Smallmouths in November are a bonus, and this was a first for me. Most diehard anglers should have another 1 to 2 weeks of fishing season left. Most years, we don't get much opportunity after October. Even though we've already had snow, some ice buildup, and very cold nights, a recent warmup has overridden everything that happened prior. Halloween day and night was brutal, and it's been nice ever since. After my last check-in, in mid October, I thought the end was near and that was it - I was about to miss my end of year window. But last week, and now this week, and again next week, we got lucky with very comfortable conditions. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Get out there now if you still can, and if you haven't yet winterized the boat & motor. If you made the premature mistake of winterizing early, you'll enjoy living vicariously through this post and other anglers this next week. Whatever fish you catch from now to first ice will be in deep water and associating to some type of contour and bottom structure. Following completion of turnover, deep staging fish finally concentrate together and move into their overwintering sites where t