Published: August 15, 2009 09:41 pm      

MARTINO: Take time to enjoy nature – and good fishing

Indiana streams offer memorable outings

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead during the short walk down the small hill to the gravel strewn bank. Last weekend’s high heat and humidity made the timing perfect.

“Why have I waited so long to do this?” I said before stepping into the cool water. The mid-summer scenery alone was beautiful. Towering sycamores and cottonwoods provided ample shade along the lazily moving water. I stood there for a moment just taking it all in before making that first cast.

After a few minutes I flipped the soft plastic bait upstream and wiped sweat from my brow as the bait sank into the greenish current. Nothing happened. I made several more casts where boils in the surface telegraphed unseen rocks laying on the creek’s bottom. Finally the line twitched and moved out into the main channel.

I smartly set the hook, and everything went south from there. My rod bent into a tight arc and the reel’s drag screamed in protest. A feisty smallmouth rocketed from the water in a gallant attempt to shake the lure embedded in the corner of its lip.

After several searing runs and what seemed like minutes I finally eased the beautiful brown colored fish out of the water with my hand under her belly, removed the hook and closely inspected the fish in admiration. “Why have I waited so long?” I said again.

It felt great getting back to the basics, back to the small streams where much of my childhood was spent. As a general rule, small Indiana streams do not receive the notoriety larger rivers, reservoirs and lakes may get. But that’s fine with me. Even with their anonymity they can and do provide outstanding fishing.

A good rural stream offers a close encounter of the natural kind. It goes way beyond bag limits, baitcasters and bilge pumps. They not only provide quality fishing but a chance to literally immerse yourself in the environment. You can actually forget about everything but the fish you seek. Of course every once in a while you have to pay attention to where you step.

Later in the evening as the sun bid farewell a limit of smallmouth bass and several goggle eyes fell prey to my lure. Even though many streams provide quality opportunities, they still remain low on the radar for most anglers.

One reason could be that permission is needed to access these out of the way areas or people are not quite sure how to fish them — or both. Studying maps, scouting bridge parking spots and making friends with landowners can remedy the access problem. Learning to fish them isn’t quite as straightforward but experience can remedy that as well.

When it comes to fishing the hundreds of small streams that crisscross our state like veins in a muscle, the best method is to wade. The banks are typically thick with foliage making covering water and casting difficult. Bank fishing can also put you right on top of the fish sending them skittering to farther reaches upstream. Do yourself a favor and get a pair of chest waders. It will be money well spent. With warmer temperatures you can wear an old pair of jeans and tennis shoes as I did last weekend.

Another good item to have along is a wading staff. They can be purchased or made from a piece of bamboo. Attached to your belt, they act as a third leg in providing stable footing. When not in use they float lazily behind you out of the way.

You have to find fish before you can hook them. Spend some time learning to read the water. Seams, breaks, eddies, pools, riffles and boils all refer to the currents character. There is no better way to learn this than by wading. You get the opportunity to feel exactly what’s under your feet and see how these obstructions affect the surface. Too many times anglers spend time fishing unproductive areas or “dead water” as I call it.

As far as lure choices are concerned I firmly believe stream fish are not as choosey as lake fish. They are opportunistic and will strike a variety of artificials and live bait. The key is don’t be afraid to change baits.

Fishing small streams offers a pleasure all its own. True stream fishing is one part adventure and one part fishing. And it can be done only minutes from any Indiana city. But be warned. To do it right, you may have to break a sweat, lose a few lures and even fall down a couple times. But after that you can settle down relax and let your troubles float downstream.

Special Outing

Memories are one of the few things that last forever and one of the most important, especially when they touch the lives of children. Outdoor pursuits involving family or friends are well known in providing these types of remembrances.

Several weeks back Kokomo’s Carter Stevenson, age 6, was invited on an afternoon fishing trip by his great grandfather Bob Napier. The pair decided to visit an area pond.

After threading a piece of nightcrawler on a small hook the young angler lobbed his bait into the water. It didn’t take long before a fish picked up the young boy’s offering. After what seemed like a lengthy battle and with coaching from his grandfather, Carter successfully landed a trophy largemouth bass measuring 21 inches in length, tipping the scales at over five and one-half pounds. In true sportsman fashion the youngster opted to return the fish to the water in the hopes he can return to catch it another day.

“I’ve taken him fishing since he was three years old,” said Napier. “But this was one trip we will never forget.”

Tournament Results

• Cody Oliver and Laurrel Noris claimed top honors at last Tuesday’s Delco-Delphi team bass tourney held on Mississinewa Reservoir. They swept the event taking first place and “big bass” honors with one largemouth dropping the scales at four pounds, two ounces. Bob Taylor and Dave Robertson grabbed second place with one bass weighing three pounds, three ounces.

• Dave and Joel Edwards took the top spot at last Wednesday evening’s Kokomo Reservoir open team bass tourney. The father and son team carried three largemouth to the scales weighing in at four pounds, nine ounces. Carlos Padilla and Mark Marshall finished second with two fish weighing four pounds, six ounces. A two pound, nine ounce fish also gave them the weekly event’s “big fish” prize. Third were Rick Martin and Mark Hudson with two fish weighing three pounds, 14 ounces.

• John Martino is the Tribune’s outdoors columnist. He may be reached by e-mail at jmartinooutdoors@att.net.