1st ... and 2nd Chain Pickerel

I had a great float and a long day on the river with my friend Mack.  I had a blast.

Ambient: 78 F, Sunny Skies
Water: 62-68 F, slightly stained (2-4 ft visibility)

I caught my first ever chain pickerel (a.k.a. freshwater "jack") on a rebel minnow.  I landed it on my light action spinning rod.  The fish pulled drag a few times before I managed to grab it behind the head.  Man, those are slimy little buggers!  I got my grips locked in and Mack was able to snap a photo. 

We made our way around the river and I landed a few small bass skipping a weightless frog under the overhanging trees.  I was retrieving it along the surface and got some exciting strikes within feet of the bank.  Frog was the hot lure for a few hours.

Later we explored a small but very scenic creek.  This creek was very tight (too tight for two boats), so Mack continued up while I headed back to the main river.  Mack claimed to have caught a monster redbreast way up the creek.  Maybe I'll see a photo of this beast :).  I caught a few of my own.  The sunfish were very active today.

We entered the last section of our float and I was throwing the small buzzbait pictured above.  I got a viscous strike near a large exposed rock.  I called out to Mack as I threw my buzzbait back into the same area and got a second big strike, but no hook-up.  Third cast and strike was the charm.  This time it was on my baitcaster and this fiesty jack pulled drag twice and continued to trash the entire time it was in the boat.  Mack played photographer again.  Thanks man!

If you want to catch a chain pickerel, I know a place :)