We love a good fish story (and here’s two!)

(Above) (L-R) Wyatt, Craig and Leo Anderson had quite a fish story to share after an outing on Clear Lake.

-Photo courtesy of Clear Lake Bait & Tackle

Youngster doubles his fun with rare catch

“Wow, what a morning!” proclaimed Clear Lake Bait & Tackle co-owner Chris Scholl on his business’ Facebook page.

Scholl, who also guides for his business partner Kevan Paul, took the Anderson family, from Waltham, Minn., on a guided fishing outing Friday on Clear Lake.   “We started out struggling on the walleye after the storms. Wanting to get these boys on fish we switched to crappie in deeper water 12-foot was the ticket,” he said.

Boy, was it the ticket.

Six-year-old Leo Anderson felt a tug on his line.  Then, as he was reeling in a 12-inch crappie, it suddenly became extra heavy. A 44-inch Muskie latched on to the crappie and almost pulled the youngster from the boat on its first run.

“Once the fish hit the net, her mouth opened and out came the crappie still hooked on the jig,” said Scholl.

Not to be out-done, Leo’s 10-year-old brother, Wyatt, had a deal with his dad, Craig— if he caught a 14-inch crappie he would mount it for him.

Twenty-minutes later a trip to the taxidermist was being scheduled.

Lightning strikes:  When should you refrain from going fishing?  I’d say never!

By Lowell Washburn

The pre-dawn storm front arrived right on schedule.  By 4 a.m., the lightning was flashing, the windows were rattling, and a torrential deluge was pounding the shingles.

“There goes this morning’s fishing; right down the tubes,” I thought to myself.  Sitting the morning out was not a happy prospect.  In spite of the advanced season, fishing is still going like gangbusters at Clear Lake and it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.  As hotter summer weather moves in, the percentage of keeper walleyes has become the best that it’s been all year – which is a pleasant surprise.  Best of all, a lot of fish are staying shallow where they present easy access to area anglers.  Channel catfish are going strong and panfish – a mix of crappie, perch, bluegill, and yellow bass – are still more than eager to strike a lure.  But no matter how productive the fishing has been this summer, even Clear Lake has its limits.  Bolts of lightning, ear splitting claps of thunder, and pounding rain are not generally conducive to having a good time on the water.

But by the time daylight arrived, things were starting to look up.  Although there was still a heavy overcast, the rain had stopped and a 6 mph breeze was coming out of the southeast.  Even though a faint rumble of thunder remained in the distance, it seemed as if the worst of the weather had passed.  Staying indoors was driving

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me nuts!  “Why not give it a try,” I decided.

By the time I arrived on the lake’s north shore a light sprinkle had resumed; but certainly nothing that would keep a guy in the truck.  I started fishing and on the third cast got a strike which turned out to be a 13-inch walleye.  A couple of minutes later, another strike and another sub-legal.  Meanwhile, the light sprinkle had rapidly increased to a steady rain.  But the fish were shallow and willing, so I decided to carry on.

Slowly working the edge of a thick stand of waist deep pondweed, I soon caught a perch and a third (12-inch) walleye.  Meanwhile, the steady rain had turned into an absolute downpour and the water was dancing all around me.  I didn’t have a rain coat and, by now, was already soaked to the bone.  Casting into a likely opening, I felt a heavy ‘thump’ that definitely seemed better than the previous hits.  Was it a keeper??

Setting the hook, I received an immediate answer as the ultra-lite bent double and the drag howled in pain.  It was as if I’d suddenly hooked onto a freight train as the fish ran for cover.  I knew that if it rooted its way into the pondweed the contest would be over.  Putting more pressure on the fish than I wanted, I managed to keep it in the open.  The struggle continued until I finally caught a glimpse of a white spot on the creature’s tail, confirming that it was indeed a walleye and a good one to boot.

When the walleye finally began to tire, I brought it near the surface and tried to grasp it behind the head.  Seeing my hand, the fish sounded and the water exploded as it made a final, but powerful, bid for freedom.  I thought it was over.  Amazingly, the line held and I received a second chance.  This time I found my grip; triumphantly hoisting a beautiful 23 ½-inches of sleek walleye above the water.  Needless to say, I was elated.

A half dozen casts later, I added another plump 15 ½-incher to the bag, which made two keepers out of a total of five walleyes hooked: No complaints.  The flicker of lightning and rumble of thunder was drawing closer again – too close for my liking -- and I decided to pack it in.  My take for the morning’s brief excursion was two walleyes, two jumbo bluegills, one yellow bass, and the single perch.  Although I looked like a drowned rat, I couldn’t have been happier.  Goes to show why a person should never stay home – even on days when there’s little hope of catching a fish.

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