Fish dinner time .......nice Kenny

Captain, do you think the reason the water is clear is due to the carp die off and them not rooting up the mud?

No , I just think the cold has killed off some algae , plus it was fairly calm. I've seen good clarity a few times this summer to, mainly calm days. Maybe the die off helped somewhat, but the wind can churn our lakes up fast. At least there is no dead fish smell nowdays !  

A wise old fella tried his best to educate me once.  The very topic of "dirty water" was being discussed as I and another boater were plugging up two docks at Wilhelm attempting to trailer our boats. 
 
The old guy, ready to launch, stood patiently and watched as we fumbled and bumbled around like cub bears wearing boxing gloves with gettin the stupid boats, to line up with the bunks on the trailer.  Din't have  guide rails in them daz, boy if I only knew then what I (think) I know now, they would be called BTDT's and not guide rails.   Ohhh well easy come easy go, as they say. 
 
Well when I finally got the StarCraft SS put to bed and out of the way, the old boy walked on over, ask how we did then turned the conversation to the dirty water.  He asked, if I had swam in the lake when the water looked so dirty and of course I answered with a no. Next came the recommendation that sometime I should,  may be surprised just how clear the water really is, looking from the other side.  Then he tossed in a few ideas of lure color selection too, (also time in history before the infamous "ColorSelector"(missed the boat on that one too)) which simply was to drop a lure over the side and watching it till it disappears.  The quicker it disappears the more the flash or lighter colors and of course, the clearer the water the less flash and darker the lure.  Now he says, "remember the water is clearer than it appears when you are looking up from the other side so when using, surface lures, use a lure having the color that matches the sky.  If you have a white sky, the belly of surface lures over the fish (thy're looking up from the other side) should be similar and darker sky's warrant a darker belly". I listened and gave it some thought as the old boy walked away when suddenly, he turned and called back, "almost forgot" he said; "have you seen the new trailer accessory, called guide rails"?
 
Well I was more than intrigued by all this and was ready to give the lure color thingy a honest try and too my surprise it worked,  I could actually see and estimate the distance from which my lures might be seen.... priceless.  Another thing I learned, after testing with several lures of which I would like to convey, to those who find interest in this technique of color selection.  Tie the lures to your fishing line first;  you'll get a better measurement of the distance from the water surface til the lure disappears.
 
Good times, tight lines and Happy 🍗Thanksgiving  (pretty soon)

Not to hijack the thread but just read that the Pymatuning Lake Association will not be having their walleye tourney in 2018!  Hmmmm

No hijacking with that report opsman and it does raise suspicion.  People gotta wonder wassup with that decision.
 
Especially me 'cause I and my wife spent a few hours today, checking out properties for sale, in the McArthur area of Pymie.  One of my concerns I voiced to the realtor was the fishing conditions at the lake.  Not that fishing conditions would be a deal breaker but I will give it some serious thought when the time comes with deciding to move to Pymie or the Allegheny.  The Allegheny already has a advantage in that, river people are cool and besides,  I look good in a jet boat.
 
Did a little rubbernecking while we were in the area and saw some serious damage on the PA shores caused by that F2 twister that passed through the area.   About 12 years ago my wife and I thought long and hard of buying a home right in the McArthur rec area and to our surprise many trees were blown down, including the yard of the home we looked at.
 
Many of the homes in the area have no basement and had I been living in that house at the time of this storm, I'm pretty sure.... no make that I'm positive, I would have pooped my knickers.
 
Did see two boats on the water so a few anglers haven't given up hope... yet.
 
Good times and tight lines.

was at pymy yesterday to fish.  rained all day so I helped wife hang blinds for four hours.  was out of my mind and at 2 I told my wife I was going fishing...the rain would stop.  went fishing ..rain did not stop..in 1.5 hours w duck hunting clothes I got soaked!..But did catch some nice crappies a huge perch and gill!  had 3 rods...2lb test...4 lb test and 6.  caught almost everything on 2lb test.  soon  as I kill bambi I am gonna hit it hard.  it should only get better!  right BTDT? 

QUIT IT ya big tease, fish always bite when it's raining.  Even if I wasn't recuperating,  It still ain't funny to be pickin on old guy.   But congratulations on your catching and good luck with bambi.  Show off!!

BTDT might buy a place on Pymatuning?  I think lake people such as me have lots more to offer than those river folks.
Give me a couple days to come up with a list.  We purchased our cottage a couple years ago and love it there, walleye or no walleye. I didn't catch that many when things were good and the perch and catfish cooperated quite nicely this past year.
 
After the F2 tornado, I do have to admit that I share the same concern about lack of a basement.
 
Now, back to working on the list.
 
Roy.

Yeah Roy, my wife and I looked at a very nice place during our look see.  Great view of the lake, a hop skip and a jump to the dock and it's down the lake we go.  I just don't know about the close proximity of all the other lovely homes in the area, a one lane road in and out plus, all the hustle and bustle of summer activities.  The price however is another matter even when, considering location, location, location.   
 
Gonna be difficult to leave a home where I can walk onto my back porch, step on a pedal, and shoot trap.  Walk 20 yds to a shooting bench for some plinking on a 180 yd rifle range and walk to shoot 3D or bag targets on a 30yd archery range, both directions.   1200 feet to my east, enough ducks and geese to fill a winters freezer 'cept, I don't do water fowl.  Plenty of deer for those who can go and seek along with the ever elusive, Eastern Wild Turkey.  Small game on the other hand, not so much.
 
Thirty minutes (+/-) from home I'm on any one of five lakes, three of which, are unlimited hp and all having excellent fishing and boating opportunities.  In my case, catching..... not so much.
 
Why leave such a place, some might ask and to that I can only say, everything has a price.  It will just need a deal, I can't refuse.   
 
Pymatuning has our eye but the Allegheny has our heart and if on the Allegheny you would ride with me, I think you would agree, river people are just down right cool.
 
Plus the river property has a basement!!!
 
 
Lastly but not leastly, if it sounded like I was bragging about my property, it's because I was.  Stupid cabin fever!!