The Late Season Warm Water Fish

Of every species I fish for in lakes, ponds, and slow moving rivers, those in the Esox genus always remain active into the colder months. After the bass have quieted down and the sunfish move to the deep water, pike and pickerel remain aggressive and grouchy.

This morning, with an air temperature of about 48 degrees and the water in the pond around 58 degrees, the largemouth were lethargic but chain pickerel jumped on my streamers whenever I got them in from of them. Nothing like a clear cool day and chain pickerel on the fly. I fished the Essex pond that I've been visiting on and off throughout the summer, then explored another one in the same watershed. Both have some big bass and pickerel in them, but the best thing about today was the colors. On the trees and in the water are patches of orange, red, yellow, and green. Hiding underneath the floating mats of leaves are the pickerel. And if I twitch my fly just so, maybe he will come out and grab it.