4/16 Cow Creek Area

Got out yesterday for one last time before packing up and heading home to MN. I was determined to relax, not worry about how I did, and just enjoy what the day had to offer. Between the weather and the fishing, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. The first three fish of the day were a 17” Smallmouth, a 16” Spot, and a 19” Largemouth. Quite the going away present, I’d say. Water temps in the morning were 58, but by late afternoon, I saw 65 in a pocket that had the breeze blowing into it all afternoon. I had 20 for the day, 10 keepers, all deceived by either a 1/16 or 1/8 Ned head from dtrs5kprs with either a PBJ or green pumpkin Zero, except for one LM that thought I couldn’t see her under a branch. She chomped on a tx-rigged green pumpkin Baby Brush Hog. The fish were spawning big time and all that I caught were released back to their bedchambers after a quick measurement and sometimes pic.

To say that this lake and area have gotten into my blood would be an understatement. Over the last 16 years I have been blessed to fish all over the central part of the U.S., from Lake of the Woods to Falcon Lake, TX. I used to think that nothing could beat the natural beauty of the lakes in northern MN, but, Table Rock and the surrounding Ozarks have proven that to be wrong. Perhaps I’d feel different if I were ever to be here in the summer with the crush of people and boat traffic but late winter and spring cannot be beat. And while the fishing and natural beauty of this place are enough, the polite and unassuming local people that I’ve met are an unexpected bonus. Of course this includes meeting and interacting with several fine folks from this forum. The OAF fun tournament in mid-March was definitely one of the highlights of my stay this year and the fishing info and help I received pretty much revolutionized my fishing here.

If any of you ever get to MN, send me a note and I’ll help if I can. There’s several lakes and chances are really good I won’t be able to help specifically, but, I’m working on that.

I will be anxious this year to see how the Ned works on an outside weedline and have no doubt that it’ll fool more than a few smallies as well.

Finally, a few pics and a quote if you don’t mind me getting a little philosophical. Robert Traver is speaking about trout fishing and the part about telephones is unfortunately no longer true, but to me, it is still the most eloquent statement on fishing that I’ve ever read and it came to mind as I get ready to leave.

“I fish because I love to. Because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly. Because of all the television commercials, cocktail parties, and assorted social posturing I thus escape. Because in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing what they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion. Because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed, or impressed by power, but respond only to quietude and humility, and endless patience. Because I suspect that men are going this way for the last time and I for one don't want to waste the trip. Because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters. Because in the woods I can find solitude without loneliness. ... And finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important, but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant and not nearly so much fun.”

I’m already looking forward to next year. Lord willing, I’ll be back. I hope you all have an awesome fishing season this year.