Gone fishing, comrade
By Chris Leonard
Happy May Day, comrades! Yep, it’s May 1, a day of noted importance for all of our former communist Eastern Bloc friends, likely reminiscing over a warm plate of spiced pork, borscht and steaming potatoes. Lunch conversations and slurry vodka-soaked toasts abide for Stalin, Khrushchev, Lenin and all the other Red Party hooligans splattered across history from the beaches of Montenegro to the mountainous depths of Mongolia. What a circus.
Personally, I never really understood the concept of a “Labor Day” in communist countries. Having lived in Eastern Europe shortly after the collapse of communism, I came to realize that there needs to be actual work in a society, for there to likewise be a meaningful “Labor Day,” implying a day of rest for hard work never had. I certainly came across some great workers in post-communist Transylvania, but my understanding of life inside the cranking Iron Curtain is that everyone did as little as they had to while on the clock.
Of all of the senseless human inventions of the modern era, communism fits somewhere up on my list of top three, somewhere alongside garlic powder and the Bowl Championship Series. How can everyone be rewarded when no one is doing a thing? But, what the heck, if some poor communist soul feels so overworked that a day off the clock is overdue, a little fishing may be the answer. What better way to honor the work ethic of the greatest of communist nations than doing absolutely nothing other than sitting on a boat for 17 hours straight dunking bait?
Hence, just what would, say, a North Korean dictator pitch into the lake if he were in Mono County? I can’t imagine what I’d discuss with Kim Jong II while sharing an aluminum rental boat on the Bridgeport Res. I may ask him about his mom’s secret recipe for kimchi (Korean pickled cabbage – think REAL spicy cole slaw) or ask him how the counterfeiting business is coming along, but he’d likely change the topic of conversation as to what bait I should be casting overboard.
Word has it that the angling on “The Res” is a little slow, but a few lucky fishers caught some trout last weekend. With the colder waters throughout the County, your best bet is to troll 1–3 colors off Rainbow Point or Paradise Shores with larger lures. Watermelon and Rainbow-colored Thomas Bouyants and Rapalas should work, “should” being the operative word. “Jeff Wenger’s Hot New Tip” is Striper Swim Baits at The Res. He’s thinking these saltwater lures are gonna get huge hits. Let’s hope so, at $25 a pop. Dunkers should stick to Powerbait Salmon Peach and Inflated Nightcrawlers. Fly anglers can kick around with Black Buggers.
If moving water is more your thing, the East Walker has been fishing exceedingly well. I can’t think of a better way to win over the heart of America for Venezuelan Dictator Hugo Chavez than invite him to the “Glory Hole” to fish for the last hour of daylight. He can bring his cigar smoking buddy Fidel along for the ride. Along with lots of construed political dogmatic propaganda, these two would pitch your standard nymph patterns in the currents: Prince Nymphs and Hare’s Ears, sizes 16–20. Smaller Midge Patterns will get hits. Streamers in the deeper pools. The Blue Wing Olive (BWO) action is also gonna get grabs.
For any political exiles, the aptly named “Convict Lake” is definitely worth hitting. While a lot of angling in the stillwater remains still due to colder water temps, a few lugs came out of Convict on opening day. Pitching Inflated Nightcrawlers from the beach will get hook ups. You can also Powerbait the daylights out of them.
Political beliefs aside, have fun out there today. It’s gonna be a great day of angling.
A more detailed report can be found at http://kittredgesports.com/fishing_report.php. Leonard guides for Kittredge Sports. Call 760.934.7566.
