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I got off of work a little before 4pm. I had been planning to race out and hit the water. The upcoming end to Daylight Savings time had me paranoid of diminished opportunities to get out after work.
The winds were light, the tide was flooding and Tides4Fishing was rating the day at 6 fish! Everything was in alignment - except my motivation level.
After leaving work, I wasn't feeling it at all. I was strongly considering just chilling out in my favorite chair, but I knew I would regret the missed opportunity if I did. I drove to the launch to scope out the water and to give myself some motivation.
I decided to go out, but stick close to my favorite perch / pickerel cove. I only brought Ultralight gear and figured I would try for pickerel and schoolie bass.
It didn't take long to connect with some mid teen rocks and enjoyed playing them on the light rod. I started targeting Picks and quickly landed a 14", then a 21" that tail danced across the surface.
As I continued to fish the same area, I ceased getting hit so I retrieved my bait and paced my rod down on the deck, leaving the Z-mann dangling in 2' of water.
As I picked up the paddle to relocate, the rod bent and I thought I was snagged on the bottom. That was until I saw a large Pickerel swimming away with my bait that had been under my boat.
Once I landed him, he measured at 23 3/4"- just barely short of Citation size..... I was stunned that such a fish would hit in the way that he did. I am not sure if he followed (I didn't see him) or was lingering under my boat. Either way, I was incredibly elated!
DSCN4309.jpg
After another round with the bass, I tried for more Pickerel. I was stoked when I brought a 13" Yellow Perch over the rail. I had never seen one that big!
DSCN4312.jpgDSCN4314.jpg
More bass, another couple of Pickerel - 17" and 22" - and a couple of white perch (shouldn't they be deep by now?) rounded out the 2.5 hour jaunt.
DSCN4315.jpgDSCN4316.jpg
Needless to say, my lack of energy had vanished and I was glad that I got out. It sure beat sitting and vegetating in front of the TV!
The winds were light, the tide was flooding and Tides4Fishing was rating the day at 6 fish! Everything was in alignment - except my motivation level.
After leaving work, I wasn't feeling it at all. I was strongly considering just chilling out in my favorite chair, but I knew I would regret the missed opportunity if I did. I drove to the launch to scope out the water and to give myself some motivation.
I decided to go out, but stick close to my favorite perch / pickerel cove. I only brought Ultralight gear and figured I would try for pickerel and schoolie bass.
It didn't take long to connect with some mid teen rocks and enjoyed playing them on the light rod. I started targeting Picks and quickly landed a 14", then a 21" that tail danced across the surface.
As I continued to fish the same area, I ceased getting hit so I retrieved my bait and paced my rod down on the deck, leaving the Z-mann dangling in 2' of water.
As I picked up the paddle to relocate, the rod bent and I thought I was snagged on the bottom. That was until I saw a large Pickerel swimming away with my bait that had been under my boat.
Once I landed him, he measured at 23 3/4"- just barely short of Citation size..... I was stunned that such a fish would hit in the way that he did. I am not sure if he followed (I didn't see him) or was lingering under my boat. Either way, I was incredibly elated!
DSCN4309.jpg
After another round with the bass, I tried for more Pickerel. I was stoked when I brought a 13" Yellow Perch over the rail. I had never seen one that big!
DSCN4312.jpgDSCN4314.jpg
More bass, another couple of Pickerel - 17" and 22" - and a couple of white perch (shouldn't they be deep by now?) rounded out the 2.5 hour jaunt.
DSCN4315.jpgDSCN4316.jpg
Needless to say, my lack of energy had vanished and I was glad that I got out. It sure beat sitting and vegetating in front of the TV!
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