There Is No Pain, You Are Receding

Today, I tried Kensico again. I returned to an area not far from the dam, where I fished several times before with some luck.

I wanted to do try something different today. Instead of sawbellies, I thought I'd try bloodworms instead with my larger poles with heavier test line. In the early days, meaning 1996, I did catch a couple of fish that way.

I picked up just a dozen bloodworms at Jack's. (Wade's doesn't carry bloodworms.) I got to the rock around 2:15 and had two lines in the water with bloodworms.

The weather was overcast and quite cool. There was little wind, and the water was still.

Going in, I honestly didn't expect to catch anything or even stay long.

I met my expectations. I didn't have a single bite. At one point, I tried to reel in one of the two bloodworms, but it got stuck. I pulled and pulled, but it wouldn't budge. I just didn't feel like cutting the line, especially after respooling it recently. So I just put my rod down with a hope that a fish might free the line for me.

I opted not to listen to my iPod. Instead, I read more of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I enjoyed the sounds such as the wind blowing through the leaves. At one point, I heard knocking. I could tell it came high up, off the ground. It must have been a woodpecker. I named him "Woody," after a childhood favorite.

I eventually tried the line that got stuck. I was able to reel it in. How did it get loose? Did a fish help me out, or was it something else?

With my third pole, I tried a lure, a spoon with green tails. I don't know the exact name, or how it got into my tackle box. Although I was able to cast it far, I had no luck with it. All too often, I buy things I never or rarely use or really need.

As I was standing on the rock and looking at the water, I asked myself, "Where are the fish?" I was hoping to see a fish jump out of the water, but I didn't see any. I also didn't see a single rowboat. I reminded myself that I keep trying Kensico because there is always a chance I might catch something.

I gave early, before 5 PM. We'll see what the rest of the week brings.

The Price of a Few Hundred Ordinary Lives

Yesterday (Monday), I finally made it to Kensico for the first time in two years. I brought my two smaller poles I use for trout and bucket with the aerator.

My first task was to find Wade's Bait and Tackle, which moved again. It went from North White Plains to Valhalla and now Hawthorne. I stopped at the Kensico Dam Plaza to study my roadmap. After driving for about 10 minutes (up Columbus Avenue and then left on West Stevens Avenue), I found Wade's, which is right next to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery and maybe a block or two from the Mt. Pleasant Metro North Station. (I also discovered that Wade's is right off the Taconic State Parkway.)

The man there said they were out of sawbellies, but had shiners. I bought a dozen of them. I also bought three new lures. The man said the trout were biting and advised me to fish one shiner with a bobber and one off the bottom.

I decided to return to a rock, off Rye Bridge, which I haven't tried in over ten years. That rock is very significant in my personal history. It's where I broke my ankle in August 1996. I did return to the rock maybe a couple of times afterward when I was healed up, but I don't think I've been back since the 1990s. I guess I got used to other spots at Kensico.

The only change I noticed is that a sunken tree on the right side of the rock was no longer there. Everything else looked the same.

I also brought along the long pole I usually use for New Rochelle and the Hudson River. I wanted to use it for lures.

I started fishing around 4:30. The sun was out, and the water was still. Using the small poles with egg sinkers, I could never get a good cast. With the bobber, I got the line only a few feet off shore. I also forgot that one of my poles has a defect. Whenever I cast the line out, it always got caught on a slight nick on my reel, which caused my line to drop. I should either replace the reel or find a way to fix the nick before using it next time. I lost a few shiners when casting the line. I didn't have a single bite.

With the long pole, I tried numerous casts with a Krocodile. But I didn't have any luck. In fact, I got my line tangled. Now I probably have to respool it.

I gave up at 6:30, earlier than I planned. I dumped the rest of the shiners in the water.

The day was frustrating. I never had much luck with trout. So why does Kensico keep luring me? It's a nice drive up, and the area is very beautiful. I also have hope that I'll catch something big here someday.

No Navigator To Find My Way Home

This afternoon, I went up to Kensico. I haven't been there since last July. I left my home around 3 PM. The challenge was to find Wade's Bait and Tackle at its now not-so-new location in Valhalla. Wade's closes at 4 PM on Sundays.

I managed to find it easily, near the Kensico Dam, and got there at 3:50. I bought a dozen sawbellies. The lady at the shop gave me a receipt for the sawbellies and told me to keep it to show any DEP personnel. Apparently, there has been some health problem with some types of sawbellies.

Before going to my usual spot, I saw in my car, listening to the end of the Yankee game. I couldn't believe they got swept and are now 12 1/2 games behind the first place Boston Red Sox.

I got to the rock at 4:30. At first, I couldn't my little bait net. So I had to reach into the bucket and get the sawbelly by hand. I had two poles in the water.

The sun was shining bright. It was warm. There was little or no wind. The water was still. I lost about four or five sawbellies while casting. They just flew off the hook.

I later developed a problem with one my poles. When I tried to cast my line, it just dropped after about 10 feet like it got stuck or tangled. The line in the reel didn't seem tangled. I tried several times, but the same thing kept happening. I then put the pole aside. I just didn't feel like respooling the whole thing.

I stuck with live bait, and I never used Krocodiles or other lures. I just laid back on the rock, resting my head on my tackle box.

I had a couple of bites, but I didn't catch anything.

By 8:15 PM, I was winding down. I actually had one more bite. I held my fishing rod in anticipation, but nothing. I dumped the sawbellies that were left in the water.

It was disappointing that I didn't catch anything. Still, the experience relaxed me.

Tired of Lying in the Sunshine

Today, I had planned to explore Wampus Pond in Armonk. It offers boat rentals at hourly and daily rates. But the thought of spending hours roasting in an aluminium boat in the hot sun in 90+ degrees didn't appeal to me.

So I decided to go to Kensico. The trees would provide some shade. I picked up a dozen sawbellies at Wade's. I also bought a new fishing rod there. This morning, I found one of my trout rods broken. I have to get it fixed.

I got up at the rock around 11 AM. It was hot, and the sun was shining bright in the sky.

In almost four hours of fishing, the only thing I managed to catch was seaweed. I didn't have a single bite. I should have remembered the advice of the fishermen I got last time and try Kenisco only at daybreak.

In mid-afternoon, the wind picked up. So I gave up.

I took a quick drive to Wampus Pond to check it out. I found it easily. Earlier the gentleman at Wade's told me sawbellies wouldn't work because of the weeds. He advised nightcrawlers, shiners (minnows), rubber worms, and frogs. I noticed a lot of lilly pads near the shore.

The disadvantage is that boats have to be returned by 5 PM, and boats are only available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I know I'll try Wampus Pond at least once before Labor Day.

While driving back, I noticed my glasses were missing. I couldn't find them in the car. So I returned to Kenisco, where I found them on the rock.

At Golden Kensico

Catching one decent-sized fish and also seeing this beautiful sight in the late evening made this truly a great day.

Thank you again, God.

All Alone in the Dream of the Proud

After Wednesday's misadventure, I decided to try Kensico again.

I stopped at Wade's to pick up the bait. The young gentleman there said he finally got some "monsters," large sawbellies which should attract bigger fish. He suggested using egg sinkers exclusively and not bother with a bobber.

I made my way to the rock. I had two lines in the water by 2:30.

Then the wait began. I wasn't getting any bites.

A few times, I reeled in the lines to check the bait and recast. In about six hours of fishing, I caught enough seaweed and grass to create salads for an entire wedding party.

In the last couple of times I fished Kensico, my sawbellies died quickly. The gentleman at Wade's told me they need constant oxygen. To keep them alive and able to swim in the reservoir, I minimized the amount of time I took in getting them out of the bucket, attaching them to the hook, and casting them in the water. A couple of times, I even put them back in the bucket while they were still hooked to my line as I made some adjustments. Today, they seemed to last longer. I don't know if it was due to their larger size or my caution (or both).

The weather was cooperative. It was mostly cloudy with a slight breeze. The temperature was a little cooler, and that made it more pleasant.

Later in the day, I tried a Krocodile lure. I must have cast it at least 15 times before it got snagged on the bottom.

As I waited for a bite, I passed the time by reading the Wall Street Journal, which is delivered every morning on my doorstep, and the New York Post. I also laid back on the rock, looked up at the sky, and did some thinking.

The day got really frustrating. The gentleman at Wade's had told me that the best place to fish from shore is by the bridge. I was thinking that, next time, I should switch and try the bridge.

I saw at least three rowboats. In one boat, three fishermen made their way near the dam. Sound seems to carry well in the reservoir. Judging from their glee, which carried hundreds of feet to where I was, I could tell they had a better day fishing than I did.

At one point, I asked God, the Virgin Mary, and St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, to catch just one fish before I went home. I even said one Our Father and one Hail Mary.

By evening, it got very beautiful. The passed behind some clouds, and the sky and water were bathed in a golden light.

As the day came to a close, I put one of the largest sawbellies I had on one line.

A short time later, I saw the line move. I cautiously picked up the rod. The line didn't go any further. I gently put the rod down. A minute or two later, I saw the line move again. I picked up the rod. I held onto the line, then gave it more slack. I saw it move away from shore. I reeled it in. I could tell I had something besides seaweed.

God answered my prayer to which I am thankful once again.

I caught a decent-sized fish. As I pulled it up, the line snapped. But it fell into a rocky plateau below. I climbed down and was able to retrive it. In the dusk, I thought it was a smallmouth bass, but it turned out to be a trout (I think, but I'm not exactly sure what kind). It measured 14 inches. This is the first trout I caught at Kensico in seven years. (I hope it's not another seven years until I catch another one.)

I guess I've caught too many catfish and think all fish will strike in the same way. Catfish violently attack the bait and nearly pull the rod into the water. Typically, the tip of the pole bends indicating a strike. This fish (and the two others I caught at Kensico back in May) were more passive and subtle. In all three cases, I wasn't sure that I hooked anything until I was reeling them in and saw them in the water.

I left the reservoir before darkness at 8:30. On the road, I ran into other fishermen who were on their way home. One man said he and his friends caught "a couple of small fish." I asked when was the best time to fish at Kensico in the morning or evening. They all agreed it's at dawn when I'm dead asleep. In 1996, during my summer of fishing, I made it to Kensico at daybreak a couple of times.

It's something I should try again.

And if the Cloud Bursts

Hoping to build on last week's success, I decided to try my luck again at Kensico.

In six hours of fishing, I didn't get a single bite.

I thought about canceling because of the heavy rain, but the weather forecast said it would stop raining by afternoon.

I bought a dozen sawbellies and a spool of four-pound test line from Wade's. I drove to where I fished last week. I got there around 2 PM. There were no cars parked along side of the road. So I figured my spot would be vacant.

But it was raining hard. Even though I've fished in heavy rain before, I decided to wait a while to see if it got better. Given my accident-prone history, I was worried about slipping on a wet rock or wet leaves and breaking something. The last thing I need is another injury. Around 2:20, the rain became a bearable drizzle. I made my way to the rock through some uneven terrain. Carrying two fishing poles, my tackle box, an empty bucket, and the water-filled bucket with the sawbellies, I had to be extra careful that the weight didn't cause me to fall when walking up and down inclines.

The fishing trip was nearly cut short before it began. When I got to the rock, I set the bucket with the sawbellies down. But it tipped over, and the water and sawbellies spilled out. I grabbed the bucket and steadied it on the rock. Fortunately, only one or two of the sawbellies fell into the water. I managed to retrieve the rest and refill the bucket.

I hooked up sawbellies to both my lines and them in the water. Since I was a little tired after my walk and frantic effort to pick up the sawbellies, I thought I would sit down and catch my breath.

Within an hour or two, it stopped raining. I didn't get a single bite.

I later tried a Krocodile with one line, but I had no luck.

I also tried attaching a bobber to one line, but I didn't get any hits.

A couple of times when I reeled in my line, the sawbellies were gone. Did they slip off, or did fish get them?

In the early evening, I saw a couple of fishermen out in their rowboats. No idea if they caught anything.

At least I got the chance to respool both lines.

What went wrong? It had just rained, and thick, gray clouds covered the sky. There was little wind. I was using sawbellies and a Krocodile. Not even one bite. Like last week, was it the time of day? Would I have had better luck if I showed up earlier, perhaps in the morning? That might be something to consider.

I gave up at 8:25.

A Visitor

As I was fishing, I saw something swimming in the water on the surface. It looked more like a snake than an eel. (That white thing in the lower lefthand corner is my fishing line.)

Stretched to the Point of No Turning Back

Yesterday, I had Friday off, so I decided to spend the day at Kensico.

My first task was to find Wade's Bait & Tackle in North White Plains. It's on North Broadway in North White Plains, a little south of the reservoir on Route 22. I found it easily. I bought a dozen sawbellies, which are widely considered an effective live bait for trout. I also picked up two Krocodile lures. The young gentleman at Wade's was very helpful. He advised that I use a very small hook and hook the sawbelly through the lips.

I chose a spot I had visited 10 years ago, about a mile or so north of the dam. I caught my very first bass there. It's a bit of a climb from the side of the road and then maybe a five-minute walk. It's a big flat rock area and more open. In some spots, trees on or near the shore often interfere with proper casting.

I started fishing around 1:30. I had one line with a sawbelly. I also tried a Krocodile with the other. It was cloudy. The forecast called for a storm, but I was told by the gentleman at Wade's that it moved north. I did get a slight drizzle. By 5 PM, it cleared up, and the sun came out.

On Thursday, I went to church for the Feast of the Ascension. I asked God to help me to catch some fish up at Kensico. I also lit a votive candle to Christ and sought the intercession of St. Peter, one of the patron saint of fishermen. Yesterday, they answered my prayers.

In the first few hours, I had a few bites on the line with the live bait. I caught two perch (which I incorrectly thought were smallmouth bass), which were both 11 inches. I think they are the first fish I caught at Kensico since 1999. So thank you, God, Jesus, and St. Peter.

I didn't catch any trout. I had no luck with the Krocodile. But I'm grateful I caught something.

By the late afternoon, I stopped getting hits. Was because of the time of day or the fact that the sun came out? I had one hit in the late evening, but nothing else.

By late evening, I still had lots of sawbellies left. So I was replacing the bait more frequently. Sawbellies are quite fragile, and they seem to die faster than minnows, which are tougher.

In the water, which is clear, I could see very small fish swimming. I guess the trout and bass feed on them.

As I waited, I took a few pictures, glanced at a couple of newspapers, and smoked my pipe.

I learned one of life's joys is lying back on a big, flat rock, resting my head on my tackle box, and looking up at the sky. I listened to the sounds of the area such as a distant siren, a car, an airplane, birds, small fish jumping out of the water, and wind blowing through leaves.

I packed it in around 8:30 when daylight was nearly exhausted.

Now that I know where to shop for bait and have a favorite spot, I think I will visit Kensico more often in search of the elusive trout.

Standing Alone My Senses Reeled

Today, I made my long-awaited return to the Kensico Reservoir. I picked up two dozen trout worms from Jack's Bait and Tackle Shop on City Island. (I'm glad I beat the Mother's Day gridlock.)

I fished by Rye Bridge, Boat Area 8. It was cloudy and overcast. A couple of times, I felt a few drops of rain, but the expected shower never materialized. I started fishing around 2:30 PM. I didn't catch anything. In fact, I didn't have a single bite all day. I changed my location, moving nearer the bridge. I packed it in around 6:30.

I used a trout worm on one line, fishing it near the surface with a bobber and then on the bottom with an egg sinker. Nothing.

I also cast a Krocodile and a Blue Fox silver Vibrax Mid. No interest.

I asked one fisherman who was leaving the reservoir with two friends if they had any luck. He smiled and shook his head.

One gentleman who was out on the water with a boat reported that he snagged several bass but no trout. (The tone of his voice suggested they were small bass and not "keepers.")

I could see someone fishing across the water from shore. He looked like he caught something.

Next time I visit Kensico, I'll be sure to pick some up sawbellies and maybe try the other side of the bridge.

I have no idea when I will try again. Next weekend, I may try my luck elsewhere.

Despite my lack of success, I'm glad I went. The area is beautiful. The water is still. To quote an old Eagles song, Kensico gives me a "peaceful, easy feeling."

Is There Anybody in There?

I took a drive to Westchester to buy mom her Mother's Day gift. I took a quick side trip up to the Kensico Reservoir. I haven't been up there since last year.

I was pleased to see that the repairs on Rye Bridge were finished, and you can now access those areas, including the spot where I broke my ankle 10 years ago.

There were few cars parked by entrances into the reservoir. No idea if they fished from shore or went out on a boat.

Having a boat in a reservoir is useful. It lets you go out further and cast in deeper water and reach places where you can't reach from shore. I thought about getting a boat for Kensico, but I gradually lost interest in it. I don't visit the area that much, and it would seem like a hassle keeping up with the permits and worrying if someone will steal it.

Driving back, I noticed a sign that reads that the Bronx River Parkway will be closed on Sunday between 10 AM and 2 PM for bicycle traffic. So I have to plan my visit accordingly.

A Return to Kensico

After last Sunday's triumph, I will return to the Kensico Reservoir this weekend. This will be an exploratory trip, scouting out areas to fish.

Last year, I bought two smaller poles for trout fishing. I'll be using one to cast trout worms, and the other with lures. (I'll try sawbellies and minnows in a few weeks.)

The Kensico Reservoir supplies fresh water to NYC. To access the area and fish, you need (1) a fishing license and (2) an access permit, which you can request here from the DEP. After 9/11, the DEP added another requirement. You also need to register your vehicle with the DEP so you can park by the reservoir.

I remember the week after 9/11, I went up there to fish. It was immediately closed to fishing and boating. The Kensico Sportsman, a bait and tackle shop in Thornwood, was forced out of business by the security changes. I felt sorry for him. The man was a nice guy and always helpful. I'm sure he landed on his feet and is doing well today.

Obviously, they are afraid of terrorists trying to blow up the Kensico dam, which would send an estimated 30 billion gallons of water southward and destroying everything in its path. They're also afraid of poisoning the water supply. (Yes, that's the plot of the great blaxploitation film, Three the Hard Way (1974) or an episode of the old Cold War, 1950s television series, I Led 3 Lives.)

It should take me about 30-45 minutes to get up there.