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Showing content with the highest reputation on 09/24/2016 in all areas

  1. Deep, shallow or in between, from my experience thus far, I think the hardest thing when I think about it is getting started, accepting the change and the wait of finally setting the hook on that first change in structure bite. Where does one begin to look, what am I looking for, how will I know when I find it, what do I do when I find it, questions just seem to lead lead to more questions. Simplifed, if one can do such a thing, you can break it down to one important aspect, that aspect to me is change, distinct or subtle, it's most always the change in structure that will render all the answers your looking for, put aside all the terminology for now and simplify everything, the rest can and will come at a later date while you are at the beginning of your underwater journey into the unknown. All the looking, all the time spent casting at things that aren't visible to the naked eye with exception to the waters surface is a truly tuff task to overcome at first, especially when that tree laying up close to the shore just keeps calling your name and your not getting bit, you begin to wonder if that graph of yours is lying to ya, it's one of the hardest things in the world to do sometimes IMO, to break from our patterns of fishing visible cover to expand your fishing prowess, we are after all creatures of habit, it's not until you finally catch that very first one that you truly begin to understand the changes, shucks, while we are on the subject of change, even you yourself will undergo a change as well in some form or another, maybe your approach takes on a change, a transformation if you will, a totally different mindset in the way you approach and fish an area, depth becomes irrelevant to you and becomes relevant to only that of your target or the species you chose to hunt, no longer will you look at the vast open water and simply see the emptiness of the surface and feel the sensation of being overwhelmed, a change has taken place not only under the surface but above it as well, you can now begin to envision your bait slowly falling beneath the surface, you can almost feel the fish watching it as it falls toward them, to me it was that first one that was the hardest one but one worth the wait. Once that first one has landed the change is inevitable, a new journey begins, the excitement of fishing is rekindled in a new and different light, again and again you find yourself looking at and for different variables, exploring new and uncharted water, re-exploring already visited waters, you begin to realize what it means when they say that only ten percent of a body of water will hold ninety percent of the fish, it's that exciting moment to find or see an area the size of a compact car in something like a 10,000 acre impoundment for the first time light up your sonar screen, to see a pattern on your sonar screen that looks like a big bowl of spaghetti on the bottom, to think that your fishing that pin drop of an area with a minuscule artificial bait, yes, it becomes that specific and at times, just as simplistic. Change, that one word, at least for me, that sums up everything, fishing the changes has changed my fishing forever and I can't wait to see what it has in store for me and the rest of us !!
    6 points
  2. This morning I was unable to get on the "Umbrella Rig" lake as the NE wind was too stiff. As a consolation, I stayed very local. This lake has a decent population of SMB as well as the usual Pike & Walleye By Catch. Well, I did OK. Got on some decent smallies right off the bat on a 1.5 squarebill but it was obvious early on that the 62 degree water & wind had the pike on the move & looking to eat. A SK RES was getting choked. Green cabbage weed in ten feet was the ticket. Here's the best one of MANY. Fun Day. A-Jay
    5 points
  3. Pretty good ole son The hardest thing some anglers to learn is how to take a one dimensional topographical map or a one dimensional depth finder view and turn it into a three dimensional image in their mind. While 3D depth finders and Down/Side Imaging Technology is a gigantic leap in the electronics field it would still behoove the angler to learn how view structure in 3D with out this technology. Once the angler learns this they take a huge step in becoming a more productive angler. This is why when I back my boat down the ramp the first 2 thing I do is start the engine and turn my depth finder on. I don't care if I'm running at wide open throttle, idling, running the trolling motor or fishing my eyes is constantly scanning my depth finder. After I have caught a couple bass before I leave an area I'll idle over a scan the exact area with my depth finder. Even on structure I've fished numerous times I'm constantly scanning my depth finder looking for details.
    5 points
  4. 10lb fluoro is going to be a problem on a spinning reel regardless of brand. I'd suggest scaling down to 8lb and see if that helps, or better yet, going to a braid main line with a fluoro leader.
    5 points
  5. My 1st 3 DD bass were northern strain LMB before age 15; 10 lb 1 oz from lake Sherwood, 11 lb from lake Havasu and 12 lb 3 oz from rock quarry pond in So Cal. Got off to a early start. Florida strain LMB changed everything and fished the San Diego lakes Otay, San Vicente, El Capitan, during the 60's and by the early 70's logged over 100 DD bass. Add a few more 100 between mid 70's until now and you have a life time of nearly 60 years catching DD bass, that didn't happen over night. Earned a lot more $$ as a aerospace engineer then could hope to make fishing! Tom
    4 points
  6. I was very fortunate to live on a lake as a kid that is primarily trout fishing, bass fishing being secondary. Trout anglers rarely fish the shoreline and tend to look for trout in deeper cooler water. Not knowing any better I fished for bass and trout at the same areas off shore and caught both species using Darner nymphs (dragonfly) , night crawlers and carp minnows as a kid. Bass were like trout, they were everywhere. When I started learning to use a baitcasting outfit and plugs, then the shoreline became the area I bass fished first and then fished the deeper water when the bite stopped. After getting my first flasher depth finder unit I learned why bass likes those deeper water areas, clam beds, rock piles, sand and gravel bottoms that attracted trout also attracted bass because prey was availble. Today sonar is always my go to method of determining bass locations, it's on when I launch and off when the boat is trailered. Tom
    3 points
  7. I guess the one thing I'd push back against is that "putting aside terminology" ends up ultimately confusing the matter and making things worse. Call me "old school," originalist or a caveman, but as a teacher, Buck defined the terms to have specific meaning in this regard, thereby allowing for the successful transfer of knowledge from one angler to another. The lack of adherence to this over the years/decades has lead to such a dilution that it's hard to even attempt a discussion on the subject any more. You do, however, make a great point with being able to look at water differently once you develop some type of understanding in this regard. My experience over the years is that some people simply are not capable of ever reaching or understanding this way of looking at the water differently - Catt's point of being able to take a 2D image and "see" a three dimensional world. I guess that's why shorelines were created -T9
    3 points
  8. There's a lot to be said for be loyal to a brand because they've treated you well over the years...but there's a downside as well: You might miss out on a genuinely innovative new technology, superior value or change in business practices that changes how a company does business that benefits their customers. Lotta folks missed the boat in the 70s by being loyal to Chevy/Ford/Chrysler...and then a lotta other folks missed the boat in 2000s when the tide turned back the other way and American brands were/are better deals for the same quality.... Refusing to consider a company based on something that happened years ago limits your choices...that's OK if it works for you...but poisoning others really isn't right. I had a Chevy Tahoe that was the biggest POS you can imagine back in the very early 2000s...dunno if it was built on a Monday or early AM on a Thursday after the GM Wednesday night bowling league won the championship...but it had serious problems with every major system inside 18 months of the day I bought it. Does that mean I disregard all the positive experiences of thousands of other GM owners? Heck no. That'd be dumb, IMO. I think it's far, far more important that you try different things and buy what you like that works best - for you - in your application than to stay with one brand...unless that's what works for you...then go for it.
    3 points
  9. If you notice, none of my videos ask for people to subscribe. I set the bar high for myself. I tell myself I have to make videos so good that people will want to subscribe. If have to beg for subscribers, then that's a clear sign my videos suck. Ya...me too. Not sure why anyone wants to watch a guy shopping for lures with his kids, or watching a video of some guy standing in front a barn talking about what videos he wants to make. Seriously??? LOL! Oh wait! It's cool because there's a frivolous drone shot added in the middle somewhere!
    3 points
  10. A friend of mine was thought to be having heart issues so his cardiologist made him wear an event (heart) monitor for a month . At the end of the month he sees the Doctor and he says : " Things appeared normal - until two weekends ago where by we tabulated some very erratic heart rhythms which has me quit concerned - we may need to operate " ! ... My friend then inquired : "What time specifically two week ends ago do the events occur on the monitor I was wearing " ? Long story short , the times coincided exactly when he had been out hollow body frog fishing and had caught two #4 lb. and one #6 lb. bass - all on a hollow body frog !! ... I about fell over laughing - the event (heart) monitor had captured all of the excitement of my friend's frog fishing trip - I guess what they say about frog fishing is true - It will darn near give you a heart attack when you get bit !!
    2 points
  11. For the first time in a while, I spent several, I say again Several hours on the water without anything in the way of fish catching. Oh I did a boat load of fishing, just not catching. I guess I was getting a little spoiled there as I've had a pretty decent run lately. Perhaps the 3 1/2 INCHES of Big Fat Rain we had the night before had something to do with it. I should have known better. Anyway, about half way through the day I took my frustrations out on the Garmin Virb. FYI ~ Zeroed for the day ~ Jambalaya. A-Jay
    2 points
  12. Water displacement (overall profile and side to side action) Deflection (bill design) Buoyancy (how quickly it floats when stopped) Color/pattern (how visible it will be in the water clarity fished) Sound (rattles, rattle or silent)
    2 points
  13. Due to Political Correctness older translations of many words have come under revisionism, revisionism is an aspect of cultural dissemination of misinformation.
    2 points
  14. The tourney I'm most proud of , I was not on fish . I stayed on this fifty yard section of steep bank all day long , just going back and forth fishing aT-rigged lizard . I caught the final keeper with about thirty minutes remaining and finished second just two ounces away from first .If I was running all over the place I probably dont cash a check .
    2 points
  15. Still managed to hook a 17" Bass
    2 points
  16. This is where I am, or where I am not to be clear.. I've been reading Spoonplugging and the first 9 or so chapters are pretty straightforward.. Exciting to think about in terms of movements and finding a (or the) migration path.. where you will find them either in sanctuary or shallow or somewhere along this path between. Seems easy, until your out there. bobbing on the lake, looking at that shoreline where you caught a couple decent bass "that one sunset".. (nevermind that it's 2pm).. And there is that dock I almost always get bit on.. But where is the path? It's more like a needle in a haystack!!
    2 points
  17. Great thinking! I just called in a special order to St. Croix for 32 counter-wrapped rods to replace my 4 crankbait rods and 7 backups for each one.
    2 points
  18. And you should never stop evolving . Theres a lot of anglers who think they have it all figured out . I'm constantly reminded by the bass that I dont know all that much .
    2 points
  19. Welcome to the forums and welcome to the world of the Ned. As others mentioned, fishing barbless requires a bit more concentration when fighting a fish. Additionally, Midwest Finesse (commercially called the Ned Rig) has the ability to attract strikes from all species of fish. When you feel a bite it could be a bluegill just biting the tail of your worm. Just yesterday I managed to catch a sunfish the was just barely longer than the TRD I was using! As for hookset, I generally just start reeling in, the thin hook can get set pretty easily in most fish mouths. Good luck and tight lines.
    2 points
  20. I like a tight action and no rattles most of the time .
    2 points
  21. No.But a bull redfish came close when I was surf fishing.I estimated that fish at 30 pounds.Hooked him on a finger mullet.He pulled app.3/4 of the spool before I turned him.Was using a whippy 9 1/2 foot whiting rod at the time.He ended up breaking a 30 pound wire leader as he dug in at the last sand bar.
    2 points
  22. i had a 40 size (9540 ) Pflueger Patriarch , it worked great but was just too big so i traded it on a 1000 size (9525 ) patriarch and let me tell you it is absolutely fantastic !!! holds plenty of 10 lb. Sunline SX1 line , the drag was a little weak , needed a little more stopping power so i cleaned the drag washers that were greased and re-installed them dry and now the drag is perfect and still silky smooth . plus the reel only weighs 5.6 oz. , making my spinning set up super light and sensitive .
    2 points
  23. Welcome to the forum! T-rigs are your best starting point, not only because they're versatile and catch fish, but also because they'll teach you how to feel the bottom. Learning to fish a T-rig or light Carolina rig will help you actually develop a lot of techniques that will come in handy later. For less than $100, you can get set up well with what you'd need for most conditions. 7" curl and straight tail worms, and a few packs of Rage or Speed craws will go far. Pick up colors like green pumpkin, pumpkin red fleck, watermelon, junebug, and black. A jar of JJ's Magic or Dip'n'Dye in chartreuse to add SMALL chartreuse accents to claws and tails will be cheaper than buying extra packs of all of the above with chartreuse accents already on them. Those colors and baits will cover most conditions on most bodies of water and won't break the bank. As for weights, a general rule (worry about when to break it later) is to keep them just heavy enough for good bottom contact. For this, 1/8-3/4 oz is common, with deeper water or thicker cover typically requiring more weight. As a beginner, just use lead and don't drop the extra money for tungsten. Do, however, spend the money on good hooks. Gamakatsu, Owner, Mustad, VMC, all make solid 2/0 to 4/0 wide gap worm hooks made for T-rigging that are affordable. Good luck!
    2 points
  24. Just because you have a peddle drive it doesn't mean you have to use it...just like my e-yak, when I get to the thick or shallows, I pull it out of the water and paddle. Best of both worlds.
    2 points
  25. This was THE reel in the day. You could get them on sale for about 45 bucks. Matched with a Fenwick Lunker Stik 555 and a Mann's jelly worm. Oh the memories.
    2 points
  26. The "correct" answer to that depends on a bunch of factors. What is your budget? What type of water do you fish. How good are your ramps on the waters you fish. Are the waters you wish to fish big enough that you encounter "Rough" water. Your budget is one thing only you can answer. Here are some things to consider. If you intend to fish smaller bodies of water, launch on less improved ramps, or fish in stump infested waters then I would consider a tin boat in the 17.5 to 19 foot range. If you fish or want to fish larger bodies of water where the water can really get rough then fiberglass makes sense. There are a bunch of nice tin boats to consider. Ranger, Tracker, Lowe, AlumaCraft, Crestliner, Express, Polar Kraft, and a bunch more make really nice tin boats. I have owned 11 boats in the last 40 years. If I fished mostly fast running rocky rivers I would want a mod v jon boat perhaps with a tiller outboard. If, like now, I fish mostly larger lakes I like a bigger aluminum bass boat. I have even owned a 20 foot fiberglass with a 200 hp outboard, but the cost got too high and I went back to aluminum. An 18 foot aluminum bass boat with a 75 to 115 can fit a lot of people's needs. Then, to make it a great fishing platform go with a 24 volt bow mount trolling motor, an onboard charger, and good modern electronics on both the front deck and at the console. This is a just a bit of what I would consider when you begin looking for your next craft. Here is an example of a nice aluminum bass boat with a modern outboard (which is very important as many of your lakes in California are going to restrictions on outboard emissions). It has a very nice list of options and is obviously in good shape visually. The owner is asking almost $9000 and it is only 16.5 feet long http://santamaria.craigslist.org/boa/5782967882.html Here is an example of what is available in fiberglass for the same kind of money. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/boa/5794833648.html Obviously this would require better ramps to launch at. It would also require a much larger tow vehicle and will be much more expensive to operate and tow long distances. It will however give you the benefit of a better rough water ride and have much more storage, not to mention it will run a heck of alot faster. Take your time and look around at a bunch of boats before you spend any money. By the way I do not want to make you think you need to spend $9000 to get a fishable boat, this is just an example of what is available in your area for the same amount of cash and yet how different your options were. Take a look here at this final one for a lot less money ( I realize it is not close to you but is another example of what you could look for as an option. It is still in California so it is still priced in your market place. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/boa/5788128639.html Here is a couple of pics of my current boat. I bought it new and installed a small used outboard engine on it, due to my choice of fishing a small hp restricted lake. I moved over to the Chesapeake Bay ( here in MD.) so I replaced the used 25 hp outboard with a used 75 hp outboard. The boat is a very wide bodied Lowe Stinger 170. It has a ton of storage for tackle, rods, and boating supplies etc. It rides fairly smoothly except on the rough tidal waters. Once a year we visit some BIG Tennessee lakes and there the boat is terrific. It runs close to 33 mph has all the electronics I need and fishes just as well as my big fiberglass boat, but much cheaper to run. Here is a picture of my boat as it is now and one how it was with the smaller engine. I have both a regular front fishing seat and a longer post and butt seat and use both depending on if I want to sit or stand to fish. Most time I am standing and using the butt seat. I sit when I fish in rough water. These are just a few things to think about, I hope I helped. I am going to share with you what i think is the best article I have ever read on the subject of buying a used boat. A friend, and one of the best anglers I have ever met, wrote it .At the time he was selling one Ranger boat and searching for his dream Range boat. This is not a two second read. As Bryan always says, get a glass of your favorite beverage, find a comfy chair and go for a ride with him. Realize upfront his favorite boats of all time are Rangers built back in the 90's, however all of his info is spot on no matter what you are looking to buy in a used rig. Please, let me know what you think after you read Brian's article. Everyone I have ever shared it with enjoyed it, but most came back with a few questions that pertained to their own search. Enjoy! http://www.baybass.com/node/200
    2 points
  27. I grew up across the street from the original Dad's Root Beer plant in Chicago and even though it isn't produced there any more, it's still my favorite. I've never heard of HEB, but then you've likely never heard of Dad's
    2 points
  28. That's because many of the people in Florida aren't natives,esp.south of Ocala.
    2 points
  29. Fished the Potomac and the canal a a few different spots today and yesterday. Tough fishing all over, was lucky to grind out a single fish at most spots. Had a monster LMB slurp up my jig at Dickerson, but I freaked out and set the hook too soon. Lat spot I hit today was Hapers Ferry. The water was low so rockhopping was super easy. Started catching right away, maybe one to two tiny smallies at each decent pool. Then, right as a tubing group was passing by, I hooked into this fella: I was using my new bfs combo and it was a great fight, I wasn't sure I could get him in at first, I think I need to look at the drag, I had to lock it all the way down to keep any progress on him. Easily the biggest smallie I have caught to date and a nice end to the trip.
    2 points
  30. At this point what technique is there not at least 3 to 5 videos explaining it by some well rounded angler, semi pro, or pro? I mean how many times have you got to hear "semi-slack" or "pilings" "rocks" or "wood". Unless you have been dead the last 100 years a pet dog can show you how to Texas Rig, and Carolina Rig. And let's not forget the word "finesse" has been said enough my great great great grandkids will be hearing it in their sleep. Seriously what is there not videos of?
    2 points
  31. The ONLY people I tell about a specific spot are people I fish with and know won't run their mouth. I really only fish with one other person and they know just as well as I do that "secret spots'' are incredibly rare and pretty much extinct this day in age. When people ask where I caught a fish I just say "private pond". Give somebody an inch, and they will take a mile every single time.
    2 points
  32. True, but light, balanced tackle is easier on the hands and writs. Ever get the "claw" from walking the dog all day?
    2 points
  33. I believe my firend's cardiologist was more concerned with : "What was going on during this period of erratic heart activity " ? then he was about operating ! Also he cardiologist was not a fisherman so he was not too amused ... To borrow from the new Ice Tea commercial (i.e. "It's lemon aid man" !) : "It's frog fishing man - read the sign ... FROG FISHING " !!
    2 points
  34. oh yeah, they'll take you for all you've got.....
    2 points
  35. the thing that rings true to what you're saying is that it all user's preference ! daiwa reels never felt comfortable in hand & shimano's customer service makes me never want to buy their products , ever . i used to use all Abu reels but made the switch to Lew's reels and i must say i feel no need to go elsewhere .
    2 points
  36. And a thread about a cooking forum needs scrapple mentioned at least once so.....Scrapple We could combine the 2 and cook the spotted bass
    2 points
  37. Does anyone just fish anymore?
    2 points
  38. 1. don't buy everything in every color, every size right off the bat 2. get a 2nd and 3rd job for buying tackle 3. only marry a chick with a lot of money that lets you fish all the time (this would eliminate the need for 1 & 2)!!!
    2 points
  39. 6'6" Avid X Medium and Medium Heavy with Shimano Chronarch's..Very light setup
    2 points
  40. Because there's Daiwa and Shimano, and then there's everyone else.
    2 points
  41. Go to any place, listen to the political and religious talk, and then, in a very polite, non-confrontational manner, pretend you are for the opposite of what they believe. You will then find out how nice they really are.
    2 points
  42. Hey everyone, I started bass fishing in OC parks a few months ago and am so hooked I fish about 4 times a week. Caught a 8-10lb carp yesterday around 5PM off the south dock of Bonelli park, Puddingstone Lake with sweet corn on size 12 gold treble hook. Wanted to share this info with everyone. Johnny
    1 point
  43. Who wants to pull out the cork !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    1 point
  44. Oh come on fellas, where is your sense of humor here? I'm disappointed. Of course I'm playing.. Sheesh. Team Kraft. (Velveeta) http://www.npr.org/2014/01/15/262738827/velveeta-shortage-cheesepocalypse
    1 point
  45. Scaleface took the words right off my keyboard. I'll continue using what I've used all summer. I do it every year and it always seems to work just fine. Hootie
    1 point
  46. I fish the same thing in fall as I do summer . The fish are often shallower but I still use the same deep divers , square bills , plastics ....
    1 point
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