7/10/14 - Charles River Brighton Pre-Fishing
With not being out since my Champlain trip at the end of June, and the last Pro-Am for the 2014 coming up, I was eager to get out on the Charles to try and shake the little funk I had been in for the last couple weeks. My buddy John from the club is fishing the trail too as a boater, and his plan was to be on the water all day. I had to work, but luckily I had a training seminar which usually had me out by 1:30pm. I hauled ass up to the river was there by 2:30, and John had me meet him by the Kayak rental place since he was down river already, and it would take forever to get back to the ramp at the 6mph speed limit. So John had been having a good day already having put probably a 12lb limit in the boat. We wound up fishing from the Eliot St Bridge down to Harvard Bridge, and spots along the way ,and back. Had a nice little pattern going. It wasn't a lights out pattern, but we were starting to be able to predict where we would get the consistent bites. So as we work our way to the Harvard Bridge area, I had probably 4 keepers so far for about 4-1/4lbs. We start working the bridge pilings, so I pull out the dropshot. After about 20 minutes, and many bait fish nibbles, BOOM!! Finally get a good bite, set the hook, and fish shoots right to the surface with a sloppy jump! Big Largemouth! Work her into the net, pictures, weigh this Fatty that tipped the scales at 4.29lbs. Definitely fish of the day!After that we worked our way back picking up a couple here and there, but nothing special. John dropped me off at the Kayak rental place with his keys, so I could help him pull the boat back at the ramp. While I waited for him, I did my usual fishing from the ramp with an inline spinner. I fished for a half hour waiting for John, and in the first 15 minutes I got a Yellow Perch, 2 Blue Gill, and 2 Smallies (8" & 10"). Overall, got in a little over 4 hours of fishing, and it was just what my confidence needed going into the next tournament. I'm probably one of few, but I love fishing this part of the river. It's pretty awesome to look up after catching a big Bass, and see the Citgo Sign and the Red Sox Blimp! City Limits fishing at its finest!