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Date: January 1, 2020 Body of Water: Horn Pond - Woburn, Massachusetts Moon Phase: First Quarter (Waxing) Boat: None - shore With: Alone Target: Rainbow Trout Time: 11:30 AM - 2 PM Conditions: Clear and about 37 degrees F with a strong westerly wind, and with gusts well over 20 mph. The lake was about half frozen over; precipitation in the previous couple of days created decent flow through the culvert dividing the two water bodies. The water was clear but stained brown. It's been too long since I've wet a line, and the original plan for the holiday was to try for a holdover trout from nearby Walden Pond (of Henry David Thoreau fame.) I'd spent the previous weekend introducing myself at the local tackle shop, acquiring some Gulp! trout baits, as well as some meal worms and basic rigging materials, and then prepping a couple of suitable, light rods. With everything collected and a Massachusetts resident license acquired (fresh- and saltwater!), I arrived at Walden Pond at about 10 AM. To my surprise, there was quite a bit of snow here (we'd gotten only a bit of slush and quite a bit of rain at home), and this deep kettle lake was totally iced over. There was no sign of anybody having tested the ice, but it was ominous gray, and the recent weather really didn't indicate any possibility that it was safe. So I switched gears and headed to White Lake, a couple of miles further west, and also reported to contain trout. This gem, too, was iced over but devoid of activity. I'd not accomplished much, but at least I'd located the access points for these two nearby and potentially convenient fisheries. I turned next to Horn Pond in Woburn. Closer to home, and perhaps exposed to more familiar and moderate weather, I expected no ice. But I also suspected that a culvert connecting the two bodies of water at Horn's northwest section might enable me to hedge my bets for access to open, fishable water. Plus, I know that Horn gets stocked with trout and also experiences a herring run. There might be some big trout in there! That culvert saved my day and allowed me to fish! When I arrived, the biggest area of open, accessible water was at the mouth of the culvert. Other areas (boat launch, dam, flag pole beach) were all locked in with gray ice. But with the strong wind behind me at this position, it was reasonably comfortable. And, the wind pushed more ice away with time, and so I was able to present baits to "new water" as the session progressed. As for the fishing, I presented a Gulp! power egg paired with a meal worm in two ways: on the bottom with a light (1/8-ounce) Carolina rig; and also under a clear casting bubble, lightly shotted and about 4-5 feet below the surface. I used orange and chartreuse eggs; and I also worked in a Gulp! "Mice Tail" in pink and white (with and without a meal worm) under the float. I used 6-pound line with 6-pound fluorocarbon leaders. There was never any indication that I'd attracted the attention of a fish. What do I have to say about this? This was not the trip I'd have imagined for myself, but it was a pleasant way to spend a couple of free hours. I got to scope out three new bodies of water, and I'll likely return to each. I'm officially a Bay State citizen, now; my new fishing license proves it! Even with the cold temperatures, I think I'll add a third rod to my pond trout arsenal. It might be worthwhile (even with the cold water) to toss and slowly swim back a small sinking Rapala, hair jig or spoon. It would also be fun to have a lively minnow beneath the float; that could happen! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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