If you could turn back time.

[river-rat]

If I could go back in time I would pick the Atchafalaya Basin in 1973.

 

In the spring of 1973 the Mississippi River reached the highest point ever and was threatening to over-top the levees between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The Corps of Engineers also discovered that the Old River Control Structure, which diverts 30% of the Mississippi's flow down the Atchafalaya River, was in danger of failing and the river would change course.

 

For the first time, the Morganza Floodway was opened to take pressure off the Control Structure and protect communities down river. In doing so the Basin was flooded to it's highest point ever also.

 

When the water came down to fishable levels in July of that year the bass fishing went completely off the charts. We were catching 100 largemouths or more on most days up to 4 lbs. with a "bad day" being 30-40. The fishing was so easy you could catch bass on whatever your preferred method was.  

 

[Functional]

Im gunna cheat and list 2.

 

1) Mirror Lake in NH. My aunt/uncle had a place there and my dad, uncle and me would fish it every time we visited for 1-2 weeks at a time. The water is super clear, some really nice scenery, decent fish. If I had my skills I have now it would be awesome to fish again. Saw my first moose there and hear my first bobcat chasing/killing a rabbit at night fishing at 3 am. Terrifying and awesome all at once. 

 

2) My parents had one of their first campers on a lake in Woodstock NY (not hippies) and the man made lake was some of the best bass fishing I can remember. Size, quantity and aggressiveness were incredible. They did some logging there but left some trees and flooded it so cover and coves were everywhere. I've heard the campground closed down but I still search google maps every month or so to try and find it. It's only a hour from where my wifes family lives who we visit often and I'd make a trip for sure to go again. 

 

Both great memories fishing with my dad and my uncle. The two biggest influences in fishing for me. 

[Swamp Girl]

3 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

I honestly would move heaven and earth or give whatever was asked of me to fish Morcom Lake in Minnesota with my departed brother.

 

I believe you. If you ever figure a way to turn back time, let @Bazoo and the others know how to do it too. 

 

Sing it, Cher.

 

 

 

 

 

[Randy Price]

I went to a fly in fish camp in ON (Sandy Beach Lodge) back in '07.  We had a wonderful time and caught TONS of walleye.

[BucksBasser]

Presque Isle Bay, 2003.

I had bought a new boat, at 17' Alumicraft, so my brother, son and I planned a week long fishing trip to western PA to hit a few highly touted lakes.  This was in late June.  The first two lakes, Arthur and Wilhelm were duds.  We caught a few largemouth but nothing of note. It was hard to understand why these were always highly rated in PA fishing articles. 

 

Last stop was Erie.  We had two days to fish.  A heat wave moved in temps in Erie in the upper 90s.  This caused a strong wind out of the west and high waves.  Even in the bay they were three feet or more.  Impossible to stand on the casting deck.  Completely unsafe for this small boat to venture out on the main lake.

 

I was a bit perplexed as I had done a lot of rep for this part of the trip having exchanged a lot of Emails with a friend's relative who won a few Erie tournaments.  We truck out the first morning and then over lunch I hit on a idea.  Carolina rigs.  We didn't have heavy rods but a quick trip to Dick's (they were outdoor oriented in those days) we picked up three 7'6" heavy casting rods and returned to the water.  We tried Kalin's twister tail grubs in subdued colors and dragged them over humps.  We would set up up wind and let it blow us across a hump.  Each pass resulted in a 4 to 6 lb smallie.  It would take us close to half an hour to land the fish and then run back upwind for another pass.  We repeated this the next day until we had to load the boat and head homeward.  I ended the trip with 5 bass over 6 lbs and probably another 10 in the 4 lb range.  These still rank as my PB smallmouth.