A couple firsts

[Skunk City]

Been waiting for a break in the wind to get the yak wet again and last night was it. Tossed the yak in a super low river, pretty much as low as I've seen it this summer. While unloading, I saw a musk rat crossing the river and it got me thinking (more on that later).
Though my yak is a sit-in, over the past few years I've been growing more comfortable with standing in it. With the water being so low and clear, I did some stand-up scouting and spotted a few Pike right off the bat. Came across a fish hanging by some weeds and tossed a big popper at it. I watched as the fish displayed no interest in it, only for another fish I hadnt seen come flying out of nowhere to crush the topwater. So sick to see the entire thing from a different perspective and polarized glasses on. Decent hammer handle, but was more pumped to get my first "stand-up" fish from the yak.
Swapped plugs to something thats been sitting in my box for a bit, a spro rat. Figuring I'd have nothing to lose, this little guy got crushed on the 3rd cast by a ~30" Pike. Snapped a few quick pics and back in. The mosquitos were out in full force and I had no DEET, so I called it with time on the clock. Not another soul in sight.