So far this month of October has been very good to me. The first decent fish I got was a fine 20-inch largemouth on a live bluegill. We had been steady catching quality gills and harvesting a few from a local lake that has more than enough. Getting tired of watching bass chase hooked gills, I just put one out on a bobber and got that 5 pounder. My best bass, so far in 2012.
Shortly after the first of October, and old friend invited me over to try for some big sunfish at a local private lake. Reports were that there were bass and big channel cats in the mix. On a chilly, rainy, 50 degree day, we ventured out and gave it a shot. Thinking the fish would be turned off, I was quick to find them up shallow once again, and eager to take hair jigs tipped with worms. The take included bass to 1.5 lbs. and quality red breast sunfish and some big gills. Here are a few of the better fish from that miserable evening in the rain…




So, with all those fine panfish under our belt, we just thought it would be cool for a return trip the following Sunday afternoon. The weather was great! 80 degrees and little wind. Only one hitch…no panfish action! My host Judson said there were big channel cats in the lake, so I broke out my European carp gear and bite alarms and set up for catties with chicken livers on 2/0 circle hooks. Within ten minutes, my brother in law, Paul and I had doubles on, and big fish to boot! Check these guys out…


We hooked 5 and landed 3 channel cats, all over 30 inches and got them all on Euro-style tactics. Big fish, Big fun, all released. Judson say there are bigger kittys in the lake. Return trip?
So then on Monday the 10 October, a couple of my aging carp buddies invited Matt and I to get slimed. We fished a new area and got five fish out of eleven runs. My friend Bob got big fish honors with a 20 pounder. Again…80 degrees and calm and overcast. Great fishing so far in October!




This month is only half over…wonder what’s up next?

For the past month or so we have recieved about 18 inches of rain in my central Maryland region. This has helped some fishing scenarios, and hurt others…mainly river fishing. In our local ponds and small lakes, high and turbid water has pushed bass and panfish right up to the shoreline in the flooded brush and undergrowth that was high and dry prior to the rains. The end result is easy fishing with decent sized fish of several species.

Most of the catch the past few trips have been dominated by big bluegills op to 10.5 inches, with many nine pluses in the mix. Fish were literally right at our feet, and we enjoyed some late summer wet-wading for these light tackle panfish.

 

 

 

 

Fishing wasn’t tough, once we figured out that just about everything in the pond was right at our feet. Temps were great…high 70′s and the local kids and dogs gave us a break while we fished. We each lost a big bass as 2 an 4 lb test doesn’t do well with 5 and 6 pound largemouths.
What a blessing it is to have a son who can’t wait to go fishing with you, and a couple of ponds 10 minutes from the house that are loaded with dumb fish! Simple fishing, simple pleasures…let’s hear it for worms and bobbers!