October Bronze

[New River Rat]

I've been at this smallie chasing a L-O-N-G time now, and I still get pumped at the thought of hitting the river. Today was no different, as I caught myself leaning forward while driving, I guess to get there quicker. I honestly am amazed at how the adrenalin starts at the thought of going after 5 decades of doing this. I'll be the first to admit I have had a great run on the New, but it also took hours on the water, coupled with more hours on the water. And this picture is the very reason I love hunting season. Yahoos off the water, setting trail cams, repairing stands, etc.

I had every intention of hitting a new/old place with the 4wheeldrive, but I thought about the saying "why leave fish to find fish?" Today was a carbon copy of Tuesday(I was on the New then too), as far as the weather goes. Sunny one minute, cloudy the next, then sunny, then dark,moist looking clouds. NO wind either day.

Managed a couple of dozen today, and thankfully the bulk of them were over 14". No walleye, no redeye, no 'gills, but mostly no muckin fuskie. Have I mentioned I have grown to hate 'em?

Anyways, I dodged black walnuts as they surrendered their grip and let gravity take over, a constant chorus of splashing. I caught fish on wacky Magic Stiks, Salty Sinkin Shad and Pointer 78 in crack pattern,

This guy hit a wacky-rigged Magic Stik. I would have bet $100 this was just shy of 20" looking at him fight. But after laying him on the rule, it was a 20" on the money.And he fought like smallies do in the fall. They are BAD ***! I wouldn't trade this fight for a 40" muskie if I were paid.









And this yahoo kept me company for a pretty good while. I think he was leaning new techniques.....

 

[FishingCop]

Hummm, nice smallie, but what kind of snake is that? Looks like he's trying to jump into the boat??? :lol:

 

[Captain Ahab]

Good stuff - fall Smallie fishing is awesome (except for the leaves in the water)

 

[New River Rat]

FishingCop » Yesterday, 14:02[/url]"]Hummm, nice smallie, but what kind of snake is that? Looks like he's trying to jump into the boat??? :lol:

Black Rat Snake. One of the largest I've seen, at about 5 feet and fat. I'm preetty sure he never logs in on tinboats, so my trolling motor was something new to check out. :wink: lol

 

[FishingCop]

New River Rat » Tue Oct 08, 2013 4:07 am[/url]"]

FishingCop » Yesterday, 14:02[/url]"]Hummm, nice smallie, but what kind of snake is that? Looks like he's trying to jump into the boat??? :lol:

Black Rat Snake. One of the largest I've seen, at about 5 feet and fat. I'm preetty sure he never logs in on tinboats, so my trolling motor was something new to check out. :wink: lol

I've never seen a snake lift up out of the water like that, only seen them swimming along on the surface, flat in the water. But, I've really not seen a lot of snakes in the water anyway?

 

[fish devil]

:twisted: Good report and pics!!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[DocWatson]

FishingCop » Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:11 pm[/url]"]

New River Rat » Tue Oct 08, 2013 4:07 am[/url]"]

FishingCop » Yesterday, 14:02[/url]"]Hummm, nice smallie, but what kind of snake is that? Looks like he's trying to jump into the boat??? :lol:

Black Rat Snake. One of the largest I've seen, at about 5 feet and fat. I'm preetty sure he never logs in on tinboats, so my trolling motor was something new to check out. :wink: lol

I've never seen a snake lift up out of the water like that, only seen them swimming along on the surface, flat in the water. But, I've really not seen a lot of snakes in the water anyway?

It looks like the snake has it's tail wrapped around a submerged stick/tree branch, and that could give it the leverage it needs to lift it's head that high.

 

[DrNip]

You making me want to go smallie fishing.

 

[New River Rat]

DocWatson » Today, 11:53[/url]It looks like the snake has it's tail wrapped around a submerged stick/tree branch, and that could give it the leverage it needs to lift it's head that high.

The snake wasn't near anything. He was wrapped around his own body that way. :shock:


I bought my tin in June 2011, I think. Anyway, I thought I needed to keep up with how many 20" smallmouth came over the gunnels (Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries recognizes a 20" to be a trophy fish.).