Here we are in the middle of February and the sun seems to have gone elsewhere. To make matters worse it seems like its getting colder. In spite of the dismal outlook I decided I needed to find a little open water. One of the small lakes I like to go to in spring is Upper Goose, not because I do great, but mainly because it's usually quiet and rarely used. I gotta say it has a high serenity factor, but I have never had any real success there.
I was told a few weeks ago that there are some nice largemouths to be taken there in the summer months. And, that there are a few walleye there also. The promise of a little walleye action always gets my attention.
Now for those who like to fish for trout I'm told that there also rainbows and cutthroats there.
I arrived around noon and unloaded the little 12' I had picked up last fall. I noted that the lower part of the lake had ice on it, more than when I drove by to check it out earlier. The surface water temperature was 38.3 but the air felt a lot cooler. I tried several walleye techniques with no luck. I decided to try for trout , still no luck. I even broke thru the ice to get to the lower end.
Returning to my earlier location went to jigging and ended up deadsticking. In short order I had a nice rainbow on I 'd judge to be around 16". I quickly released it after briefly admiring its thick girth and deep color. I motored back to the starting spot and continued. Soon another bow was on even bigger, and again another release. I returned again hoping for a nice 'eye, but instead caught the biggest perch I'e ever caught. It was so full of eggs I thought it might let go before I could unhook it.
Anyway, today Upper Goose provided a nice alternative to an ice choked Potholes Res.
Lastly, good luck to all you fishers out there in 2004, be safe and practice good selective harvest.

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