Got out of work a couple hours early on some kind of holiday schedule.
Went to Mile Square Park where there was an alleged trout stocking in the morning. This lake really sucks as far as fishing goes (I've been at least 5 times and skunked out), but it's the closest to my house and easiest on the way home from work, so maybe one day I crack it.
First I dropped off the department's gingerbread house(boat) at my coworker's house for him. We were pretty stoked on all the details that went into this so enjoy:
(https://i.imgur.com/uMbApAMh.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/E37AHUTh.jpeg)
I arrived at the lake around 1400. First time trying the new 3# japanese braid on my UL, so very thin. Forgot to bring 2-4# leader so I used 8#, less than ideal but I'm just throwing spoons anyway.
I walked up and found the water up maybe a foot. There's normally a 4' wide rough concrete sidewalk around the edge of the lake but that was just underwater. That would make for a much easier time landing a big trout without a net.
Noticed the gloss on these little guys and did a double take. White faced ibises:
(https://i.imgur.com/GxCrIjuh.jpeg)
The fishing sucked so I'm gonna keep talking about ibises. I also notice a couple of these moved into my neighborhood recently where there isn't a body of water nearby, which also gave me some whiplash.
Anywho, I started with a 1/4oz KM and broke off during my 3rd cast. Great start to the new braid. Tied another leader on and another 1/4oz KM. I saw people where I figured they would be bunched up on the other side of the lake and figured I would take my time getting over there and looking for signs of life in between.
The big white pelicans of the lake were actively feeding. They look like the biggest f@cking idiots when they hunt, holy hell. I'm absolutely astonished they don't starve. The stupid things paddle around with their head high, then upon seeing some prey swimming 4' in front of them, they awkwardly spring forward, like Koga through the curtains and out onto the stripper's stage, and then spearing into the water ahead. They had about a 20% strike rate and I would see the silhouette of a ~10-12" fish in the guler pouch of the idiot bird. I thought that was a little on the small size for stocker trout but that had to have been the prey. I also may have been basing my size of the fish on the size of a normal pelican, and these white pelicans were the size of dinosaurs, so maybe they were nicer fish.
I made it half way around the lake before I saw anyone catch anything. I believe it was a lure thrower who hooked it, and from across the lake looked like a 3-4lb trout, very silvery and healthy specimen, from my 150 yard's perspective.
I tried a crappie hair jig for a very short time, but found the distance on the 1/4oz KM more confidence inducing. Unfortunately I never got a bite, leaving after an hour or so. I am very strongly considering powerbait at this point to wipe the skunk off my hands at this lake.
: jrodda December 13, 2025, 07:04:49 p(https://i.imgur.com/uMbApAMh.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/E37AHUTh.jpeg)
This is epic!
: jrodda December 13, 2025, 07:04:49 pThe big white pelicans of the lake were actively feeding. They look like the biggest f@cking idiots when they hunt, holy hell. I'm absolutely astonished they don't starve. The stupid things paddle around with their head high, then upon seeing some prey swimming 4' in front of them, they awkwardly spring forward, like Koga through the curtains and out onto the stripper's stage, and then spearing into the water ahead. They had about a 20% strike rate and I would see the silhouette of a ~10-12" fish in the guler pouch of the idiot bird. I thought that was a little on the small size for stocker trout but that had to have been the prey. I also may have been basing my size of the fish on the size of a normal pelican, and these white pelicans were the size of dinosaurs, so maybe they were nicer fish.
You have to remember these trout are not very smart either, so it makes the Pelicans and Kogahead look successful. Such dumb critters.... lol