Wanting to catch a couple of fish for dinner, we went to a rock behind the Teaching Center, that a ranger had recommended. Martha patiently watched and played games on her phone while I fished a variety of lures with the regular spinning rod and the ultralight rod. Nothing. No hits, no runs, no errors.
After lunch we launched the kayak on French Lake. Two guys were loading up for a two-week trip. My plan was to fish around an island in the middle of the lake. I set off with two rods, a tackle box and a box of trout lures. Smallmouth bass, walleye and pike are the three main attractions. I put on a tiny torpedo, my go-to lure in Virginia fro smallmouth.
I saw a couple of rises in the middle of the lake and threw toward them. Fishing from a kayak is a little dicey. Throwing sideways and behind me, I tipped the boat a bit. I hadn’t put a life jacket on. Really, who needs one in the middle of a calm lake? Every other person I have observed was wearing one. Half way to the island, I realized it would be very difficult to catch my gear, flip the kayak back over and get back on board – probably impossible for an old fart like me. I would be more careful.
I had to rest a couple of times before getting to the island that didn’t seem very far away. My first throw got the lure half way to shore. Paddling the kayak and keeping it in position to throw would prove challenging. My second throw was perfect, landing between the rock cliff and a log. Wham! A big strike , but it surprised me and I missed. Now I approached this adventure with more enthusiasm. As I slowly followed the shore, I found I could put in a straightening paddle stroke without putting the rod down. I had six strikes with no catches. It was more like I was making them mad than giving them something to eat. They will do that when they are on the beds, but it is way too late for that.
Martha had asked how I knew it was an island. I thought that a silly question until now. I began to question if it was really a big peninsula. After being totally immersed in fishing, I looked around to get my bearings. Was I going around something or going further away from my put-in? Further ahead I could see power lines that follow the Trans Canada 11 highway. I kept fishing, but with a bit more speed. I was relieved to see the big rock cliff where I had started. One more smash hit with no catch. I don’t know how a fish can do that without getting snagged by two treble hooks. I pinch the barbs down, but that has little effect on catching fish. If a bass jumps out of the water, it can shake loose more easily, but it’s worth it for the show.
I threw at the spot where I got my first strike, but nothing happened. Now I looked up the lake for the beach where I had launched. I couldn’t see it. I searched the shore for topographic features. Suddenly I felt what it would feel like in the wilderness where these paddlers would go. All I could see were forests on both sides, all looking so similar. I searched the left shore slowly. I could see the rock where I fished this morning, and I paddled toward it. I should have trailed a lure behind me, but I was intent on getting into familiar territory.
I cast toward the rock to no avail. Similar results through a grassy cove. Then a good hit near some rocks. I had it on for a second, but then it was gone. I could see a beach ahead. A person was sitting on a big rock ahead of it. There was a beach on the other side of the rock, and the person pointed to it. Ahhh, it was Martha. She was pointing to a big rock with about eight ducks sitting on it. Several were playing in the water. Martha wanted to know what kind they were. I couldn’t tell, and I didn’t want to disturb them. It brought back images of Kelly sitting on a rock in the middle of the Farmington River in Connecticut with three ducks sitting behind him and two swimming below the rock.
Carrying the kayak back up the hill made us appreciate the importance of weight of the boat, especially in this environment where you have to portage. Some of these canoes are so light you can see light through them. One person can carry them over their head. They are also broader, which aids in stability. Martha’s kayak is built for stability, so it is not light.
