Pete and I returned to our "go to" waters for our first fishing venture of the New Year. Met on the northeast shoreline about 7:00 AM, lines in the water by 7:20. Took a nasty spill heading down to the lake, as heavy rains had turned the hillside into a quagmire of mud. None the worst for wear, began fishing with Power Eggs on both rigs, fl. orange with 3' leaders. Persistent rain all morning long, heavy at times... temp a mild 52 degrees at the outset. Wind out of the south to southeast, strong gusts at times... water temp at the shoreline a chilly 44 degrees. Nothing the first hour, then Pete had a solid hit and reeled in our first of the day, a bright, silvery Rainbow of 14", at just about 8:30... on a 2' leader.
I began experimenting with various colors of PE & Power Dough, with nightcrawlers and shrimp, but no takers. Mean-while, Pete had picked up some pink PE off the ground, stuck those on his hook, and BINGO... soon after, his rod tip began to dance and he reeled in his second, another 14" er, at about 10:00. Next two hours produced nothing, and then Pete left the lake at noon. I stayed the course... had trimmed my leaders to about 20" and tried pink PE as well. Just before 1:00, had my first hit, a solid hook-up and landed a beautiful 14" Rainbow. The action began to heat up during the afternoon, had a couple subtle hits, and landed three more, one at a tic more than 15", and two at about 13 1/2", all on the pink PE. Rain had quit about noon, but had strong wind gusts through the afternoon, but mild temps. Saw a couple other fishermen on the 65th St. pier, south of me, and I believe one other fisherman on the northern shoreline, but too far away to see if they had any success. Fishing pressure is definitely light now. Caught my last fish about 3:30, and left the lake at 4:00. Have a great New Year, everyone! PTL!

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