Sugar Creek on a Late Summer Day

I’m not sure how your summer was this past summer of 14’ but mine was mixed with lots of excellent weather and some awesome fishing. Vickie and I journeyed west through a few states…over 4,000 miles in all with lots of photos, memories and experiences that I won’t soon forget. For the first time in a very long time we were kind of free to go and do; that’s what not having an athletic team to coach will do for you!

My love affair with water of all kinds and particularly moving water also continued this summer as I broadened my horizons by exploring a few new streams; specifically, Sugar Creek has become one of my all-time favorites and it was the same on Saturday, September 20. Dad and I left a bit before 8am, grabbed a bite of breakfast at the McDonald’s in Cloverdale and by 9:30am I was scooting my Voyager float tube out upon a cool, clear piece of Sugar Creek. We had dead-headed for The Davis Bridge about two-thirds downstream between Crawfordsville and Shades State Park. I would shove off and fish the bottom 4-5 miles and wind up at Deers Mill Bridge…if you’ve been there before you know this spot as it is highlighted by a covered bridge that spans the creek. It is also home base for Clements Canoe. You may have floated a section of Sugar Creek and if you have you probably rented or grabbed a lift from the folks at Clements…but they will also sell you a one day pass for $5 bucks that will allow you to park and drop off at The Davis Bridge.

I would love to tell you that I had the stream to myself the entire day…truth is I would have if it weren’t for a group of 8 young ladies (mid-20’s) who decided to try their hand at canoeing the creek even though there really wasn’t enough water for me to float it in my very efficient tube. I realize that everyone has a right to public land/water…but what I don’t get is folks that are so loud, obnoxious and vulgar that they tend to ruin it for anyone just wanting to hear nature? Ah…but I digress…anyway I spent the day listening to the shrill cry of girls and not the shrill cry of an eagle or osprey!

As I knew it would be, the water was low and clear. If you aren’t a fisherman…and specifically a fly-fisherman then just take it from me that this was as tough a day to fish as there ever will be. It may sound like I am setting myself up for a day of ‘skunk’; truth is that I caught a lot of smallies…most were 8-12 inches in length, but it took some very long casting. It also meant that I had to be very careful of my dirt plume that would run down and through the clear water…which meant that most of the larger fish just weren’t going to hang around and feed like they might have on a day with more flow and some stained water. By using my small 3-weight rod and floating line I was able to get my fly where I needed it as well as making it fun to land even the smallest of fish.

The weather couldn’t have been better; it might have just been a perfect day in that regard (tended to balance out the extraneous noise on the creek). While it was two days before the beginning of Autumn…many of the trees, vines, etc…had started their color changes. One maple tree was the showcase on the day as it had been blown down along and over a pool; the various reds, yellows and oranges were reflecting out and over the water making for a picture that was surely a grand pre-cursor of things to come. If you would like to watch a short 7 minute clip of me on the creek then click the link.

If you haven’t ever floated any part of Sugar Creek then you are really missing out on a treat. Fact is that fall might be your best opportunity to take in the many colors offered by God’s movement from north to south across the mid-west. There are a number of put in places along the creek and if you go…remember to pack a fishing rod with a few lures and you might just hook into one of these might and noble smallmouth.

For sure it was a bit sad to know that his would be my last summer float but knowing that the beauty of fall is just around the corner is truly exciting. In the world of fishing…things will quickly be taking an upturn as the fish will start to put on the feed-bag, move up into more shallow water and make themselves easier to catch. I couldn’t have scripted a more apt end to an awesome summer; floating one of Indiana’s true gems as I Enjoyed the Great Outdoors.