I HEAR THE DRAG FIRST

STEVE PENNAZ

–a couple of whiny rips typical of a spinning reel reluctant to give line to a powerful fish. Then Mark Courts speaks in a voice affected by surging adrenaline, and the fight is on. “It’s a giant!” he says as the rod bends double. It was—a smallmouth of any angler’s dreams. Big. Brown. Thick. Well over 5 pounds, maybe busting 6. And we hadn’t even launched the boat yet. Mark hooked the fish while casting from the boat ramp dock as I was backing the boat in. I love October. I look forward to its coming and mourn its ending. There is no other month like it. Cool mornings and warm afternoons. It’s also the month when fallonly patterns offer anglers exceptional opportunities. Courts and I were fishing the St. Croix River, a…

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Outdoor Life (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 2015

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