Dusk of the Pumpkinseeds

I got out on the Mississippi River near Carleton Place on January 31st for some panfishing. The weather was favourable, and the temperature was tolerably cold with light winds. I could sit outside comfortably to fish. I hoped to get into perch, pumpkinseeds, and crappies. As it turned out, it was the Dusk of the Pumpkinseeds. The pesky pumpkinseeds were out in force that afternoon. I got into some perch and three big bluegills, eight and a half, nine and a half and ten inches, all of which were returned to the river. I caught a couple of crappies--they were elusive that afternoon, but a man named Lex (you can see him in the background), who fished nearby, shared some of his catch with me, so I had enough at the end of the day for a fish fry.