Out and About with Tom & Huck-Rambling Around with the Irwins
Staying Close to Home:  New Babies and Great Fishing                               by Alice Irwin

 
Published July 25, 2002 Click here to return to Tom & Huck Page

Ethan Kissing Bass.jpg (24582 bytes)

NYS Gazetteer Pages 73 and 74

 We’ve been spending a lot of time at home the past couple of months, ever since the two tiny needle-teeth-and-clawed terrorists entered our lives.  Earlier this spring we decided it was time to “adopt babies”.  Erica, Cuddie, and Callie are almost 12, Babboo and Sarah Me-Jowiee are 6; we figured it was time to introduce kittens into the family before our more senior members would be even more disgruntled with newcomers.  Friends Rick and Beth Walker of Marion are foster-parents for Lollipop Farm, raising litters of kittens and puppies until they are of adoptable age.  We went to visit their most recent charges, and fell in love with the two little girl-kittens...a black and white, and a calico.  When the babies were about 8 weeks old the Walkers returned them to Lollipop, and we adopted them the next day.  Introducing Katie and Bernice (named for our Moms) into our family has kept us on our toes...to say the least.  We have forgotten what peace and quiet at home was like; we should have called them “Rip” and “Tear”.  Bernice (a.k.a Rosebud Nose) is the smaller but bolder of the two.  Katie has taken to repeatedly climbing the 10 foot high scratching post tower in our great room, squeaking pitifully until she gets help to make the descent from her lofty perch.  It seems some cats don’t instinctively know how to un-do their climb.  Discouraging unacceptable behavior via squirt gun works pretty well, but when I saw Bernice poised on the forbidden kitchen table, delicately sniffing some roses I had just picked, I couldn’t help but laugh.  Her round eyes looked at me as if to say, “I know I shouldn’t be here, but I only wanted to smell the flowers...”.

And so, we’ve been close to home, helping our sweet kittens to get to know us and the rest of the family. Parents do need a break, though, and we decided to take a weekend off and do some day-trip fishing.   With Lake Ontario resembling a deep-freeze most of the spring (and still) we figured our chances at catching some fish were probably better in smaller, warmer waters.  Just east of Wolcott, East Bay is a favorite destination, and is great for drifting and enjoying the wildlife in the marsh at the south end.  The launching ramp just off East Bay Road in Huron fared pretty well through our spring floods, with only minimal erosion damage.  Stepping into the marsh’s shallow water was a treat; it was 81 degrees...a far cry from toe-numbing Lake Ontario.  Motoring slowly through the marsh into the bay, we proceeded to drift on the wind, working the shoreline’s weed beds and lily pads.  We were surprised at the level of growth of aquatic vegetation this early in the season; the entire bay was nearly choked by weeds.  Casting directly under some lily pads, I had something hit like a ton of bricks.   Whatever it was, it behaved like a small, scrappy Northern, zipping my 6 pound test line off the reel with a “zzzeeeeee”.   I almost had it into the boat when it went for the weeds; I reeled in an empty lure. Yes, it sounds like another fish story. Ethan had better luck, though, and landed a fat, healthy small-mouth, about 16 inches; we sent the bass on his way.

 

 

 Sunday we set out for another favorite destination, Cross Lake.   It’s a little jewel, and only about 40 miles from our home on Sodus Shores.  Just east of Meridian, turn south off Route 370 on Jordan road, and within about a mile you’ll come to a sign pointing to the Cross Lake Inn, Yacht Club, and Marina.  There’s a concrete ramp that’s in good shape, and lots of dock space.  The only drawback is that there’s NO shade in the parking lot where you prep your boat for launch...and it was one of those 80+ days that fries you in short order.  It was great out on the water, and a perfect breeze cooled us down as we motored over to our usual fishing spot.  It’s always loaded with silver bass and nearly every cast is rewarded with a fish.   Even though they’re not really big, they hit hard and are  fun to bring in.   The downside is that their fins are spiny and can be quite hurtful. Ethan has done a good job mastering the art of taking them off the hook without getting bloodied or injuring the fish.  As usual, everyone went back into the water with minimal aggravation from our barbless hooks. 

Of course, there have to be intrusions into a perfect day; that’s life.  Intrusion #1 began with a whirring and low rumble; we and spotted a sea plane getting ready to take off.  Cool...usually.   Assessing the wind direction, the plane was going to set sail within a few yards of our wee boat.  OK...not a problem, as long as it gets up and off the water.  Pass One found the plane with inadequate acceleration and lift, and it ran out of water runway space.  Aborting takeoff, it turned and proceeded to accelerate downwind, setting up for Pass Two.   Bearing down squarely on our little boat’s beam, the small plane transformed into a growling, malevolent monster.  Yes, I am subject to panic attacks; my mind raced...should   we jump to the right or the left, or get in the water and dive to the bottom...should I push Ethan in, should I save the camera or the fishing equipment, or just save my butt??? The plane veered away about fifty yards from us; a little too close for my comfort.  Then the devil-plane attempted another lift-off; this time it sailed into the air, over our heads and out of our lives.  Whew!  

Intrusion #2 came in the form of the “Dreaded Personal Watercraft”.  Lots of families were opening up their cottages, putting in docks, and testing out boats for the season.  I know that everyone has a right to have fun, but there’s just something about the purposeless circling and unceasing engine whine of personal watercraft that I guess I’ll never understand.    Running a craft at high speed in circles just doesn’t do a whole lot for me...but then, everyone has their own thing that they like to do for fun.  Maybe I’m just turning into a curmudgeon.

After baking in the sun for about three hours and bringing in a couple dozen fish, it was time for lunch and the Cross Lake Inn provides a fine meal.  You can dine indoors or out on the patio; both provide a panoramic view of the lake.  Their fare is always delicious, and we particularly like their homemade tomato-cuke-olive marinated salad.

Cross Lake is tucked down in a valley, and its greenish-blue hue is especially pretty on a sunny day.   We prefer exploring the northern end of the lake; the southern end intersects the Erie Canal, so there’s more “big-boat” traffic.  Even though it’s a relatively small body of water and despite the “Dreaded Personal Watercraft” and ski-boats we find it to be a lovely spot for fishing and shore-touring.  It’s not as busy as Sodus Bay or Port Bay on weekends, and if you can get there during the week, it’s really delightful.