KyakR

Bill, I have just the kitten for you

I had a guide one time up who was moonlighting from his job as a warden.......he told me a bunch about how stretched he and the other COs were, not only enforcing game laws but doing all they do out of sight to assess and protect the fisheries up here. $ is tight these days in our state budget and Fishing and Wildlife are the first "non-essential" areas to take the hit. They tried to compensate last year by getting the public to help assess wild brookie populations in remote lakes they didn't have time or money to do themselves. Makes me sad. I got a lifetime license but still felt guilty cause I caught a break . Long story short: we all take care of the fisheries.....or not.

Thanks! Your description helped me pull together a lot of what I've read. I don't recall seeing as concise picture of this......many of the articles presuppose more experience or knowledge. I actually used what you told me yesterday on a large lake in Maine (Kezer) I'd never fished The reason I asked whether the actual movement of bass is along the contour lines on topo maps is because I think the bass in many Maine lakes are in transition and on the move and I wanted to head 'em off at the pass. In the winter I know they move vertically on deep ledges, but I wasn't sure about their movement now. Tom, thanks

As a kayaker, I can tell you ( have been advised by members here) that casting and working a lure from a boat can be very different than what you do from a kayak. Like pitching and flipping especially, casting, skipping, etc. Looks like there were a lot of variables for you. The key thing you may have said yourself, that when you're in your kayak you have no problem.

Women ( or men, if their wives are without them and let's say, bowling or hunting ) many times aren't really being insecure, mistrustful or petty. Many are actually wise. Placing oneself in a position to bond with a member of the opposite sex over a shared passion can be tempting fate. It's good to be humble when it comes to the ways of the heart! As far as couples are concerned, each one is different. And it's always good to just accept and honor a spouse's feelings without judgement. Boy I learned that one the hard way!

Went to Beans ( I live next door) and took a look at an Avid Pearl.......I see what you mean about the grips MrsBassAssassin! These are great choices, all. On payday I'm gonna have to count to 100 (days?) before I one-click for the Chronarch 50e

I'm a newbie at assessing where they'll be! I've read that bass move along channels seasonally (submerged roads, creek beds, etc) in man- made lakes.......do they use contour lines the same way in natural ones?

Thanks! Picked up a topo map so I could coordinate your info with it and mark those points! Late summer a month ago I saw fish suspended 90 feet down near the deepest part of the lake.......do you think they're togue?

You're already doing one of the most effective things you can do at tournaments: learning from other anglers! Your frustration can be a good thing.......look, it's already gotten you on here asking important questions Your confidence with boat fishing seems to be fine. I think you're learning fast. Any chance you can bank fish with someone more experienced?

A guide told me one time that because bass often feed on stickle-back fish the roof of their mouths is tough and insensitive...... don't know if it's true, but I like to believe it when I get a the hookset like you.

Sure is! If true would be a great way to direct anglers in choosing lures if it was recorded and incorporated into fishing reports

Ky Lake?

I'm new here too but I'm going! I cant cast through the ice up here. Rain? Tennessee?

I started a previous post in a negative, accusatory way and I wish I hadn't. It tends to elicit responses in the same tone! I hope everybody sees the validity in MrsBassAssassin's topic, not the negativity so we can merrily comment!

Bill, you have a gift for drawing the attention to the beauty of this world. Your optimism and joy in things lifts my spirit! And truly it's a good thing not to focus on negativity. But MrsBassAssassin, I believe, has an excellent point. Women tend to be competitive with each other when it comes to attracting positive male attention. A confident woman who fishes and does it well is often in the company of admiring guys. Some women find this threatening! Men are fiercely competitive with each other and status conscious also, but in a different way usually I think. It's more about success. Could be that's why men started tournaments. My experience with non-fishing females sometimes is similar to MrsBassAssassin's, unfortunately. But fishing women I run into usually are pleased and even relieved to meet another female angler! Some men are hostile to a woman fishing, some are pleased. Some women are hostile, some are pleased. In my experience it's for different reasons. Each gender has prejudice. For women, MrsBassAssasin' brought up an important point. It's hard for us to face. And really, I usually don't talk so much.....

Am fishing there this coming week, I've done my "homework" (maps, fishing reports etc.) but I'm wondering if anybody here has fished it frequently and could give me more info. Thanks in advance

Those jigs look terrific. Obviously a lot of careful attention paid. And that fish sure appreciated it too

Beautiful photo! Boat looks nice too! I went out yesterday and did something I'd heard about but never tried. I'd heard that an ika will fall away from you if you weight it right. Along the Androscoggin River there are pockets along the bank carved out by fast water during flood-times. I cast an ika in a few and pulled out a 3lb smallie and a 2lb 9oz one from that bank!

What a joy these photos are!! I remember sitting beside my father, having him hand me my first fishing pole and gently advising me. The feelings these young fishermen are displaying are the ones I felt and are with me every day I go out. A precious gift to me from my father.

I admire your determination

Terrific video! What I do first is look at a topo map or a depth map for the lake. If there isn't one I look at it on Google Earth....sometimes you can actually make out deltas where tributaries flow into it. And I try to read all I can about it online. In a kayak, even a motorized one like mine, you can't go long distances fast, so this prep is especially important to instill confidence. Then it's in general time of year, species of fish present, fishing pressure. I love after labor day up here in Maine! Of course, kayak fishing does have some disadvantages (fewer poles, can't stand, being pushed off a spot more easily by wind and current). But for me the sneaky factor outweighs the rest. One thing you can do is head right into the pads and get back where no boat can go or cast to. The pads will hold you against wind and current and if you find a pocket you can just sit there and be happy.

I looked at the level-wind, guide bar, drag ......the reel seems to be ok. I'm headed out to Thompson Lake in Maine tonight (it's a huge deep lake, few weeds). I'll back off my line and respool being more careful about tension and the speed. I usually respool pretty fast. If this fails I'll take ClackerBuzz's suggestion.

This is probably a pretty basic question, but I couldn't find it answered. I haven't been using a baitcaster long, so I'm thinking it might be something obvious I've overlooked. Line is Seaguar 8lb Redline. Thanks!