Reunion of Old Friends- October 7th, 2026

One week deep on a forty degree cold foggy morning John Rapp, Nahodil, and I floated the New. It had likely been years since we fished together. The bite started slow but built over time. I lost the best bite I had. John landed the big fish if the day only a few yards from takeout, we had lunch after and it was a great time catching up. 

Total Fish = 43

Biggest Fish = 14” 

Beat 5 Fish = 64”

Minutes per Fish = 5.23

2026 Fish Catch Total = 1,307

2026 River Mies Floated = 182.75

October Fatties - October 4th, 2026

 

Brad and made our usual Sunday evening run. No other anglers anywhere to be found and heavy cloud mat made for ideal fish quality conditions, The cool air had them feeding up some. We caught 70 combined in under 3 hours on the water. 

Total Fish = 45

Biggest Fish = 19” 

Best 5 Fish = 77”

Minutes per Fish = 3.66

2026 Fish Catch Total = 1,264

2026 Miles Fkoated = 178.77

Calm October Morning- October 1st, 2026

 I floated the usual run on a calm October morning. The bite is slowing down some but some big fish are still feeding. I lost a nice one in the 18” range and lakes 4 above 14”. The leaves are starting to turn and today put me over the 100 fish per month mark of 1,200 for the year, 

Total Fish = 34

Biggest Fish = 15.5”

Best 5 Fish  = 70.25”

Minutes per Fish = 4.85

2026 Fish Catch Total = 1,219

2026 Miles Floated = 175.6

The Death of Summer at Sherwood - September 23rd, 2026

Fished a very nostalgic Sherwood Lake for bluegills on a day when the wind and cold reminded us that summer is gone and fall has arrived. Fishing was tough, bite was slow, and fish I caught were small. Still a beautiful, calm, still place to spend a day reflecting back on days gone by. 

Total Fish = 11

2026 Fish Catch Total = 1,185

2026 Miles Floated = 172 miles 

Colt’s Big Fish - September 19th, 2026

 

Brad, Colt and I hit the river early before Camp Craig. The bite was solid and several 15” plus fish were caught. Colt had the big fish of the day with a 17.5” smallie. It was a good morning to be alive and on the river. 

Total Fish = 37

Biggest Fish = 15.5”

Best 5 Fish = 70.25”

Minutes per Fish = 5.27

2026 Fish Total = 1,174

2026 Miles Floated = 169.9

Ideal September Saturday Morning- September 12th, 2026

 

Bostic and I floated the New in a near perfect morning. No other anglers to be found, almost no wind, clear water, clouds, and rain coming this afternoon. The fishing was great we boated almost 80 in 3.5 hours. 

Total Fish = 51

Biggest Fish = 15”

Best 5 Fish = 73”

Minutes per fish = 4.11

2026  Fish Total = 1,137

2026 Miles Floated = 166.39

Labor Day Weekend Wind - September 6th, 2026

 

Brad and I battled the wind on a holiday weekend Sunday afternoon. Pressure was higher and haul was lighter but we still had a good evening 

Total Fish = 27

Biggest Fish = 13.5”

Best 5 Fish =  58.5”

Minutes per Fish = 5.55

2026 Annual Fish Catch Total =  1,086

2026 Miles Fkoated = 163.0 

August Heat - August 30th, 2026

 

Brad and I fished Sunday evening in the heat and humidity. Some passing clouds turned the bite on pretty good and fishing pressure seemed close to non existent. 

We caught 67 total fish in 3 hours and missed many more. Both of us got broke off by what I suspected were Muskies. 

Total Fish = 43

Biggest Fish = 14”

Best 5 Fish = 61”

Minutes per Fish = 4.18

2026 Total Fish = 1,063

2026 Miles Floated = 159.75

Millenial Mark - June 28th, 2026

 

I went out solo in an effort to get over the 1,000 fish mark for the year. I wanted to get over this mark before the July 4th holiday weekend that brings so much fishing pressure to the area. I found what I needed plus some but the day was relatively sparse for size compared to the day prior. This is the earliest I have ever passed the 1,000 fish mark on the calendar. It usually takes till August or September to achieve. This year we have not had a high water event since February and it has given me a lot of time to fish clean clear water. 

Total fish = 44

Biggest Fish = 13.5"

Best 5 Fish = 57.5'

Minutes per Fish = 4.0

2026 Fish Catch Total = 1,020

2026 Miles Floated = 156.45 

Right After the Rain Stops - June 27th, 2028

 

After rain all evening Friday and all morning Saturday, Brad, Colt and I headed out for a short but effecient float ont the New. We were trying to captitalize on rising water before it got high. The fish were very active and we had an big up tick in bigger fish activity. I caught a nice one and lost a 20' fish right at the boat on a jump, Brad caught a good one and we saw another good one get caught. The wind left us alone enough to be able to fish making for a nice Saturday evening on the river. 

 

Total Fish = 47

Biggest Fish = 17.5"

Best 5 Fish = 64"

Minutes Per Fish = 3.8

2026 Annual Fish Catch Total = 976

2026 Miles Floated = 153.0