NATURE / OUTDOORS
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Pretty
Pond Pictures Howard County, MD
7/13/07 Mark Burchick
Monkey Flower, Mimulus
ringens
Mark, Jeb and I went fishing
this low-humidity, beautiful
afternoon, and observed several
flowering plants along the
water's edge.
I need to key this plant out at
work on Monday, using my botany
books.
I initially thought
it to be purple loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria,
but it may be something else.
Blue Vervain, Verbena
hastata
Bugleweed, Lycopus uniflorus
Arrowhead, Sagittaria
latifolia
Fishing was slow but profitable.
Jeb got skunked, Mark caught 1
bass and I caught three. I
caught Ms. Chunkzilla from deep
water using a Yamamoto
pumpkinseed colored,
soft-plastic Kreature. She was
big-time lively, pulling line,
breaking water and trying hard
to throw the hook.
Mark poses with Ms. Chunkzilla
and we guessed her at being
between 4 and 5-pounds. I
broke my Shimano Crucial rod on
a two-pounder as I worked a
largemouth thru fragrant water
lily cover.
Mark and I went to Bass Pro Shop this
evening which
honors the return of rods
purchased at Bass Pro.
I upgraded to a 6-foot, 6-inch,
medium-heavy, fast-action St. Croix AVID,
matched to my Shimano Stradic spinning reel.
I also bought device called
Twist-Out http://www.rogersproducts.com/
that
prevents line twist as you string on new
line.
I'll let you know how it works.