An Outdoorsman's Journal

New Frontiers

Hello friends,

   I found me a new honey hole and it's loaded with ducks, geese, grouse, deer and even had some real pretty trout which is what I was after this week. The Clam River flows through much of southeast Burnett County and much of it as I would find out has a shoreline that is not too easy to walk as it is loaded with tag alders. Much of the Clam River is on public land and I feel that unless my heart stops beating I will have to return with a shotgun, bow and a fishing pole this fall.

   Saturday, April 25th
   High 57, low 36

   My plan was to drive northwest from my Necedah home, follow 53 north and when I got to the Cumberland area just start heading northwest and use my Wisconsin Gazetteer to find some remote creeks that I hoped held large trout.
   I was just north and west of Baronette when I came across a young trout fisherman named Brian who was just finishing a trout fishing adventure. I would find out that Brian who went to college at Stevens Point was a knowledgeable and avid fisherman and had just returned from a few days of walleye fishing near Sturgeon Bay. Brian gave me a really good tip on where I could fish, get away from humans and even park my truck for 48 hours as The GMC Hotel would be my sleeping quarters for the next two, quite rainy nights.
   I might add that I just purchased a new pair of chest waders. I have been wearing leakers for 2 years and it was almost as nice as having a new girlfriend to have chest waders that do not fill with water.
   First observation, more tag alders than it is comfortable to walk in while carrying a fishing pole. Second observation, after 100 yards, no human trail going along the river. Third observation, more deer sign than you see cattle sign in some pastures.
   My pup Red was along, and she would stick close as I rigged up with two split shots and a number 10 hook with a night crawler hooked in the head. I was an avid trout fishermen as a kid and deep, dark pools with good current, enough weight to not get pushed to slack water, but not too much weight to make a wise trout drop the crawler when it makes it's move, clothes that blend with the environment and patience are my rules.
   I had one hit and it was just as I was about to make a move as I had, had no hits. The trout was strong and as they always do, tried tagging me into every downfall possible. In the end I netted a 14.5 inch brown and I was a very happy camper. At O dark thirty I headed back to The GMC Hotel and was able to watch an incredible show of a bald eagle chasing a heron through the air as the heron darted in and out of the tree tops trying to not become the eagles supper.

   Sunday, April 26th
   High 62, low 43

   Rain the second half of the night and fishing until 2 pm, then a break and then more fishing. I figured I would start where I left and then head upriver and explore. Much of my thought pattern was how could my what will be a 65-year-old carcass this fall get a deer out of here if I whacked one with my bow. Another thought pattern was I need to put a smacking on some ducks and geese here.
   I had something very cool happen 30 minutes after I had a crawler soaking and was hiding in the weeds, something seemingly small was putting some love taps on my bait. When I picked up my spinning rod I could feel love on the other end, set the hook and the fight was on.
   This experience lasted a good 3 or 4 minutes and the trout tried snagging me up a dozen times, in the end a 19.5 inch brown came to the net and I was as happy as if I just dropped a triple on greenheads.
   A couple of hours later I started working my way upriver through the jungle and fishing different holes. When I found one I really liked, I got my only other hit of the entire rest of the trip and landed a 13-inch brown.
   Folks here is something good to know if you don't already know it. Big brown trout eat everything in their path including other trout and what other trout would like to eat. I have found that when I catch big browns I catch very few other trout and when I catch lots of small brookies and browns, I catch very few browns over 16 inches.
   This trip had MGW written all over it, remote, teaming with wildlife and my quarry was big and beautiful, just like my new chest waders!

   Sunset