New River Rat
Well-known member
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.....
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.....