NYWayfarer

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My new finesse combo. Abu Garcia Zata 20 paired with a medium light St Croix 2021 Bass X rod

Saturday morning fishing session produced one fish. 3 pound 24 inch Chain Pickerel. On medium light rod with 6# mono it was a nice fight.

I ice fish without the ice. The river here does freeze by mid January. It’s open water in November and December with an occasional skim of ice. 19 degree air temps and a dusting of snow won’t keep me from open water. If I get skunked 3 outings in a row I will call it a season. No hard water fishing for me. Contrary to popular belief it can be an expensive pastime. Clothing, Sonar, Drill, Shelter and Transport add up.

I use a rechargeable hand warmer. Mine lasts 3 hours which is about the length of time I want to stay out in conditions I would need a hand warmer anyway. I have the disposable hot hands as a back up if the rechargeable unit dies early. I was waiting on the Zippo rechargeable to go on sale. It lasts 9 hours and costs around $40

These might be the last fish I catch of 2021. Last trip was Thanksgiving. Since then we have had some snow and mornings with temps in the teens. I can bank fish 20’s and up, preferably above freezing to keep the ice out of my guides.

New reels: Abu Garcia Zata SP20 spinning reel. Best deal of BF for me. New Rods: St Croix Bass X 6’10” medium light x-fast spinning rod Fenwick HMX 6’6” medium light fast spinning rod Abu Garcia Vendetta 6’6” medium fast casting rod the reel and 2 spinning rods are for Yellow Perch and Trout fishing the rest of fall and come spring. They will pull dropshot duties for Smallmouth come summer. The casting rod is for my Revo SX baitcaster.

It’s exercise, at least my Apple Watch counts it as much. ? I usually launch my kayak on the river upstream and drift fish downstream for most of my sessions. The paddle back is good exercise against the current.

Thanks for the tip. I see my St Croix Bass X rod was discounted in PayPal

Fenwick Eagle. $59.99

I submitted my order. See that my payment was submitted by PayPal but no order confirm or email from TW ? *Nevermind* I see my order confirm now. It was delayed.

No discount on St Croix rods from TW ?

Watch the product vid on tackle warehouse, he says he couldn’t take ownership of the look but it’s his logo and boat wrap mixed in there. I am not a fan of the all white Abu rods especially the handles. They will get filthy fast. I would get the new Vendetta or the Veritas PLX over them

Anything from St Croix will serve you well. Victory, Premier, Mojo Bass, Bass X and Triumph are all in that price range,

It’s the time of year around here where everything I catch starts with the letter “P” Perch Pickerel and something I haven’t caught in a long time, Pike

Their Eagle line has a place in my arsenal. I still use spinning and casting rods I have had for many years. A medium Eagle spinning rod was all I had for a weekend camping/boating/fishing trip when all my other rods broke in a car door incident. I had to throw everything in my tackle box with that one rod and it was a workhorse for me. It’s been on worm and bobber duty the last 2 years.

It’s actually a river. This is a cove around 2 bends of the river and out of the main current. This time of year with the vegetation dying the smaller baitfish are losing their places to hide. Pickerel come to this spot and lie in wait to ambush them. I can always find some here beginning late September. It takes a few casts to find these baitfish. They scatter when my Rapala floating minnow hits the water. Next cast I make is past them a few twitches and jerks of the minnow will usually elicit a reaction from one of the Pickerel that are stalking them. They are fun to catch and put up a great fight. I lose a few of my soft plastics (senko, Storm GT swimbaits, etc) to their teeth. Not to mention blood. They have a uncanny ability to get me with their teeth while thrashing. Glad I carry a first aid kit.

“Pickerel Point” has been that place to beat the skunk for me. After an hour or two trying to find Bass I hike over there to catch some snot rockets and Yellow Perch

Same here. Ozark Trail knife with a bright colored handle so I can find it easily if I set it down. I lost my Cuda rescue knife that I used when kayaking. Must have popped out of its sheath when I was loading the kayak on my car. I have been clipping a Folding knife to my PFD since.

Hot air balloon at sunrise while I was fishing on the river.

Cannibal! You can have your pumpkin latte, I’ll take a few Pumpkinseed instead

Rapala F-7 Floating Minnow has been my most valuable lure this fall. The colder it was the slower I fished it and the bigger the catches got

I carry 2 credit cards, used to only carry one until the magnetic strip went bad on it. Learned I needed a backup that trip the hard way. I always have an emergency $50 cash on me. Never know when you need cash for tips, collections, muggings, etc.

I have had bullet weights impact against my prescription Rayban’s twice. Hard enough that the sound made me thought they shattered. My recommendation is to wear sunglasses even if you don’t need them. The eye you save could be your own.

The Fall Smallie bite is in full effect around here.