After what we have gone through weather-wise over the past two weeks, I might have an inkling of why all this has come to be.

Could it be something called El Nino or La Nina? I don’t have a clue what these weather phenomena is all about but I’m searching for something – anything – to explain why we here in the south have taken such a beating from Mother Nature.

It all started last summer. As April showers brought May flowers, the clouds which up to then had been friendly, blessed us with sufficient rains to get things going. Tomatoes were up and growing crimson and plump, purple hull peas were sprouting and we could hardly wait to pick a mess, cook a pot of them and serve them up with a pone of homemade cornbread and slices of those beautiful tomatoes.

Then, just like that, Mother Nature shut off the spigot. Days turned into weeks that turned into months without rain. We watched our ponds slowly shrink in size until all that was left was dry cracks as the pond that was once home to crawfish and turtles and frogs and minnows. Cows in the pasture would walk by, give what was once their water hole a longing look, swish tails at horseflies and sadly walk away.

We had a neighborhood red tailed hawk that spent much of the day on the power line
overlooking the pond, looking for a morsel. As the pond disappeared, so did the hawk. Why hang around to sit and look at cracked ground?

Finally, the skies became more friendly and gave us a few showers. The pond bottom
became a puddle; dry cracks thirstily lapping up the scant few gallons of precious liquid.

Things started looking up somewhat in November and December giving us a false hope that whatever Mother Nature had against us was beginning to wane just a bit.
Then came January. We welcomed the New Year clinging to the hope that finally things would start to settle out and return to a semblance of normalcy. The weatherman began talking about an event due the middle of the month that caused us a bit of concern. An artic front was due around January 14 with the forecast of not only frigid temperatures but with the possibility of frozen precipitation.

No problem, we were duped into thinking. It’s January and a little snow might provide a bit of excitement and would probably be gone the next day. Boy was that a misnomer. We went to bed Sunday night with falling temperatures and by daybreak Monday, we were wrapped up with snow, sleet and ice with a temperature in the 20s and heading south.

We became prisoners to the elements; there was no way we could leave the house and that became a growing concern as I watched the level in my jug of milk sink lower and lower. We were down to eating the last end pieces of the remaining loaf of bread. The heating unit never seemed to shut off and take a breath before kicking on again. I might have to float a loan to pay my utility bill.

Finally, things thawed enough to drive the road to the grocery store to replenish the milk and bread. By week’s end, we could at least function a bit better. Things looking much better, right?

Forecast for this week said otherwise. All the rain we missed last summer was scheduled to dump on us all at one time with heavy rain scheduled all week long.
I found a statement on-line that says it better than I can.

“It’s like Mother Nature is mad and keeps storming out, then comes back yelling, ‘And
one more thing’!”

FISHING REPORT

CANEY LAKE – Some really nice bass are being caught on deep diving crank baits and soft plastics in the creeks and channels. Some yellow bass are being caught on jigging spoons. Crappie have been best around the deeper tops on shiners or jigs and they have moved to deep water out from the dam. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU – No report. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Crappie fishing has been best fishing the deep tops with shiners and jigs. Bass fishing has been good with some nice ones caught on spinners and flipping jigs around the brush and wind rows. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – Water is rising and fishing is slow. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE –The crappie fishing continues to be good in the channels and out from the dam in deep water. Shiners and jigs are taking some good fish. Bass are moving to the secondary points and in deep water out from the dam. Soft plastics are picking up some nice fish. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – The lake has been down but should start to rise with all this rain this week. Crappie are along the tree lines and are moving to the deep water out from the dam with shiners or jigs picking up some nice slabs. A good many barfish are being caught along with the crappie. Bass fishing has fair this week as they too are starting to move deep. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Crappie fishing is slow to fair while others are slow. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is starting to rise and fishing is slow. Commercial fishermen are catching lots of buffalo in their nets and catfish on trotlines. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.