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As I improved my techniques and results over the years, and included the canal to my list of fishing locations, I learned that when I voluntarily stopped in mid-October (years ago) I was missing out on the potentially best times of the season.
My first successful season was halted around mid-October, and I thought "That was great!", until I heard/read that fish were still being caught up into November. The years that followed, up until current, has me fishing up to and ususally through the end of the month.
Over the past 2-3 years I have had phenominal outings at the canal on Halloween. Not so much the size as the quantity. Maybe catching schoolies isn't everyone's cup of tea, but since we begin our season with them I don't see anything wrong with ending it with them. Sure, there will be some legendary keepers still cruising through, and that will always be the primary motivation for hitting the surf in Oct/Nov, but it sure is fun being able to catch enough to make your arms and back cry for mercy!
Each of the past few years have been this type of outing. Catching fish after fish until you just can't make another cast.
I am looking forward to the approaching winter with anticipation. It means ice fishing season, and aside from the derbies, it gives me a chance to shoot for my hardwater goals: Try and get a striper through the ice in the Lower Mystic lake, or getting on the board in the Meredith Rotary Derby (NH) in February.
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