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Date: April 30, 2022 Body of Water: Mousam Pond - Shapleigh, Maine Moon Phase: New Moon Boat: amybaby22 With: Alone Target: Trout Time: 8 AM - 12:30 PM Conditions: Clear and bright, brisk NNW wind 10-15 mph (after a couple of days of even heavier winds); about 45-50 degrees F; water temperatures about 47 +/- , a degree or 2 warmer in the lower portion of the lake below the culvert I had some time constraints, and I'd enjoyed myself the previous trip. The other factor was the northerly wind. I knew Mousam would be fishable, the ramp would pose no problems, and there would be fish to be caught; so I elected to return. Upon launching, I immediately but carefully ran the 12 or 15 minutes up the wind-blown lake to the rocky reef guarding the entrance to the northernmost complex of bays. I gave the only other trout-trolling boat of the day wide berth as we each set our initial trolling spread for the day. Mine consisted of a gold/black S7 Rapala presented 100 feet back, and a DB Smelt on 45 feet of lead-core as I picked up the shoreline break in about 15 feet of water. I occasionally wandered into deeper or shallower water as I searched for the day's first trout. Once our respective trolling paths were established, I turned back to the windward side of the reef. This prominent feature stretches from a main shoreline point, a majority of the distance to the opposite shore. By now, I'd been fishing for 20 minutes or so without a strike, but as I traced the reef's edge in about 15 feet of water, I really felt confident that something good might happen. Thunk! The Rapala rod bowed over, and I felt some substantial weight bull-dogging for the bottom. I turned the boat away from the reef to keep myself out of trouble while I tended to this fish. I half expected to see a togue, but was happy to see the silvery glint of a nice brown trout! This fish pulled line several times as it neared the boat, but soon enough rested in the bottom of my landing net. I was off to a good start, and I expected more good things from the day. However, the fish behaved otherwise. Despite my efforts, including a return to last week's places and tactics as well as trying new spots and presentations, the only bite I got for the rest of the day was from a smallish yellow perch. By 12:30, the weight of the day's remaining responsibilities started to weigh upon me, and I headed to the ramp. What do I have to say about this? I'll not argue with a day including a beautiful brown trout, especially when it's my largest in Maine to date. I am starting to build on some local experience, the water temperatures are moving in the right direction, and trout fishing from amybaby22 has proven to be a pretty pleasant way to chase fish this spring. When it became apparent that the going was slow, I chose to explore new areas of the lake and incorporated some new tactics into my spread. Nothing ever materialized from this, but I did enjoy (and have considerable confidence in) running a small dodger with a trailing tandem streamer. This locally favored presentation provided a nice, visible pulse to the lead-core rod tip, and affirmed my trolling speed and weed-free presentation. The fly really danced on its short leader behind the flashy dodger. Still, I am looking for that day where it all comes together. I'll keep trying! Meanwhile, I've reports that Trickey Pond is starting to fish well, I've got several waters on my mind to try, and after an upcoming, planned, pleasant hiatus for family matters in the next couple of weeks, I expect my Casco Bay mooring to be installed and the stripers to arrive. I continue to search for a replacement trailer for Numenon, and I've got a lot of positive experiences in front of me! Which is all why I can take the loss of my rod-holders and storage crate from amybaby22 on the way home in stride. Did they bounce out, or were they filched during my pit stop? Regardless, replacements are on the way. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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