Feast & Famine

Legends Outdoors regulars of Jim and JT were on vacation at Lake Wallenpaupack with the family for several days.  Amidst this gathering they booked back to back days with Legends Outdoors for some fishing adventures in early November.  Day number one the duo ventured out on the Susquehanna River on a cool morning that quickly turned very warm in a hurry.  The morning was calm and quiet as they seined the water with their offerings.  JT mostly stuck to Keitech Baits while Jim used a variety of offerings to approach the day which is not uncommon with Jim. The day was solid and there were some dynamic spurts at times of action. This pair caught some nice size smallmouth bass during the day as they worked their way towards the 50 mark.  They had some nice sandwiches, snacks and drinks keep nourished and hydrated while out in the bright sun on this autumn day.  The wind did pick up a bit as the day progressed.  Later in the trip, JT hooked into something big that was pulling quite a bit of drag as he carefully played the beast for quite a long time before the anglers could get a glimpse of the fish.  A common carp had taken his offering and JT tired the fish out before the 13.49# fish was landed and photographed before being released back into the river.  Not long after that the anglers would hit the 50 mark of smallmouth bass and shortly after called it a day with 52 total fish being caught.  It was a great day out for these guys as they headed back to Lake Wallenpaupack to reunite with their families for the rest of the day and prepare for the next day on Lake Wallenpaupack.  The next morning arrived as they were met at the dock by their cottage and headed out on the lake.  What a contrast this day would turn out to be as bites were scarce and hard to come by.  JT would lose a nice smallmouth bass early and they lost a few others that didn't seem too significant at the time, but as the day wore on with only a bite here and there...the reality was a harsh one as Lake Wallenpaupack was dealing a difficult hand in this card game.  They tried deep, shallow, slow, moving baits, etc.  The sunny day with water in the lower 50's would dictate a great opportunity for a fall bite, but as you all know the fish do not read the books that us anglers do.  They gave it a valiant effort and kept at it and caught a handful of fish including a good strike that JT got and battled for a while before landing a nice 5.03# Hybrid Pike Pickerel that inhabit this lake.  A really neat looking fish that many mistake for a northern pike, but they do not get as big because they are a hybrid.  The day would wind down eventually as Jim and JT returned to the dock and to spend the rest of their vacation with their families.  It was two beautiful weather days and great days to get out and breathe the fresh air and see some nature which these two men were able to witness a 4-point buck swimming across a cove at Lake Wallenpaupack during this outing.  Overall a great trip and we look forward to seeing Jim and JT back again in 2021 for some more Legends Outdoors adventures.