2017 Year in Review

As the calendar clicks over to a new year in 2018, most of the midwest has been going through a deep freeze recently. Rivers that were flowing free just a couple weeks ago are now a frozen sheet of ice and snow. This marks the official end of the smallmouth season around here with the exception of a nice warm spell that might open things up again. With temps in the single digits over the past week though, that hopeful thought seems far out of reach. For me this time period usually means getting other things done that have been neglected due to my obsession with fishing. You know, like organizing tackle, cleaning reels, and rigging my fleet of kayaks haha! Seriously though, it's kind of depressing in one way, but freeing in another. I can go about my business without feeling like im "missing out". It also allows me to take a step back and think about the past season.

While no fishing season in my lifetime could be considered anything besides spectactular, 2017 was a pretty great one. I had good intentions on keeping a detailed log in order to document each trip, but that fizzled away in late spring (I'll try again this season). I won't be able to give an exact total of fish caught for that reason, but nevertheless here is my overview of 2017.

Caught a total of 1300ish river smallmouth
Caught smallmouth in Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin
Caught fish in every month of year besides January
Largest Smallmouth: 20 inches
Best individual number day: 84 smallmouth
Bait of the Year: River2Sea Whopper Plopper 90 (Bone, Yellowhead)
Favorite new rod: St. Croix Avid-X 6'9" MXF
Favorite new reel: Shimano Curado 200K
Most used kayak: Feelfree Lure 11.5
Favorite new Kayak accessory: Yakattack Rotogrip paddle holder
Finished 4th in annual White River IKA tournament (only tournament fished)
Caught first smallmouth "on the fly" (as well as a few others)
Started Quest for 23 Blog :)

One of my main goals this past year was to get out and fish with some new people. Here is a shout out to all the great people that I shared some great times with.

Chris Vaughan: My go-to smallmouth buddy. He is the only other person on this earth that can match my intensity for smallmouth fishing. He also taught me how to fly fish this year, which was really awesome.

Steve Chrenko: My Dad, and the person who is responsible for igniting my passion for fishing at an early age. We had some good times this season.

Danny Chrenko: My brother. He was able to get out a little more than usual this year, and caught a couple monsters, as well as a HUGE musky in Wisconsin.

June Chrenko: My daughter. She does more swimming and snack eating than fishing, but I wouldn't trade our time out on the water for anything.

Dustin Medina: My bro-in-law and one of my best friends. We didn't get out this year together very much, but had an epic wading trip that neither one of us will ever forget.

Ben Clow: An old friend and co-worker that I reconnected with this season. We had a couple really nice trips, and caught a few beast smallmouth. I'm sure we'll get out a few more times next season.

Jeremiah Vaughan: One of the Q423 crew. Didn't get out much with Miah this season, but that Michigan mustache trip was one for the books. Won't forget that evening stretch we plowed through right before dark that yielded a monster smallie for Miah.

Aaron Loomis: Dude is a legend. He has rear delts for days...

All the IKA guys: I had a blast fishing the White River tourney this year. All those guys are really fun to be around.

All in all 2017 was one to remember. No 23's, but the Q423 crew will be at it harder than ever in 2018 looking for that elusive fish. Below are a few of the highlight smallmouth from 2017. This ice can't melt soon enough...