VolFan

40 fish in January is outstanding- and those are some gorgeous fish!

There’s a couple guys on a Swimbait forum that I frequent that have great success in water over 40 degrees fishing big wake baits slowly near shallow rocky banks with deep water nearby. One of them is actually in Maine (or possibly Massachusetts). Rising water temps are key. Mostly they fished the evening/night after warm afternoons. Slow wakes with long pauses - the take is usually a sip more akin to a trout taking a dry fly than a violent strike. Occasionally you’ll get a pig walleye this way too if they’re around. I did this in DC on the Potomac and it worked great there too. My best bait was a Mini Slammer in black but YMMV. This not a numbers or small fish technique.

My wife hooked the biggest rainbow trout I think I’ve ever seen on a Stanley Wedge spinner bait - the spinner bait did not survive the encounter, and she lost the trout due to a poor net guy.

See Darren’s post from earlier- that’s the most likely scenario if there’s no underlying problems with his heart. It’s a one in a millions thing but you see it every once in a great great while with kid baseball pitchers that take a comeback liner in the chest.

Got it - I was thinking topwater swim baits like a Slammer or big walker. If you’re using it for frogs too then by all means use braid, but I would still go heavier. He’s also right about the 150 above. Ymmv

Catfish, Crappie, and white perch. Mostly cats

I think the Tatula is your better choice, but (unsolicited advice), I would use something like 15 lb CX or Yozuri Hybrid instead of the braid. Any catch or backlash with the braid the larger lures are goooooone.

Those are great great knives - From a practical standpoint, I have found that a good quality scissors (I actually have a couple pairs in different sizes) more functional for me on the boat. Everything from cutting bait to cutting and anchor line. I do have a quality and sharp knife on me all the time though.

That Sierra Nevada brewery is a cool place!

Yup, it’s winter…

Go with me on this - cut a hole for a dry hatch lid (preferably the screw type) on a vertical face inside the cockpit. Easy access, unlikely to get more water in it and you can leave it open to let the innards dry well. You’ll still need to find the leak unless it’s in the cockpit.

If I remember right, one of those Creek arms that s the warm water estuary but is closed off from the rest of the lake via a dike. It does drain through however so there should be ‘a spot.’ Even if not that dike should warm and hold some fish.

Go towards the nuke plant - there’ll be warmer water there and you can chuck that spinner bait!

Where in NC are you and do you have a boat?

I’m still waiting for the stories about iguanas falling out of trees in FL. Weather has always been about predicting which way the wind is going to blow. It’s easy in the short term, more challenging the further in the future you get.

Miss Cleo???

When I saw this poll I would’ve bet three paychecks that the majority of people on here are dg people; I think it’s just a personality thing. I am a dog person but our cats are fun little jackals too.

What he said⏏️ ( @roadwarrior) Between a few of those and some Roostertails in ‘Grasshopper’, it’ll keep you busy.

Big top water flies in the troughs, the big fish like to look for swimmers swept off the beaches.

Dead straight with just enough speed to spin the blade. Or stroke it like a blade bait. Or with erratic twitches. When it’s cold I usually go with slow and straight just ticking the bottom or at the level of fish/bait.

Roadrunners with a 2” Shad body crushes it all winter around Shad schools. It’s the ultimate in grab-bag fishing; you never know what’s eating.

It’s like a spoon…but more dangerous and less useful…unless you like grapefruit on the half shell

There’s really no reason not to get the JDM grapefruits at this point, with the exchange rate. But be forewarned- the JDM grapefruits are just rebranded USDM oranges…

I still think Trilene XL is your best value…

4 lb CXX is closer to 8 lb break strength and just doesn’t manage well on light reels. I either go braid or use Trilene XL and change it very regularly. There is no margin for error with abrasion on light line. Trilene XL is available pretty much every where. I guess my real question is ‘how are you fishing what for trout?’ If you’re casting power bait, use the CXX.