Day started early, as I'm still trying to get a handle on the Brown Bullhead fishery at Green Lake. Where and how, I still don't have a clue! arrived at 2:30 AM on the southwest side, near the crew house. Tried worms and a "sticky", "smelly", "nasty" catfish bait I found at Cabela's... nothing worked, though several worms disappeared to some unknown denizen of the shallows... Pete joined me at about 3:30 (he needs more beauty sleep than me)... and was no more successful than I. As the sky began to lighten up we decided that this shore was not our best option for Rainbows during the day, so off we went to the 65th St. pier. We were the first ones on site, and started out with the standard, Power Eggs. Lines in the water by 5:00... Air temp at 67 degrees, lake a flat calm and water temp at 72 degrees at 10' off the dock. Lots of fish rising, all over the lake's surface. Large swarms of midges and mayflies around the dock, and I'm sure the fish were finding them further out as well. About 5:30 I had a nice hit and reeled in a beautiful 13" Rainbow (rainbow PE). About 6:00, another fisherman, Steely, showed up... and at 7:30ish, my pleasure to meet Mark (a.k.a. NE 1 FISSION)... after reading his reports for many months... (a little taller than I imagined!!)... others crowded onto the pier, and at one point I counted 11 rods fishing off the dock in about 35' of space. Early on, we watched as some very unusual cloud formations roll in from the south, then a beautiful rainbow appeared and we watched as rain showers came our way... a warm, pelting shower moved over us, then the sky cleared and it was sunshine all the way!
Back to the fishing... about 9:00 Pete had a big hit and reeled in a bright, beautiful triploid Rainbow of about 17"... a half hour later he repeated the same scenario and brought in another of the same size. Then it was my turn, my rod doubled over and it was "fish on"... big, beautiful 17" triploid to the dock (rainbow PE). I had noticed that about 9:30 a brisk breeze came out of the west, and about the same time a huge swarm of little black ants came over the lake... fish began rising all over the place, the "bite" was on. These fish are full of fight and a ton of fun. About 10:00, Mark had a huge hit, rod doubled over and he fought another triploid to the dock... beautiful fish! Steely landed another a bit later, then I brought in a stocker of 12 1/2" (chartreuse & pink PE). A little before 11:00, Pete had another huge takedown, and fought his third triploid all the way to the dock where, despite valiant efforts by Mark to net the elusive fish, it spit the hook in full view of us all. Will live to torment Pete another day! Pete left a few minutes later, had an appointment to meet... I stayed on another hour or so, but fishing was pretty much over... temp was now in the 80's, sun high in the sky... despite Park rules, people and dogs were launching themselves off the pier, absolute disregard for others who were trying to fish... the pier became a circus in short order and it was time to head for home.
As I expected, upon cleaning my fish, I discovered that the triploid and the second stocker I caught were both stuffed to the gills with little black ants! All in all, another quintessential day at Green Lake... caught three great fish had a "real good time"... amazing how much joy one can glean from watching others... friends, acquaintances or family members... catching fish... it is like manna for the soul! PTL!

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