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!