Mt. Hope Pond 4/27/17

[Hookmanski]

My work schedule was changed so I had off today and decided to take a morning trip to Mt. Hope Pond. It was only my second time there, and if you've never been there before I recommend you take a trip for the scenery alone, it's a beautiful pond. The water was really clear and was crawling with small sunnies all along the shoreline. I rolled in around 7:30 and fished for an hour before seeing anything else.

Around 8:30 I was tying on a different lure when I saw what had to be a three and a half pound largie. He swam off into the deep and never even nibbled at my line.

I was getting discouraged. I had only fished here once prior to this, but I spent 4 hours fishing without a single bite that day, I was hoping today wouldn't be a repeat of that. My co-worker had given me 2 1/6 ounce rooster tails in a chartruce/green colorway which he claimed the trout loved. After about 10 casts I was hooked up with this beautiful 12 inch rainbow. He fought hard, or at least it felt like he did on my 4'6" Fenwick HMG with a Daiwa Outback 500 loaded with 4 pound test. A few theatrical jumps later, I took a quick picture, unhooked him and off into the water he went.

This pond seems like its a very healthy fishery, I had a great time. I know after Memorial Day a beach opens up to the public, so I'm sure it will be more pressured after that. If you can get up there before then I'd absolutely recommend it!

[ifish2016]

Love that pond. That pond was the first place I ever fished at. There is a pretty healthy population of largemouth in there. Just be careful of your surrounding when fishing there since bears will roam around the pond, also there is a population of snakes there too.

[AndyS]

To me there is no better spinner than Rooster Tail, others will disagree.
Try yellow if you can get your hands on one. Nice trout !

[23cardinal]

I think the large mouth are getting ready to bed- the lakes by me there chasing each other from deep to shallow- and starting to sit in some shallow spots-
Pretty place- +1 on the yellow color.

How do you like the fenwick/ diawa? I'm still on the ugly stick : pfluegers for now

[Hookmanski]

ifish & Andy thanks for the tips!!

23cardinal - I love them. I have been using the 4'6" almost exclusively this season and ive had a great time, everything feels like its huge!

[AndyS]

I used Ugly Stick for the LONGEST time, double footed eyelet. I said there is no way I can fish a light graphite rod and a single footed eyelet and not break it.
Well I did the switch, broke a few tips off but I'm doing good, never going back to the heavy fiberglass rods.

[Bruce Litton]

I thought I killed that pond by my blog posts. Felt guilty as hell as all the web traffic came on. Made me really question my journalism training. But I think plenty of good bass are there & words will never harm them. Coming from me, just put them back, please!