Fall Fishing the Erie Canal for Chain Pickerel, October 23, 2015

Tonight I went fishing at the Erie Canal in Fayetteville, NY. It was around 50 degrees and about 5 pm. I started with a spinning reel, medium action, 10 lb line, float (because it is weedy and you want to get your hook back), split shot, swivel, #6 hook and worm.

My expectation was to maybe catch some LM bass (they tend to be good sized here) and some bluegill. I have had occasional carp hit and later in the night, bullheads (see previous posts). I don't fish with light poles or line here because of the carp. When I first cast, I didn't like where it landed so I reeled in. While reeling in a large fish swam fast right in front of me and tried to hit the worm. So, I cast and reeled in a little slower a few more times. About the fourth cast, I felt a big hit. I reeled it in and caught a really nice chain pickerel. It was a big surprise because of the size hook I was using and small bait but it must have thought the worm traveling fast through the water was a small fish. 

I continued to fish and got a few small bites but nothing like I normally get. The bluegill are so many in this area that normally I waste tons of worms on them but I'm guessing that they were somewhere else tonight since this pickerel was in there. I did manage to catch a medium sized Bass though.

Great night fishing the canal. Not too cold that it was unbearable and beautiful foliage.