Without a doubt I’m psycho about fishing because of places like Back Bay in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. As a kid growing up in the 70’s my cousins and I would fish here all summer from early morning till well after the sunset. You caught, hooked or at least got a chase on every cast from either a chain pickerel, largemouth bass, white perch, yellow perch or some smaller sunfish. The fishing for a kid – plain and simple – it was EPIC!
The wildlife that came with each day was superb. There were turtles, water snakes, bullfrogs and we almost always saw mink, whitetails and the occasional beaver and muskrats. Each and every day there was as good of an experience that any kid could dream of.
The place is a sad cry from what it once was. In fact its far worse than a mere ten years ago. The attempt to eradicate invasive weed species by poisoning takes its toll on far more life forms than experts care to admit. Then the dredging to remove them along with the native plants such as entire areas of lily pads so water-skiers can practice further destroys the habitat for fish, turtles and other wildlife. Regardless, the area holds a place in my heart and year after year I canoe Granny down there and we do the best we can.
Early this morning Granny and I fished Back Bay for about three hours. She built a sort of lounge chair comfort in the bow and kicked back and tossed my new 4-weight Winston Air2 with a little Chernobyl Ant. While we were skunked on the pickerel and bass, she caught a few bluegill and yellow perch. I plucked the occasional myself along with a gorgeous black crappie. The crappie ate a size 4 Screamer Streamer that I was using in hope to dredge a bass from down deep.
We are getting a lot of relaxation this trip. It’s a good thing. Rest, family, a few fish in a beautiful setting is good for you. Back on the water early tomorrow to try and get young nephew Eli his first big smallie.
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