Ponki 12/9/2012
I thought I had taken my last kayak trip of the season but I couldn't resist an opportunity to spend a nice day on the water. I was hoping to use my fishfinder to get accurate water temps and perhaps locate some bait. So I arrive at the pond, unload and realize I've forgotten my battery. Anyway, hit the water around 9AM, temps around 40 degrees with a moderately light wind. It took me several hours to find fish. At first I tried the southeast corner by the island w/o a bite. Then paddled west along the southern shore to the rocks, same result. Then I decided to paddle across to the north shore, trolling a shallow diving stick bait. Nothing. On the north shore I decided to throw out a Gulp minnow on a bobber to see if I could scare up something. While waiting for something to take the bait I was tossing a 4" shallow diver. I had just cast the crankbait when I see the bobber go down. I reach for the rod to set the hook, nothing. So I pick up my crank rod again and lo an behold a bass has attached itself to my lure. Not a big fish but a fish nonetheless, and obviously willing to hit a non-moving bait. At least I had gotten the skunk off and I had a bait that I knew would work. I had also christened my new Revo SX. So I drifted and fished with a renewed sense of confidence. Still, no more bites. By this time the wind had died down to almost nothing and the pond was dead calm. It was so nice just to be out that I paddled around looking down through the crystal clear water marking boulders and other structures for next season. I eventually made it to the northeast end of the pond by the AMC club, still throwing my shallow diver. I'm using a very slow retrieve, just enough to impart action to the lure, with an occasional jerk and pause. Finally I get a solid bump, fish on, a medium sized pickerel. A few casts later another pickerel, and another, and another. Daylight was starting to fade so I headed in. I finished up the day with 1 bass and 4 picks and a great day on the water. No photos, sorry, but there were no photo-worthy fish.