[Red Bullets]

Nothing important and maybe not even interesting. Thought I would write a short story about today and share it to encourage other to still get out fishing.

At 3:30 today I took a 20 minute walk down to the river for a moment of downtown urban river fishing. Beautiful day. River is going lower and not a one power boat to silt up the shoreline. One bald eagle hunting over the river. He stooped for a meal and connected on a nice sized goldeye mid stream. A flock of 200 or more gulls lifting from their watery shallow perch midstream as the eagle hit the water. I can hear and see the traffic rushing by on a bridge going to and from downtown only 200 yards upstream.

I was drawn to fish this one spot a month ago when I noticed an active beaver house from the bridge one day. Now mid October the beavers have started their feed pile which extends out into the deeper water in front of their house. The winter feed pile needs to be in 6 feet of water so I know the river has good enough depth and the feed pile creates a nice eddy behind it too.

Today I decided it was me and Len Thompson fishing together. I snapped a yellow with black 5 of diamonds No. 0 spoon on to my leader. With the first cast I felt the urban stress release and felt better with each cast. A long cast into the current and I felt that familiar tug. Moments later I gave the big fall goldeye a name and released it. Casting again closer to the feed pile I felt a different kind of tug revealing a 22 inch walleye. After a couple more casts into the current and old Len Thompson gets another yank. Low and behold a big mooneye was released back to the currents. Yet again after not more than 6 casts later I feel a pull. And it strongly pulls again clicking the drag on my reel. A few minutes later a 32 inch pike gave me a toothy smile when I pulled old Len Thompson from his lip and set him free. Len wanted to get back in the water and Len showed me a few more fish over the course of the next half hour.

At 5:30 I decided to head for home. In an hour and a half I caught 4 species with one trusty old Len Thompson spoon. All the fish were nice sized, healthy looking and easy releases. 6 goldeye, 3 walleye, 2 mooneye and one pike.

The NSR in fall is a true gem. Especially within walking distance. These little day breaks during the shortening days of October are precious. Middle of the week and not many boats. Better than a power nap. Halloween afternoon and night has been good fishing in the past so I'm looking forward to that hallowed night and luring the toothy beasts from the depths after dark.