Top_Heavy's World

The ripples on the ditch full of water caught my attention. Even at 75 miles per hour, I could see the backs of the carp sticking above the calm surface. I visually followed the long sleek body of water, the end closest to the river was dry now. The far end was about 400 yards ahead. I made a mental note of the location, a parking stategy and I headed back to the office. The next day I had to make the same long trek to a job site that took me past this flooded ditch. I parked the truck as far onto the shoulder as I dare, but fully off the interstate. I traded my leather, steel toed boots for a pair of Lacrosse knee high rubber boots and I grabbed my recurve. I keep it unstrung behind the seat of the truck for just such occasions. I waded to the South end of the pond, the dozens of fish wallowing there beckened me on. I was about to step again when a long dark shape caught my attention. The mouth was long and the nose was light gray at the tip. A shortnosed gar! I haven't shot one in a few years, this was a treat! I drew and aimed... right over the very thin fish. I was really disappointed in not capitalizing on the chance, until I saw the carp rolling about 20 yards further on. I had a fantastic shoot, filling a cooler quickly and I was back in the truck headed for work. The entire hunt took only 17 minutes and I shot over 30 times! I went back to the flooded ditch this past weekend. The water is about a foot lower and the weather was really poor. Visibility on cloudy days with wind is about zero. I did manage to see about 20 carp, several shortnosed gar and a long fish, possibly a pike, but it moved so quickly that IDing it was impossible. I managed a shot at 2 large gar and this one wasn't very lucky!

I am not advocating hunting in every flooded interstate ditch, that can be dangerous, parking and entering/leaving your vehicle, but it might be the perfect place to look. I don't even know if fishing is legal in the interstate right of way, I know hunting isn't, but bowfishing is regulated by fishing rules. I am trying to show that tiny, unusual locations can be hidden hot spots for all kinds of outdoor activities. Being the first one to a location is often times the best. Keeping your equipment with you is the next step in taking advantage of an oportunity, then actually having the desire and where-with-all to get out and do it is icing on the cake.

Be on the look out for special locations, short term opportunities like a chance to be the first person to a flooded road ditch. Opportunities like this are only what we make of them!