Trip #50 - October 21sr, 2026

 

Rapp and I hit the New ten days after the rain took the water up +15 feet after our last trip. The water was clear and getting colder. We saw a lot of pressure for a Wednesday. I caught a 18.5”, 17.75”, 14”, 13.75, and 13.5. But the real story is I saw two absolute monsters. Once chased a fluke and one I spooked by floating over him. Fog early gave way to a blue bird skies and bright sun.the quality of fish is going up but quantity is going down, typical for this time of year. 

Total Fish = 11

Biggest Fish = 18.5”

Best 5 fish = 76.75”

Minutes per Fish = 27.2

2026 Fish Catch Total = 1,389

2026 Miles Floated = 202.5

Long Branch Lake - October 12th, 2026

 

I fished Long Branch Lake in the post rain front wind. I managed to catch 5 on Ned rig on outside edge of lily pads The fish were deep and concentrated on drops adjacent to a flat with one on thr flat. 

Total Fish = 5

Biggest Fish = 12”

Best 5 Fish = 58”

Minutes per Fish = 21

2026 Fish Catch Total = 1,378

2026 Miles Floated = 195.72

Return to Bull Falls - October 10th, 2026

 

Rapp and I fished Bull Falks in light rain for 6 hours. The overcast with low clear water made for great conditions. The Shad were heavy at cliffs and up left side above Buffalo hollow. We caught over 75 fish combined. Mine on fluke John’s of Senko and Ned. I caught a 16 and 17.5” plus a couple 14”…but I got broke off by a monster that I will be thinking about all winter. 

Total Fish = 37

Biggest Fish = 17.25”

Best 5 Fish = 72.25”

Minutes per Fish = 9.72

2026 Fish Catch Total = 1,373

2026 Miles Fkoated = 193.08

October Slowdown - October 10th, 2026

The end of October is starting to resemble April, except on reverse. The bite picks up every day in April and seems to slow down every day in October. Minutes per fish is trending up in the wrong direction. It started slow today and I had to hunt to find bites. Nothing big but a beautiful fall morning to be out. Rain coming in could end the 2026 bass fishing campaign any day, 

Total Fish = 29

Biggest Fish = 13.5” 

Best 5 Fish = 61.5”

Minutes per Fish = 8.28

2026 Annual Fiah Catch Totak = 1,336

2026 Miles Floated = 186.98

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