This week, while roughing it at the Mayfield Lake campground, I thought about the pioneers as I uncoiled the extension cord for the microwave in the back of my pickup. I can't imagine how they survived without can openers. My great-grandfather was a traveling preacher who raised 5 kids in a covered wagon -- my great-uncles and great-aunts. Yeah, yeah, I know this is supposed to be a fishing report. Don't worry, I'll get around to that eventually. The eldest was a cigar-chomping bachelor who lived to be 96, which proves cigars are good for you and marriage isn't. Watching my campfire blaze in the fire ring, as a soft drizzle pattered in the trees, I thought about how harsh life was before can openers and Gore-Tex. Anyway, the water temperatures at Mayfield this week are in the high 50s, and the water is turbid with only 5 or 6 feet of visibility. On sunny days, the coves might reach 64 or 65 degrees. I saw some muskies on the larger trees in the water on both sides of the lake, and netted a 30-incher for another angler who caught it on a bass plug in 58-degree water. I caught and released a 42-incher weighing about 18 lbs. during Thursday afternoon's sunbreaks, on a small bucktail, in 64-degree water. I also had several follows from fish hanging out on trees. Best bet for tiger muskie anglers right now is to fish sunny days and use small lures. The muskies are pretty lethargic, but at least they're moving onto the shoreline cover where you can find them. It took my family only 120 years to progress from sleeping in a covered wagon to sleeping in the back of a pickup. But the power company campground is quite nice now; they've upgraded it, everything is paved now, and all the campsites have power and water -- so bring the microwave and can opener.

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