Lookin’ For Fall Pigs

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By Pete Bowman

I love fishing in the fall, even if it’s a snotty overcast windy day. Reason being, Hawgs are for the taking. With that said I recently headed out on a quest for a big Largemouth. There is nothing like a big green monster with perfect markings and my thumb in its mouth!

A drive anywhere in the fall is nothing short of spectacular... but it really helps when you go fishing
A drive anywhere in the fall is nothing short of spectacular… but it really helps when you go fishing

I wanted to travel north in order to avoid other anglers and fish in clear water conditions. The Haliburton area is perfect for this. It makes for a nice Sunday morning drive.

Fall colours make for a great drive
Fall colours make for a great drive

As I arrived the weather was stable but still quite overcast (the day before had quite a bit of rain) with little wind. The water started out at around 62.7 degrees, not bad at all.

It didn’t take long to hit into my first Largemouth, a nice fish on a SquareBill crankbait. I love throwing these in waters in the 60’s. The slow wobble seems to drive fish nuts.

First fish of the day, a gorgeous fall Largemouth on a shallow SB Crankbait
First fish of the day, a gorgeous fall Largemouth on a shallow SB Crankbait

As the day progressed I could see a definitive pattern, lots of fish hitting the crank but none hitting a Jig & Pig (my favourite for big fall Largemouth) so I knew I had to change up.

First Smallie of the day on a Tube
First Smallie of the day on a Tube

Now fortunately I found the right plastic bait but unfortunately the big girls wouldn’t commit to it. Going back a couple of weeks Angelo and I tried some new Megastrike http://www.megastrike.com/ product on the St Lawrence Smallmouth bass (Mega Tube & Mega Bug) and they worked great. My bait of choice for this outing was a Mega Tube (I figured I would need a small profile since the Jig wasn’t working)… a scent loaded solid headed tube bait with distinctive crayfish features. The owner of the company Bobby Urig is a lure making machine and always puts out good product. This tube is no exception. I went from no bites on the jig to tons of bites on the Mega Tube. In fact I had a giant that bit the tube but for some reason I didn’t hook it… that kills me.

Talk about committing to a bait, this Tube works!
Talk about committing to a bait, this Tube works (the hook was barely in and the fish released perfectly)
One more on the Tube
Smallies and Largies both on the tube bait

revised_Tube_WtrmlnPrl

I didn't abandon the crank... it was killing too!
I didn’t abandon the crank… it was killing too!
This loving couple seemed oblivious to my presence... I think she liked me but didn’t want to show buddy
This loving couple seemed oblivious to my presence… I think she liked me but didn’t want to show buddy
Crappy iPhone image but a crank fish none the less
Crappy iPhone image but a crank fish none the less

As with all fishing excursions there always seems to be a minus to the day. My minus for this day was after pulling the boat out of the water, I discovered a lovely wrap of braided fishing line around my prop. I just went through that same crap last year and it cost me over 400 bucks to fix it… not cool!

Here’s where the day went for a negative. That’s braid by the way.
Here’s where the day went for a negative. That’s braid by the way.

This is a definite downfall to Braided fishing line

The ol’ Gerber Multi Tool back in action (I carry this baby all the time)
The ol’ Gerber Multi Tool back in action (I carry this baby all the time)

C’mon people, pick up that fishing line!!!

All in all, even with no big fish and hopefully no cracked or damaged propshaft seal, this was a great fall fishing day. Not only did I get to work on my Crankbait execution but we definitely have a new Tube Bait in our arsenal here at Fish’n Canada and that my friends, is a good thing!

Pete Bowman

Pete, one of the most revered and popular anglers in the nation, has a tremendous love for the game… the fishing game. Pete’s vast knowledge of angling and ability to articulate it to audiences worldwide has endeared him to his fans who still see Pete as just “ONE OF THE BOYS”. Pete is also an accomplished and published outdoor writer and photographer as well as a sought-after speaker. In 2012 another of Pete’s ultimate fishing career highlights occurred when he was inducted into the Canadian Angler Hall Of Fame, something he never thought would happen. A Canadian fishing icon.

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