Few days in the harbor

[carl schenk]

Went out with Scott Kitchen on Friday to start what I thought was going to be a burnout weekend sitting and watching rods. Rainy day was made very tolerable when Scott put up the top and side curtains. We did 9.5 hrs trolling in and out of the south gap washing a bunch of lures, but not a hit was to be had by us. Before heading home Scott decided the one day was all he wanted to put in. Got home and saw a pic of a big girl that was taken in the same area that day and also saw a post by John Pensyl that a space had opened up on his boat for Saturday. Jumped at the chance and climbed aboard his boat on Saturday morning for another go at the fish in the same area as the day before. Another 6 hrs of getting them lures good and clean when one of Johns rods goes off. Cleared enough rods out of the way so he could bring a tank to the back of the boat, reached the net under the fish only to snag a 8/0 hook in the net near the top. Fish is in, slides almost out again, jostle, sploosh, fish settles into the bag. Piggy. Happy, Happy. No more action but fish another couple hours. Sit around Sunday watching football but my mind is elsewhere. Weatherman says light southeast breeze is Mondays forecast and figure my boat is getting wet this trip. Another 5 hours drawing lines on my map and concentrating on fishy looking marks on the graph. Down to one rod at darkness and holding it in my hand and suddenly the lure stops. Just in case I give a couple good jerks and the headshakes begin. Pretty short fight and a little tailwalk at the boat and the fish is plopping back down and right into the net. I think the other boats heard the whoop I let out. Adrenaline and satisfaction. Grabbed pliers and reached towards fish and discover the lure is already out. Quick check of the fish while in the net shows it to be over 45" and it is nowhere near straight. Luckily Jay Cotter was nearby and came over to watch me lay it out on my bumper and take some pics. New personal best for local water. 50''. Set her in the water and she kicks off from my hand, swims around for a few minutes at the surface and disappears from sight. Decided right there that I was finishing the NY season on that fish, but dragged the lure for another hour just to settle myself before floating home. Glad to have been a part of this period of big fish action...

[Scott McKee]

Great report and congratulations on your first local 50"!!!

[Tony Scime]

Great report! You're getting to be quite the writer! Congrats!

[John Jarosz]

Carl...a great way to finish off the season! ...and the fish cooperated, too. Makes it even better.

Congrats!!

[Nate Carr]

Congrats Carl! Great story too.

[Josh Ketry]

Congrats man!

[Jay Nannen]

Carl congratulations on a spectacular season.  You have worked so hard at this the last few years and deserve all the success you have achieved.

[John Pensyl]

That was a great day out there Saturday Carl. Time absolutely flew by talking fish and when my plow rod went off at 330 with that tank it was just icing on the cake. Then when Kane and I got the call from Jay that you popped a 50 I couldn't help but call you. Congrats again. Definitely have to team up again b4 it's over.