Captain’s Log: No Bad Casts, Just Happy Mistakes

We went out fishing today and had an incredible day. Six fish on the boat, split between me and Bravo: bass, chain pickerel, and even a small sunny that was more aggressive than he should have been.

Captain’s log · Tuesday, October 13, 2026

VesselJon boatrowed the whole way

Crew2the Captain and Bravo

Catch6bass, chain pickerel, one sunny

PositionSecretsomewhere in Westchester

Wind10 to 14mph from the SSE at launch, 5 to 8 by sundown

Air70°Fat launch, 64°F by sundown

SkyCleara few clouds, mostly blue

Sunset6:17PM

Rough sailing early, coasting by the end, and an incredible day on the water.

Wind and air: Westchester County Airport weather station, 3 to 6 PM.

Launch: Triple Swords Equipped

When we first went to launch, I knew it was going to be a good day, because Bravo came with triple swords equipped. And by swords, I mean doobies. Three doobies, two people. It was going to be a good boat ride.

A rocky point covered in green, gold, and red fall trees, rising out of dark water under a blue sky with white clouds. — 3:19 PM. Fall color on the rocks.

First Blood: Bravo’s Pickerel

We got out there, and immediately, it was a fantastic day. Bravo had a chain pickerel smash his lure almost in the first couple of casts.

If you’ve never met one, chain pickerel are the pike’s little cousins: long, skinny, covered in a gold chain-link pattern, and all teeth. They don’t nibble. They ambush.

A slim chain pickerel with a gold chain-link pattern lying in a black rubber landing net inside the boat. — 3:22 PM. Chain pickerel in the net.

The Bob Ross Moment

Then we had a magical moment. I was praising the late, great Bob Ross, saying the trees look just like his paintings. That was his best philosophy: how to find joy and live life.

My next cast was a little awry, but I said, “No bad casts, just happy mistakes.”

Immediately, bass on.

Couldn’t have scripted it if we wanted to. Bob Ross would be proud. These are the vibes. This is why we go into nature on beautiful October days.

A hand holding a largemouth bass by the lip, a dark Yamamoto Senko stick worm hanging from its mouth, with gold fall trees and water behind. — 3:35 PM. Bass on the Yamamoto Senko.

Rough Sailing

It was really rough sailing, though. My jon boat is difficult to maneuver in windy conditions. The wind was blowing 10 to 14 out of the south-southeast when we launched.

I was taking two steps forward, one step back, rowing the whole way, trying to position Bravo for the best cast.

A shoreline of fall trees in yellow, orange, and bright red over calm dark water. — 4:05 PM. Happy little trees.

The Coast Run

By the end, it had really calmed down, five to eight miles an hour by sundown, and we were coasting. The wind trailed us along the coast, so we could rapid-fire casts and land these fish.

A hand holding a largemouth bass up against a blue sky, with a wooded fall shoreline and open water behind. — Another bass for the log.

What Got Crushed

The lures that were absolutely crushing today: a Yamamoto Senko (the stick worm), a white soft jerkbait, and a jointed sunfish swimbait in chartreuse.

Three lures on the gray floor of the boat: a white soft jerkbait, a dark Yamamoto Senko stick worm with red flake, and a chartreuse jointed sunfish swimbait. — 6:01 PM. The lures that were absolutely crushing today.

Crew Notes

Bravo, the same Bravo from the legendary backward cast, wants Bass Pro Shops to know he’s ready to become a bass fishing model whenever they want to give him a call.

Faces stay off the log for obvious reasons, so Bass Pro will have to take his word for it.

See you on the water.
Captain out.

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