Another one in the books !! 17 fisherpeople gave it their all . Bluebird skies, couldn't get a more beautiful day. That's why I think we didn't catch or even see a pike, and I'm sticking to it.
Let's start with the Champion
36" River Roamer (He also got another 36"er, and chose to pass on 2nd place )
2nd place 33.75" Bald Pelican They were on the same boat Dialed in for sure.
3rd place Scotty J 29.5" He had a handicap, he was fishing with Mitch P.
Good times everyone !!
OK, who's in for Pickereltoberfest next year ? The most length of fish wins! Side bet on pike ?
CWood Man
Stop Bitchin' And Get Fishin'!
Registered: 02/13/04
Posts: 22632
Loc: Villas NJ
Thanks Paul, your property is awesome! Yup 68 MPH lol. Thanks for all that brought food. Walt and I had fun but first time our team was shut out. We were the pickerel kings though, with a few that had us fooled thinking they were pike. A few bass, yes real monsters, lol! The fog in the morning was thick but it burned off quickly. Nice catching up with everyone!!! Team of Bald Pelican kicked butt! Teaches me not to deviate from prior years plan on where to fish! Lol
CHANGE IS SCARY BUT IT IS REWARDING ON THE OTHER SIDE!
SURELY MISS MY CTF FRIENDS BUT ALWAYS WILL BE HERE TO GIVE ALL A HARD TIME!
Thanks to Paul for organizing and hosting and to everyone else for great food and conversation at the after party. Thanks to Capt and Mitch and Paul Dona and everyone else who provided prizes and for keeping this going. I had the pictures in my camera so I will give the first update from our boat and River Roamer may follow. River Roamer and I launched in Rocky Hill around 7:30 am where there were no docks and the thermometer in the truck said 37 degrees F. We fished main river. About 8:15 am River Roamer hooked and landed a 36 inch pike on a swim bait fishing along edges of weeds. Soon after I had a follow on a 1 oz daredevle but it spooked before I could drop the spoon back. Around 10:50 am River Roamer was given a nice surprise when another 36 incher grabbed the same Swimbait at boat side. It was likely same year class as first one but a different fish as this one was missing a piece of its tail but was still thick and heavy. About 20 mins after Rver Roamer released his fish, I hooked and landed a 33 3/4 inch pike that inhaled a now discontinued flat sided crank bait. All fish released and swam away.
Don P
Member
Registered: 05/03/07
Posts: 19027
Loc: CLINTON, CT
Great pics guys. Good sized Pickerel CWood!
Nice looking Pike Bald Pelican and River Roamer. Did you guys take 1st, 2nd and 3rd place???!!! Oh I see Paul undated the standings. Great gesture passing on 2nd place too River Roamer.
Yes thanks to all the tournament organizers! Was a fun time as usual. I've been fishing with BaldPelican for over 30 years and we've paid our dues with many days of few to no fish, but some days our skills and the fish cooperate and things are good like for us at piketoberfest this year. Last year we didn't even see a pike. Considering that a single pike caught the past 2 years won the tournament, there was no way I was going to take 2 prizes (with my two 36" pike) and leave the person who caught the fourth pike (29" a very respectable pike) out of the prizes. Was a bonus that BaldPelican caught an almost 34" pike to take 2nd (he did win 2 years ago). I plan to be there next year to pass on the wooden pike to the next winner. My screen name is River Roamer because that's what we usually do, roam the river in search of fish, but the beauty of the river never ceases to amaze me and I don't take it for granted each time out. The bald eagle who was fishing above us during the tournament was a nice sight to see too!
We got into some fun with small bass and pickerel that kept us busy. Gold spinner bait was the trick for me, getting some small bass and pickerel.
I had one shot at a pike that grabbed my spinner bait in our last location just before we were coming in. He was close to the boat and I didn't get a good hookset in him. He came back near the boat and took at swipe at Scott's lure, but we couldn't entice him.
Thanks to Paul and his family for hosting the post-fishing fun at his property again. A very nice and private place to unwind, enjoy some good food and laughs after a day of fishing.
Thanks to everyone who has participated and kept this going since 2002! What a lot of fun we've had over the years and will continue to have! Can't wait to do it all again next year!
What a great day to be out on the water !! Too bad the pike didn't cooperate for most of us Congrats to River Roamer, and Bald Pelican for schooling us beyond belief ! Also Scotty J even though he had a handicap. Kapt and I started off dark:30 into Chapmans. We pummeled the areas where I have caught pike before, and only a couple pickerel and maybe a bass to show for it. Kapt has some great photos of throughout the day.
Headed South , we hit every marina with an occasional bass, or pickerel at each. No pictures of our fish, everyone knows what a pickerel or bass looks like. I think next year we should do a pickerel side bet, or call it PIKERELTOBERFEST .
Awesome food, and comradery at the aftergathering, Thank you everyone who contributed ! Sarah took it all in and at the end said " you guys know how to have a good time "
Anyone have video of Cwood taking off in the Panamera ?
Anything we should do differently , add, take away next year ? I know the "meadow " is a little further drive, but I think it's a great place. We can change back to Haddam meadows next year if everyone wants to.
kayak fisher
Member
Registered: 02/24/04
Posts: 1718
Loc: milford
Congrats to the winners, and kudos to PDona for organizing this. Glad the weather cooperated for everyone, even though the fishing was stingy. A beautiful day on the water and great food afterwards more than compensates for lack of pike.
JESTERJACKSON
Member
Registered: 04/18/05
Posts: 1402
Great job guys!!! I am hoping to make it next year my son really wants to give it a go. Not sure how it will work out. It was his soccer game that made us miss the event!!
GET HOOKED! ----------------------------------------------
) 
Dialed in for sure.
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