Autumn Rush Muskie, Walleye & Steel Report.
AUTUMN RUSH.
A rush through autumn this year?
Absolutely yes.
From onset the winds have blown harder than I can remember, and sunny days have come few. Warm summer waters plummeted to freeze within a snapping instant and the grass which lingered green turned snow-covered white at the flick of a winters switch. This past season time and nature moved far too quick, and yes, for certain it did rush by... at least for me.
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Although as seemingly little time as there has been this fall, for the most part fishing has proved quite fruitful.
A constant with autumn is the threat that the hours are winding down, the cold is coming and days will simply disappear quick. That the fishing season is one that will rush, no matter how long you want it to last. Unlike spring and summer there is no next season afloat on the water to look forward to. At its end now this 2013, with the boat put away and the expectation to soon walk on ice and drill holes for whatever is next, I have a some down time to rest and reflect on the past two months...
September 26th fishing kicked off with what has personally become my best, happiest and most memorable fish of this year. With my friend Len along, fishing the St. Lawrence River for the first time, I caught and released an exceptional muskie which measured in at 56 X 26 inches, weighing in three times to average nearing a miracle fifty. To this day I am still shaking my head in awe, (with Brenda's personal best Arctic char aside) and there is a strong consideration to have this muskie replicated as a mount in the future.
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The fish could very well be one of those once-in-a-lifetime catches, as it's understood muskie are hard to come by. But after its release I'll admit to having had a difficult time for nearly a month thinking about any other kind of fishing. Bit by the muskie bug??? Uh huh, Fo’ Sho!... And so through several weeks while abnormally riddled with intermittent cold & flu symptoms, when other chances arose to chase after them big esox, a best energy was summoned to do just that.
Smallmouth season took a backseat to some extra opportunities for muskie, as the question of "was that Larry fish just a fluke," needed to be answered. Three more trips to the river and first and second rounds went to me, catching a couple more solid fish that despite not hitting 56-inches were still quite respectably large. The final round I took the skunk, even after marking several big hooks on the sonar. Going 3 for 4 on the Larry with these fish was evidence of great possibilities to come and a definite pattern for developing.
Outside of this too, my friend Andy and I made a "quick" trip to LSC for a second go on that muskie factory there. Day 1 we fished out of Belle River, an 8:00am muskie was all that would come of it and by 1:00pm we were off the water making haste to our motel as heavy rains and winds chased us to shelter. Day 2 from the Thames we tucked out of sight to enjoy a full day of sun and fishing. Several small to average skis came to the boat including some incidental walleyes, but no real giants were caught. Planned to fish two more days, that night after dinner we decided to pack it in and head home at sunrise. Forecasts of 40mm of rain starting next morning, then dropping temps to near freezing with high winds for the following, we had to bail.
So finally, for a last shot at muskie for the year I revisited the Rideau after a two year absence, to try "jigging" 'em. Well it worked! It all worked as a matter of fact, finishing the year's muskie trips at 6 for 7 with only the one skunk. Since 2009 muskie had not received any great efforts around home here, and having gone into 2013 knowing that come autumn they were something I wanted to target more, this season was happily rewarding. There is finally once again fishing to greatly look forward to for next year as far as muskie are concerned.
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As said the bass fishing took the backseat this year. One day in spring and six more this fall was the year's worth.
Early on there were a couple days greatly enjoyed with friends Pat, and as well Doug. Also, I took a morning in the WarCanoe before Thanksgiving dinner to explore the Mississippi River near home. Some feisty pike and one rather solid eye around four pounds were the spoils. Two more shortened days out in the Bomber on local lakes, a back lake day in the WarCanoe and one snowy-blowy soggy nasty frigid afternoon in the float tube, it became apparent that unlike 2012, bassin' wasn't where my head was at this Fall. Truth be told, consecutive trips for bass it snowed and one drove freezing rain so deep into my bones I'm still thawing out. Obviously the bites those days were very slow but other days there were no excuses, my mind and energy was on other things.
During the one day tubing a short video was shot for the heck of it.
Float Tube Diddy.
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Rounding the corner into November Quinte walleye fishing began. On an 18 trip no skunk streak dating back three years, I entered into walleye fishing on The Bay with the intent to simply put fish in the boat. Often my guests aboard the Lund reel in most of the lines as the interest for me is more about their company, their having a good time and us getting into good quality and quantities of what are the biggest and best eyes to be found anywhere.
Six trips in 2010 for 72 fish, six in 2011 for 72 fish, six trips in 2012 for 70 fish, and a hit on a line about every half hour on an averaged out 5-rod spread. While during recent years some folks were maybe selling off their gear and whining the fishery isn't what it was, as a newcomer I was certainly impressed with what it still is to this day. Over the seasons the spreads and lures have changed a little, using of course boards, dipsies, snap weights and leadcore to find what works best, but all those things mean Jack if you're not tuned in to how your lures are being managed from their apex. That's where you sit in your boat and ensure you are thinking and doing what you can in order to locate and catch fish. Unfortunately this season I had wanted six days to continue monitoring that personal trend with Quinte's Fall walleyes, but work and gnarly winds cut me short at 3 1/2 days.
Late start with an early finish, October 29th my father and daughter Leah came along. That day I took my first and worst beating to date going 1 for 2 with only sheephead caught, and Leah losing her walleye just a few feet behind the boat. Almost not wanting to return but having marked so many fish, next day Rob & Rob made the tour and we pounded 'em pretty good at 14/20 with the three sheep in the mix; which they were happy to finally photograph. Two weeks passed before getting back but with my friend Luke aboard on November 14th we nailed all eyes but one, going 17/20 with a four rod spread. Two quadruple headers with the first one handed entirely to Luke, three double headers and several singles, it was busy action from start to finish. Luke appreciated that initiation while continuing to obliterate personal bests all day long. High fives, fist pumps and big laughs is what a solid outing on Quinte is all about. Finally, November 20th an overdue day with an old buddie Ian proved fun out there as well. 11/11 with Ian and I insisting the other take this one screamer which, after Ian obliged turned out to be his personal best at 12 1/2 pounds.
Big fish this year was 13 pounds, 4 ounces and there were great numbers over 10. Decent numbers of eaters for the table too. Really appreciated the great times with the fellas this season, so cheers to them.
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Took a day last week to walk some water for steel. This kind of fishing reminds me how out of shape I am, for the long days standing unevenly and miles put on the feet seem to stiffen every muscle and joint for days afterwards. It's worth it though, as seeing that float drop and setting into some bright chrome makes any and all efforts quite rewarding. When steelheading I am a huge clutz, fumbling often, slipping on icy slopes, and needing to retie probably more than most. Yet again, that plus making great drifts and presentations is all certainly part of that style of fishing which to look forward to, and being that it is a weak point in an ongoing personal desire to evolve into a better multi-species angler, it is an obvious fishing challenge to take on.
On this day all went well. The morning picked up three fish with two lost, and come afternoon I went one for three. Not gang busters by any means but great for me, and enough to whet the whistle and keep me grinning for the ride home. It may turn out I take another day or two steelheading before year's end, but if not spring is just around the corner.
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That's Fall in a rush. The WarCanoe flipped and tarped before the freeze, and The Bomber tucked away cozy now on blocks in the garage. Ice gear will soon be organized, the Bravo will be home and the auger fired up. Before long I'll be possessed by the greys until winter thaws away.
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Stay safe on the ice.
Bunk.
