Slow bite today, 10-25

After finishing up my "have to do" list this morning, I headed off to try to hook a few fish on a chilly fall day. Clouds were clearing slowly, air temp was 47 when I pushed off the beach at 1pm with water temperature 57-58 degrees. I snapped a few foliage pics of the hillsides with the oaks beginning to really turn. This first one is in my front yard; funny how the tree to the right is still green and it's 30' away.
Attachment 387310

The pictures can't really capture the range and depth of colors the oaks display around here. While the maples, birch's, ash, etc. provide the brightest colors and biggest neon splash's of color, the oaks are unmatched for deep, rich earth tones. Could do a whole post just of foliage but here's just a few from my trip today.

Attachment 387311

Attachment 387312

Attachment 387314

Attachment 387315

I launched in to basically a northern wind and it pestered me all afternoon, switching around from NNE to NNW; not very strong but enough to keep me from sitting on top of the schools I found so I could work them jigging. Started out trolling slow as usual, took about 30 minutes to land this 1st one of about 10" or so; he got both of the other lines and I had to cut off and retie one due to being knotted around the others. One of the joys of multiple lines out, I guess; I don't know how you spider-riggers avoid disaster with all the lines you guys run.

Attachment 387316

After a long dry spell, I headed out to the middle of the basin to try Walt and Rich's technique of drifting with the wind. Actually worked pretty well for a while. I threaded on various plastics on 1/8 oz. heads and tried to keep my baits about 3-4' off the bottom as that's where I could see them, hugging tight to bottom in 22-25' of water. I hooked and landed bluegill, perch and crappie like these from this deep water. The bluegill were of average size for this water, hardly any color to them at all. This perch was a nice one, nearly 12".

Attachment 387317

Attachment 387318

Attachment 387319

The good bite was short lived however. I pulled off at 4:15 after an hour long dry spell even though I was drifting over lots of marks; switched baits trying to find something to interest them but no takers so I called it a day. Total for the day would be 2 perch, 3 bluegill and 4 crappie. While not a big haul, it was an interesting and educational trip just the same.

Beautiful fall transition colors for sure. Here the soft hardwood... maples, poplar, gum and birches are just starting to turn and shed some leaves too.
A couple of good frosts will kick everything into overdrive I'm sure. I'm lookin' forward to fall and winter and the awesome crappie fishing that's ahead.
Thanks for sharing.

Anothe great short trip. Keep it up. Tight lines to you.

Great job out there and some beautiful pictures!

Nice catch once again.