Thanks to the organizers! Deb and I had a great time and we enjoyed meeting all you CTFers. Here is a simplified report of our day.

I got Deb up at 4:00 am, we were out of the house at 5:00 am, launched at Haddam Meadows state boat launch, and on the water and fishing at 6:00 am. In the dark. In 34 degrees and fog. It was so cold that the fog was freezing to the boat surfaces. We started fishing right next to the launch since it would have been bone chilling to run anywhere. By 9:00 am I had caught 3 largemouth bass, but of course they didn't count for anything. Then we started hopping downstream, finally ending up by the Salmon River state boat launch where I had two pike strike my lure, but not getting hooked. I did catch one 26" striper that I thought was going to be the winner until I saw what it was. Finally I caught one 24" pike at 9:30. We measured it and let it go. Then we ran back to where we started where I caught a 26" pike and another decent striper. We continued to hop from spot to spot, going upstream now. We had no more bites by 1:00 pm. So with an hour left we went back by the launch where we kept casting until our arms could cast no more. We put the boat on the launch a half hour early. We didn't place with our fish. But we had fun. A guy with young kids won both of the fishing outfits Deb and I donated, which I was pleased to see. There was lots of food, some good laughs, and I met a lot of the people that I have been conversing with on the CTFisherman.com web site.

I'm looking forward to next year.

Barn and Deb.