Laugh at me or laugh with me. 2/3/26 Fishing Report

[Ham]

 I can’t waste the great start to the year that I have had. I wanted to add a few species caught on my fly and specifically a Chain Pickerel.

My best Chain Pickerel spot was drained for “renovations”. I don’t think McCormack will ever get back to what it was while I am able to fish.

I had heard and read that Nobblet Lake a 25 ish acre lake west of Pomona, MO had a Good Chain Pickerel population. 
Chain Pickerel are active in cool water. The lake had a significant spring influence which I believed was going to help moderate water temps.

The roads were clean and dry on the way up. I saw a little snow here and there on the shoulders, but my understanding was that they got less snow than we did.

I got to the entrance to the wilderness area and was surprised at how much slushy snow was on the road. I put the Tacoma in 4 W Low and crawled along trying to keep it out of a ditch. Significant inclines and turns keep it interesting.

when I got to the bottom of the last big downslope, I just had to laugh at my foolishness. The lake was frozen solid. I wasn’t gonna be able to fish there. 
well, I would pivot to another spot IF I was able to get out. 
back in 4 W low to climb the slushy hills to get back to the main road. I phoned a friend ti see if he had intel on the next spot. Specifically, if that boat ramp was gonna be manageable. I didn’t want to drive another hour to get denied again. @grizwilson did some checking for me and he gave me a Green (ish) light.

off I went further east to another spring fed area. A river this time. One that I was sure would have a softer surface. 
The parking area was a slushy mess, but I managed. I was able to get the boat in the water and out my waders on and got after it. 
Furst cast I had a follow from a very chilly LMB. Good sign right.

I paddled up a side channel and started trying. An annoying amount of wind funneled through that area. And combined with current made things complicated. I was fishing a fly that was a little light, but I was gonna change flys with the river widened out. Right before I  got there, I got a take. Chain Pickerel! I managed to get it into the net. 
I pulled over and changed flys. First cast with one of the new flys hit my first rainbow trout of the year. I paddled back up and quickly caught a smaller rainbow on the other new fly. 
I fished back down through my first target area hoping for a Smallie. I hit a hard eat and a strong pull. Another Chain Pickerel. I broke my hook releasing the second chain. Back to a pull over spot for another fly.

Back to where I left off and in a few casts I got another take. my first shadow bass of the year.

It was Fun to get the yak out and catch a few fish. I never got a Smallie nor a LMB. I caught several more Rainbows. I finished the day with 8 or 9 fish caught. I’ll go with 8 because I am sure about that. I did not see America’s favorite rodent, but I saw evidence they were active. Everybody likes Beaver right?