Today I got to fish with my friend Teddy and I feel a little bad that I wasn't able to put him on fish. The fly rod is not the best tool for CP but it's worked for me in the past. The fish were just scrunched into the deepest cover today and not reachable. I realize the spring is a little better for fly fishing: the bass are spread out and active, cruising shorelines and open water.
The water was as algae-covered as I'd ever seen it and I'm still surprised by the duckweed in the main lake. I've never seen so much of it.
I caught a tiny fish on a Senko near the Wagner Cove rocks and a nicer one near the boat rental willow tree also on a Senko. That one was waiting in ambush in the shallow water just inches from shore. POW! and he nailed my worm.
And then the dog hordes descended upon us. One aggressive dog zoomed by Teddy, almost taking the rod out of his hands. Ouch.
posted by Frank at 8:19 PM
Today: two fish, one with applause, one with a greedy cormorant. A fine Japanese gentleman (currently living in Arkansas--"I love to fish!") visiting NYC with his fishing rod. 9-11 am
More later.
Later: This day showed CP in all it's sentimental greatness. Each moment was a little part of a bigger story. I love it here.
It was a hot and muggy morning and the algae spill gave the lake a beautiful vibrant green hue and a musky rotting smell. Aaah, just the way I like it! The water level was nice, just about where you'd expect: an inch or two on the high side but not beyond normal range. The air temp was about 72, rising to about 82 by 11am.
I started under the trees at the lay down on the west side. I sincerely expected a fish here but got none. A bit of disappointment. I moved to the Wagner Cove rocks, almost resigned to a difficult and unrewarding day (I'm easily frustrated lately).
I dragged a little rubber worm through the algae coating just inches from shore and a juvenile bass smacked it. Yay, I'm not skunked today! I reeled him in--okay, this might be an all right day --when, what the--! I was startled by a flapping and splashing a few feet away. Geez, it was a cormorant having quickly descended from who knows where, now circling nervously. "Hey! hey! Drop it right here please. Yeah, that's right, the fish. Here, right here." You could see the nervous cajoling in his eyes. "Woah, big fella", I said, "you're getting none of this," and I pulled out my camera. That seemed to spook him and he paddled away pretty quickly but I managed to get him in the photo as he scurried off. "No pictures, please!" he said.
I suppose I'd thought that the cormorants were a bit less domestically inclined than the other lake birds; as fish eaters I expected them to be less tainted by the bread crumb throwers. Now it seems that they are just the cats to the mallard's dogs, a bit more skittish but vulnerabe to a tasty morsel nonetheless.
I walked down the promenade area, trying senkos and shallow crankbaits with no luck. My casting wasn't perfect and I know that I might have caught a fish had I concentrated on better lure placement and presentation.
I met another fisherman, a Japanese man of about 25 or so and we spoke. His English was poor and his accent was strong but I understood that he'd moved to Arkansas from Japan. "Because I love to fish!" he said. He was apparently on vacation in New York and was spending the day fishing in Central Park! "How late you fish here," he asked and he seemed pleased when I told him I thought that the park closed at midnight. I imagined him there all day, fishing while his family went to museums or took the Circle Line. Who had more fun? Ha! He tied on a senko as I left him.
I managed a nice fish at the reed island channel, a blast through through the weeds and I was happy. Then I heard this sad clapping. I turned around and a man was sitting on the rocks behind me, taking off his socks and sorting through a pile of very important old newspapers.
"That's a nice fish," he said. "What kind is it?" He put on that same surprised face that everyone puts on when I said bass. "Great job," he said, and I was made happy by his appreciation.
I fished around the bridge channel but I had no more luck. I was frustrated by snag after snag, at one point losing rubbber worms on three consecutive casts. I hadn't fished in weeks so I still felt good about the whole affair.
Tomorrow AM I fish with a guest.
posted by Frank at 6:39 PM 
