and lost a few more riggings. I had a few bites most likely suckers for the action on the pole end was subtle.

I quit fishing around 8:00 with no luck. However, I spent some time walking along the shore. I discovered something of interest. I saw a 36 inch log about four-inches in diameter. On the log I could see a blue nylon stringer tied. I waded out a few feet and gathered the log and was very surprised to see a 13-14 inch walleye attached. I released the fish. I swear the walleye smiled back at me in appreciation!

I saw a number of mergansers; gull and a couple of mallard ducks. I saw the heads in the water of a couple of soft-shelled turtles. I saw a muskrat and a flock of around 15 to 18 Canada geese. They were flying in formation in the fog. I have never seen formation flying at this time of the year. I had a nice-sized carp jump in front of me twice. I think the fish was taunting me!