cyclops2

I have never " FINESSED a BIG " under the docks / boats bass out. They head for the back of the dock. That does not work ? They head OUT from under the docks at a angle. That starts a wrap around something. I can not pull free or feel the fish either. Mean time the fish has raced around the piling & caused the line to dig into the wood that is rotten. Now he is tired & panicked as he only had about 1 1/2' of movement. NO WAY he would get free. As I looked down I realized he would stave to death slowly. Take everything off but my blue jeans. Empty pockets. Knife in hand. Slide in & got lucky. He stayed still as I pulled the barbed treble out. Could have been very bad for the fish if I did not go down to free him. Shortly after that I crushed every barb on everything I own. Face it. I am playing with the fishes life. Not what I want to do to the animal. I have let several fish have slack buy the boat. Almost all throw out the crushed barbed hooks in under a minute. I can wait that long to not touch & remove some of the protective fish slime on a fish.

In coffee stained water ? Rattles are all they can home in on to the lure. O K noisey hooks clattering also. In ALWAYS stained water they catch food ONLY with the lateral lines. They can detect baitfish well enough for a meal.

Would YOU remember when it is opening day of trout day buffet ? Smartness is different for each animal. But free food is always a blessing. Be it animal or plants with fertilizers every spring. Yes, they go to each food source all year long. Bass , catfish, &pike WILL ATTACK a stranger. First 1 bites. Then they all rush in for a piece of meat.

I will only marry a fishing woman, in my next lifetime.

I use the same rod, reel, line of 4# test braided & lure for bank, wading or from a boat. A hungy fish does not give a hoot about it. That said at 77. Rapala & Rebel small floaters with rattles seem most effective. I even toss the 1.5" short NON rattles in up to 2' deep water. Great sight to see a V shaped wave coming at the lure. I have 2 of them with NO HOOKS. It is a Blast to watch the multiple Vs keep coming at it & making short runs before letting go. No injury to the fish. But I count each tug as a boated fish. Getting the strike is what separates the abilities of different people. Using TOUGH stretchy rubber types with the hook snapped off, is a sure fire way to almost get them to the boat, before they let go. I fooled you fishy, is the real challenge.

Catt Come to N Y & Canada waters in the late fall. & icy water spring. Just bring the gin & tonic we have cold glasses.

Noise is more effective to the Lateral Line. I use both rattle & non rattle in tests same place no rattle some fish. Rattle STILL CAUGHT more in the same time AFTER the no rattle had first shot. Noise works.

Cayjun red 4# test braid CAN slip over time. I use the Improved Triline Knot. It does slip on the 4# test, After tying the knot I tie a 1/2 hitch in the loose end. then pull hard enough to let the 1/2 hitch JAM against the Triline KNOT. Never a slip.

I have no such problems. Rebel & Rapala 1.5" floaters & split shot. In a freezer Zip Loc bag. DONE.

The pros are in it FOR THE MONEY. Who it comes from ? Anybody. The more the better. I do not think being in the back of a boat casting to fished out water DESERVES ANY MONEY. I would be stupid to pay him any money. He sees me as a CASH COW TO BE MILKED. Edit I do not expect people I take out to pay or tip me. Against insurance rules & I own boats I can afford to maintain.

Save up for a 16 foot Aluminum boat. Simple bare bones with aluminum seats across it and a smaller motor. Then the catch count goes WAY UP. Great sport. Lots to learn AND experiment with. My favorite boat is the 16' Lowe bare bones with a 9.9 hp motor. Electric & hand pull starter. 1 freezer bag with several small lures & split shots. Done 4# test braid line & a ultra light setup. Life is good. I installed a fold down FULL height Bimini Sunbrella top for the hot sunny days. A fully adjustable seat with padded arm rests. Fall asleep in the chair a lot.

Same energy to chase a skinny LOW NUTRITION worm as a FAT PLUMP FULL OF nutrition & satisfying shiner. Which do you want to chase ?

Older line in the sun ? I remove the reel & store it or put it where no sunshine can reach it..............Not up there either.

I have a spool of 60 pound braid for just such desperate yank them out before they wrap around something. Not really fishing to me. I love open water sight fishing to weed patches. Never know who or what size you will find.. I then use 4# braid & remove all but 1 tail treble hook. ALL my lures a crushed barbs. Why ? If I can not keep 4# line tight enough ? I suck. Plus I di not have to handle the fish. hove the rod around the tired fish & 19 out of 20 times the hooks release. Bingo I am a nice guy. The fish slime stays all over the fish. Not on me. The fish lives in August hot diseased waters. I like that ending.

Add in Gobis & not a egg or yolk sac is left. Several lie just out of attack range. I caught a nesting bass. As soon a it was past the attacking distance 8 to 10 Gobi raced in & munched as fast as possible. By the time I Unhooked & released the bass the Gobi cleaned out the nest. The bass darted around. Then sat on the edge of the nest. I can now make out the Gobi even when 1/2 buried around the nests. The real killer up north is V H S disease. Kills everything. The fish look like a lamprey had attached & released from them. Difference. ALL the scales are in place. But there is a very red sore in the flesh. Lots of fish are long & skinny. Another sign. Viral Hemmoragic Septicemia ? It just is devastating in some slow moving areas.

Food becomes more scarce. The Delaware river has a similar problem. Weeds die no tree hatches ETC. I think they move to the lower deeper areas near the ocean with clay & year around water weeds & food chain to squeak out a living. Just a guess.

Good to see us comparing cold water logic. I hate cold outsides. Old body sucks at that. I have a couple of spots where LOADS of fish all sizes suspend close together. No bites unless I send down a free swimming shiner. Still no gaurentee. It is like they are all resting & not feeding. Every day same sun angles. 30' by 150' area. Always make a toss.

Winter Each cold day causes EVERYTHING to get active in late sunlit afternoon on the bank with the sun still shining on it. Works for me.

Size matters. I have trolled for pike with 8 to 10" lures & noticed the rod tip action being wrong. Reel in 2 YES 2... 6 to 8" perch hooked on the trebles.

Bass can be like horses. You can lead them to where you want. BUT It does not mean they will keep coming back to have their jaws ripped open by a 60# test hard yanking goon. Would you ?

I had it at about 65. Lucky with my attack. about 5 days of discomfort.

booty has it right. Cast a lead BB. Then try my Flicker Spinner. After that comparison ? All reels are crap at any price. Even if Sooper Dupper upped by the best reel person.

Wow THe fish are that sMart ? Will not Eat 1 With a chippEd out hOle ? I would want to chip out ALL the paint on the ring to prevent wearing out the knot.

That's what I ALWAYS HAVE in my left front pocket. I use the storage bags with a double zipper. My wife can understand me talking thru the plastic.

What is the logic behind the light lures ? I catch a 40" pike on the 1/16 oz Flickers & big smallies & LM also while casting for perch. There is a connection. I just can not prove one.