McScruff @ Heavenly Ranch today

Comment

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on April 6, 2014 at 4:14pm

Thanks, fellas.
I'll not soon forget such a place.

Comment by Jim Gronaw on April 6, 2014 at 3:36pm

High praise for the pond owners and their kindness. I, too, have been blessed over several decades with folks very much like them...indeed ...a blessing!

Congrats on a truely unique experience!

Comment by Tony Livingston on April 4, 2014 at 8:01pm

Nice testimonial David. I love it when folks get to experience truly great bluegill fishing, whether it be on public or private water. When the action is good enough that it makes you nearly giddy with laughter, then it's something special indeed.

Everyone should get to experience that.....it changes how you look at fishing, and refreshes you at the same time. Magic.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on April 4, 2014 at 7:43pm

Everything Don has already said about this location I can affirm tenfold.

The ponds are fresh water fed. The owner doesn't manage them for trophy fish populations, but the fish have the benefit of little pressure and a vibrant predator base. They fling some food at them from time to time, but that is about it that I can see. So the ponds are essentially half wild.

The folks that own this place are humble and consider themselves stewards of a piece of land passed through generations. This is evident in everything one sees there. They also share their blessings with many people, being open and inviting to those they know share their consideration.

We started out the morning in a bass buggy pond boat, Don at the helm with trolling motor. His patience and skill impressed me. Had I been at the controls, we surely would have been in the bushes. As we left the dock, I cast a Rooster Tail back towards the structure - and hung a 1, maybe 1-1/2 lb bass. It was a good omen.

From there it was foam spiders on the surface, 5wt fly rods in hand. I got a few swirls on a foam ant, but being fairly new to fly rodding, I spent a good part of the time untangling line and trying to avoid my own hat. Yet, after a few hours under Dons patient tutelage, I was able to get the timing and "swing" under control, for the most part. Many small and large gills were landed - a LOT more hit and missed our flies. Some bass were seen on the bed and the coppernose were staging near their own nests. I hooked a huge one off the area which will be their nests in a month.

Once the wind got up, we had to abandon the boat and take to the shore. Casting a hodgepodge of lures we continued to do well. Beetle Spins, micro crankbaits, soft plastics, Roadrunner type jigs - all caught fish. Some monster helmets were landed as Dons pictures show, along with some surprisingly large bass that I got.

Again, let me say these people are beautiful and generous folks. They think so highly of Don that he has his own electronic access key. Meanwhile, they welcomed me as a friend of a friend and were very kind. I even made a pal of their dog. A good day, in any mans book.

Don, my sincere thanks for taking me to visit this stunning place. I know I kept saying it, but I'll repeat it one more time: " I was BLESSED just to be there."

Comment by Bruce Condello on April 4, 2014 at 6:55pm

McScruff!!!!

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on April 4, 2014 at 5:59pm

Very Nice David!

Comment by carl hendrix on April 4, 2014 at 5:04pm

did ; DON(?) catch that one for you ????  LOL!!

Comment by james bluto gillette on April 4, 2014 at 3:46pm

nice fish mc scruff

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on April 4, 2014 at 2:57pm

GREAT FISH SCRUFFSTER AND LOOKS LIKE YOUR TIME WITH DONALD !!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Tony Livingston on April 4, 2014 at 1:48pm

Way to go!! Feature time!