We Really Wanted to Fish

We knew it was too soon, but we wanted to fish.

The ice had come off early and the temperatures had already reached into the 70s. Something had to be biting. Right?

Not necessarily.

We pitched crankbaits, pulled bottom bouncers, and dropped jigs all with the same result. Nothing.

Taj Mahal was apparently wrong when he sang “All fish bites if you got good bait.”

Fort Peck Lake has a reputation as one of the top walleye fisheries in the nation, but you wouldn’t know it watching us. Me, I could understand. My friend Mike, however, is the best walleye angler I know, and even he couldn’t get a bite.

After a couple of hours of nothing I was listlessly tossing a jig when the line stopped and I was into a fish.

It stayed deep and pulled steadily. I was sure I was into a big ‘eye. Then it made a run and shook its head.

“It’s a pike,” Mike announced with a tinge of disappointment in his voice when the fish neared the surface.

Hardcore walleye fishermen have little good to say about pike.

On the other hand, I was tickled. The skunk was now off the boat, and I got to play a heavy fish.

Unfortunately, it was the only fish of the day.

We took a break in the afternoon to grab some food at the cabin, then ran back down the lake to where we were sure we’d get into them to no avail.

There wouldn’t be a fish fry tonight.

I suppose it wasn’t a bad way to start the season.

The boat ran fine. All the tackle worked. We didn’t get wet.

And spending time on the water with a good friend is always a treat.

That being said, fishing was a bust. We’ll both second-guess ourselves until we have some success, probably later this spring when the water warms a bit more.

In the meantime, all I can do is dream of walleye fillets sizzling in a hot skillet.

It can only get better.

Parker Heinlein is at [email protected]