On Long Lake Easter Resurection is Followed by Fishing Season

In my typical last minute fashion a trip to the card section of the grocery store was part of my February 14th schedule. You have to appreciate a personality like mine that has to pick the EXACT RIGHT VERSE. Because of that I am forced to read each and every card in the appropriate section. This years PLANNED last minute trip was eye awakening as my selection was down to 5 "I love my husband" options. Whew, what a time saver.

However, with the extra time which was already planned into my trip I found myself pulled to the next isle where "Easter Baskets" candies, and my favorite Cadbury Eggs were already on display. WOW....... I almost scrapped the Valentine card in favor of the Tazmanian Devil Easter Basket as Taz is my husbands best friend. I paused to ponder the multitude of stuffed creatures that have entered my life and couldn't handle purposefully adding one more to the collection. Driving home with my card I wasn't thinking about how quickly the market changes seasonality to entice the buyer to spend. Instead my mind was on the coming of Spring, my faith, celebration of Christ's Resurection and all that cycles new that is triggered by the Easter display.

Easter and Spring. New growth, new life, new beginnings and on Long Lake time to break out all the fishing equipment, clean out the tackle box and get ready for another soulful season of fishing. Long Lake residents enjoy a month of 5 mile per hour putzing which follows our opening day. In this fashion the waterfront community begins to awaken and slowly opens the lakeside doors and windows in quiet preparation for the coming high season of water recreation. We are a lake that gives full access to the public and I truly enjoy the social life that is part of being a member of such a community.

I fish the way I hunt. It's about the process not the capture. My hooks are barbless and most of the time I'm just practice casting. I love tying flies and the art of fly fishing amazes me. When I was single I traveled with my gear in the trunk of my car. Now that I've settled on the lake with my husband it is always close at hand. It you decide to join us this year, please look for us at the Southeast end. We've got the American flags in lighted planters on the dock. Stop and say hello.

Thurston County has specific regulations regarding boating operations and water safety on lakes. Below are key provisions of Chapter 16.04 as it applies to Long Lake:

• For the first 30 days of fishing season (fishing season opens April 27 this year) the speed limit is 5 mph around-the-clock. The rest of the year, watercraft can travel up to 45 mph in open basins EXCEPT at night and in the morning, when the speed limit is 5 mph. (The 5 mph limit applies after
  8 p.m. or official sunset, whichever comes first, to 11 a.m. in the morning. (The U.S. Naval Observatory Web site allows viewers to estimate sunrise and sunset times.)

• After sunset, all crafts must use proper running lights.

• Crafts operating over 5 mph must be at least 200 feet off the shoreline. This must be observed because swimmers and nonmotorized craft tend to gather within the 200-foot safety zone. This rule also reduces the impact of wakes upon shore banks.

• Crafts operating over 5 mph, including personal watercraft or "jet skis," must also remain at least 100 feet away from all other craft and persons.

• All watercraft must travel in a counter-clockwise direction.

• All water skiers must have at least three people: a driver, an observer, and a skier. The observer is required to watch the skier at all times and to use a red or orange flag to signal when a skier is down in the water. All water skiers are required to wear an approved flotation device.

• Personal flotation devices must be on-board all watercraft, with one device required for each person and easily accessible. Children 12 years old and younger must wear a personal flotation device at all times if traveling on a vessel that is shorter than 19 feet.

• All personal watercraft (or "jet ski") operators must wear an approved flotation device.

• It is illegal to operate any craft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Thurston County Lakes Long Lake is my favorite because it is home, but there are 45 named lakes in this beautiful county. This link will

Fish Facts For Good Health