Fishing-Notebook FishFest, February 23, 2008
Fishing The Sooner Hotwater Discharge

Forty fishermen, a ton of food and a little freezing rain. What else could anyone possibly want from another great Fishing-Notebook FishFest?

Well, maybe a few more fish, but it was still a blast. The best bite was early. Three 10-pound striper were caught before 6 am. I believe it was Fishing-Notebooker "Jeff" that "Gilstrapped" it on those striper. I managed to catch a fat, healthy striper shortly after our 6 am arrival. That single striper proved to be my sole fish for the day. Shawn estimated it at 5 pounds.

By daylight the striper had moved out of the discharge area.

The fog lifted off the warm water an hour or so later and the freezing wind and rain began. Even those anglers catching a few hybrid on live shad quickly hiked to the protection of a metal storage facility where we planned to eat a meal.

The eating commenced with the first fish off the fryer.

Walleye, deer and 'Ol Slick's burning beans were just a few of the great offerings cooked by some superb outdoor chefs, followed by cake, cookies and even pecan pie (my favorite). There was plenty of tasty grub.

An hour later, everyone was groaning and slowly trekking back to the hot-water discharge where fishing was anything but better. Most of us loaded our gear, said our goodbyes to those few still braving the weather and headed home - stuffed, sleepy and already thinking about the next Fishfest.