My buddy Charles Sim and I have been hoping to get out a few times this Fall to chase the hungry Smallies. Schedules lined up and the day was a go.
We backed Charles’ Ranger down the ramp, broke thru the ice that had formed and off the trailer she slid. Is this Fall? More like the onset of winter. We had to drive thru 200 yards of ice that covered the lake entrance from shore to shore. Pretty hardcore, or stupid?
The temps on the day reached 12 degrees with zero wind. Just an awesome day on the water.
For my money, I can’t say I’ve seen anyone as consistent as Charles on the local tournament circuit. He and his partner Nigel Touhey are always a threat every time they hit the water. I see Charles as a bit of a Smallie guru, getting to watch him work these fish was a treat.
And work em he did. He had me down and out pretty quick. We started to try to figure out why he was getting bit and I wasn’t nearly as much. We put two and two together. Line. He was using 6 lb test Flurocarbon while I was using 10 lb test Co-polymer. Once I switched up to his back up drop-shot rod I promptly boated a plump Fall chunk of Bronze, and after that was fish for fish with Charles. Lesson learned big time there!
Best 5 on the day neared 22 lbs, great weight for an inland lake.
Always learning on the water and this was one observation I’ll never forget!
