"hamma"

No No thank you John,... I finally got a smallie, and from Quabbin no less, looking forward to hearing from ya.

attempting to load pics

Je1946 and myself fished Quabbin yesterday. We were met with bluebird skies, and light winds in the Am. John hooked up quickly with a nice estimated 3 lbr, and me soon after with my only fish for the day, I estimate about 2 lbs. We thought it was going to be a good day after that, but it was tough As the day wore on the wind kicked up and we figured we should be hooking up, but alas, we struggled for a while till about 3 oclock when John hooked up with a few more,.. but these were better fish,.. we weighed one and it was 3lbs 12 ozs, and two more we didnt weight but they were respectable 4's anyways. John definately kicked my butt yesterday, kudos to you John. I may be well versed and schooled in bass fishing but he sure showed me up,..lol I have to remember how to load pics here, will try in a few

The options are practically endless, but heres a start. Before we start talking techniques, which you can get off this site via articles, and videos. Lets get a rod in your hands first, not just a rod, but the right rod When it comes to buying a decent casting rod for say jigs or worms, you will need a rod that not only has some backbone but sensitvity as well, what I do while shopping for one is this. Take the rod in hand, lightly touch the floor with the tip and slide it across the floor "feeling" its contour, tile seams, etc. you want one that transmits the nuances/seams/etc. to your hand readily. Do this with a few rods and you will notice what Im saying easily. Some rods will detect any changes immediately, and some not so much. Buy the immediately feeling one that: you like, can afford, and fits your hand well. For a bottom bouncing rod, you want a med heavy action or heavier, some anglers boch at this, but it serves a few important purposes, even with braided line you want that backbone to pull fish out of heavy cover quickly. Also, for worms and bass jigs I prefer a long rod for it offers more leverage than a shorter rod. 6' 10" up to a 8' flipping stick are my prefference. And although, the old pocket fisherman from Ron Popiell will catch fish, I wouldnt use one for this type of angling. Go with some leverage, 7' is the norm. Reels,... buying a casting reel can be a daunting task, but if you adhere to a few necessary "rules of thumb" this will narrow the search for you. Retrieve speed: "generally" the slower the speed, the more power it has. But I like a semi quick speed, to recover quickly for the next cast/pitch/flip whatever im doing. My flipping, pitching,casting reels are either 5 to 1 , or 6 to 1, I like the 6 to 1 better, even though it kinda goes against the "rule of thumb". But thats me. A 7 to 1, or 8 to 1,.. I leave for spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and cranks. Left or right handed; This subject comes with much debate as some anglers like left handed, some right handed, some either. I use all left handed casting reels as I started out fishing with a spinning reel that had only a left handed retrieve, and its comfy for me. Where ever you go looking for a reel, ask if you can check out both, and see whats comfy for you. What brand: There are a few really good reel manufacturers, shimano, lews, diawa, abu garcia browning, etc. And they all offer high end, and lower price point models. I like shimano curados myself, but again thats me. This is more of a personal preferrence type thing. A high end reel is going to cast a bit better, and If you are serious about casting gear? Id suggest getting a decent reel if possible, to make your transition to casting gear a bit easier. But keep in mind that some of the newer finesse type casting reels can get really expensive, so ask if the reel your looking at is a finesse reel, as this is not really a good "starting" point purchase. You should be able to find a decent reel for around a hundred dollars. I got a shimano canean to back up a broken reel, at a moments notice once, and it was $89 and it casts like a dream. Hope this helps,... Keep ya line wet!

Hi Al,..Squam is one of my favorites too. Welcome to the best bass site that I know of. Keep ya line wet!

I have a 16ft deep v tracker and a 8' basshunter, what I eventually did was delegate several specific rod reel combo's for the basshunter, so as not disturb my gear for the tracker. So much easier than swapping gear around for a few hours, confusing things just to go pond hopping. I delegate a reel for each rod, done deal.

A-1, Winnecunit, and the Nip,.. I've fished before. Never fished halfway. But! I fish A-1 on my basshunter anyways, its smaller, and can get further back in there than with my tracker. Theres some giants in there, or at least there was 20 years ago. And any water body that I know of, I consider the waters depth before I head out. My Tracker is a deep v model, it does get into some skinny waters, but its best suited on large lakes. Its just been mostly sitting on the trailer this year. And last floated up on Winnipesaukee, in August no ramp issues there. So I have no idea how the ramps are looking these days around here with the drought. But, i digress,... My Tracker has a few seats, or even if I had to use my basshunter, and you your kayak, Id be willing to fish a mutual pond or lake sometime, just to get to meet some of you guys, and put a face to a name, is better than not knowing each other. As I've been fishing New England for many decades, Im not after any spots, or looking for any secrets. I have enough experience around these parts that I need no help. Eventhough it is nice to learn new techniques, and in this sport no matter how experienced one may be? and theres always something new? Im not like that at all. I just wanna fish. be it the tracker or basshunter.

I dont use senko's , But the guys I've fished with that do,.. some use baitcasters and a few use a med heavy spinning rod. Some of the better shimano baitcasters are good to go in salt water. But I dont use them in nothing but freshwater I know curados and calcutta's are designed for saltwater use, but the less expensive? im not sure

I've fished them on a jighead, and I soak it with real craw. For light jigheads up to 1/4 oz,.. I use a 6' Diawa Tony Bean smallmouth rod with a matching Diawa TD1300ss reel spooled with 10# green stren. (Its a med action rod) For jigheads heavier than 1/4 oz I use a 7' med heavy Shimano compre rod with a curado reel and 12# green stren. And I fish these just like any jighead. If theres fish around where your fishing these? you'll get bit, Ive received some explosive hits with these when the fish are active, but they work when fishing is tough as well, just a much lighter hit.

Dont get me wrong guys, I dont have a kayak, so it may seem unfair for me to "voice". But, Im talking about lakes like Long Pond Lakeville, Mashpee Wakeby, Whequaquet, and so on,,Lakes that you can certainly fish from a kayak. BUT! the advantages of a bass rig on said waters greatly outweights the options of a kayak. The physically higher platform alone provides not only more of a advantage in pinpointing cover, hazards, and other fish attracting entities. But It also offers a "new to the area" angler the advantage of having ten or more rods at the ready laying on the deck ready to go at a moments notice. Plus, the speed/mobility, safety, stability. The list goes on. Im not bashing kayaks, I talk with many yak owners as I see them all the time on smaller ponds I fish with my basshunter. I have also seen them on ponds my basshunter cant get into due to a thin path to the water. And I wish I could fish from a kayak at said ponds. But to have access to a bass rig, and not have it when you go fishing on these listed larger waters, is like a kick in the jimmies. There was a time my tracker was down for a while, and it tore me up that I owned it, but couldn't use it during pleasant conditions. I'd be at ramps with my basshunter, cursing the world that the tracker wasnt a option Yaks have a definative advantage in many waters, but they are at a disadvantage as well on larger waters,... If you owned a Ranger and planned on fishing any lake with a real ramp. Which would you want? the yak, or Ranger?,.... think about it. The yak may be easier to facilitate, but the Ranger will most definately get the nod. How do I know? any lake I fish? if I can? the tracker gets the nod. Just an observation/opinion,..Please ,...dont shoot!,.. I respect you guys, have no issues with you at all, and dont want any. Its just that owning a 16' boat, and a puddlejumping rig, I see the differences and advantages of both. Actually, now that were talking differences. Any of you yak guys wanna go fishing, out on any of these bigger lakes, off a decent deep v, with the carpeted casting decks, comfy cushioned seats, lcr's etc. Send me a pm,.,..... Id like to fish/meet any of you guys from the area.

My take is a med heavy for single hooked lures, and med and lighter for treble hooked lures,.... In general,.. If the reel is backlashing even with correct adjustment,.. have it serviced by Delaware Valley Tackle. (site sponsor) Mike did an awesome job on my reels, better than new in my opinion. I used to have a local shop do my servicing but no more since I got my reels back from Mike.,..I thought these reels were almost junk as they served me for over 20 years, but they are now as good or better then when I bought them. Also, for left hand retrieve baitcasters? look into the shimano reels. I got a left handed canean from dicks sporting goods that casts like a dream for a $80 reel, their citica, and curado's are well known top choices in their price ranges as well. Typically,.. you can build a better setup yourself, than what you will find in a combo. The above mentioned canean and a lightning rod would be less money than what your looking to spend and probably better than any combo found at that price

There are alot of small ponds that produce well, But then yet I've yet to meet a kayaker, at said ponds, that didnt want a bass boat for the larger lakes. Many of the larger lakes close to you offer some excellent bass fishing for both largemouth and smallmouth. And on decent days you might get out on them with yak til the wind kicks up, around 9ish, but you are limited to the ramp area. which really does kinda suck... I have a 16' deep v tracker, and a 8' bass hunter with the 2 trolling motors.,(back issues deter a kayak for me)... And they both serve me well, I can fish both cartopper and large waters. In summary, your choice of bass rig or kayak? Both have their place up here..but, thats a decision that only you can make the call on. As for the whopper plopper? I dont even own one, I have enough topwater lures to last me my lifetime as it is. Some anglers swear by them, as they do work. but i see it as another heavy saltwater lure, that I'd be relegated to yet another rod on the decks that I dont really need. As far as tournies? Ive fished them here, there are some good organizations around. Depends on what type of club, and how far you want go within it, to pinpoint which one to join. You can pm me for more info. Keep ya line wet!

My take on color is this: I think it depends on the location you are fishing in relation to the sun. Case In point One day me and my old fishing bud, were out on his crawdad in a good largemouth bass lake. I was fishing the left side of the boat (deeper water) and he the right (or shoreline) as we rounded a mainlake point we started hitting them good. He was throwing a red shad ribbontail powerworm, and I had green pumpkin with brown centerline zipperworm, what was odd was I was hitting them regularly, but he wasnt getting hit unless he cast to a spot with no shade. Now red shad is well known to he and i as a good sunny day color. As this had been proven over and over to us. And the green pumpkin just a good all around color. So it seemed as though things were in line and correct,.. what was apparently odd was his "hits" came on the shoreline facing side of the weeds, (in the weeds shade) and mine from the deeper weedline facing the sun. Being perplexed we switched casting directions, and the "hits" stopped abruptly. That red shad should have produced in the suns rays, but didnt, and my green pumpkin should have produced as well,...we changed sides again and we were back "on them". Does color matter? In some instances,... I say yeah it does. And I beleive that its the correlation of the suns direction, to the backgound of the "covers color",.,... Meaning the green of the weeds and the brownish color of the shorelines bottom. Now, we had also determined other days, that any color we threw worked, no matter where, when, direction, conditions,... etc. So, in summary?,.. some days I say color does matter, and some it doesnt, My theory is, the suns direction "may" play part in color selection as long as the water clarity, and cover present, provides the conditions condusive to allow such. Is there a "key" set in stone? I dont think so, as nothing is in bass fishing as we all know. But Im sure,... that sometimes color does matter. We proved it to ourselves. Keep ya line wet!

Sometimes before the storm is good, and sometimes its after. It comes down to what the fish's activity level was a few days prior to the ensuing front. What the barometer readings were, and so on. We all know that frontal systems can either excite, or lockjaw bass. Why would you think any different when a hurricane approaches, its really just a very strong front. On a saltwater note,..hurricanes push the bait in, when the stripers are still here, theres no better time to fish the tidal rivers. In my native city of Peabody the nearby Danvers river always produces a huge striper during a hurricane. Like 50+ inches huge. For shore fishing thats a nice striper.

If your looking for bigger fish, use a jig and craw combo. I also do well with a jerkbait such as a rapala x-rap. Of course in the early mornings a topwater is staple. For no wind conditions I use a walking bait, like a zara spook or sexy dog,... slight ripple? a pop-r,... choppier waters? a heddon torpedo. later in the day if the wind kicks up I will switch over to a spinnerbait. Hope these help some Keep ya line wet!

I've always been of the opinion that the fish's level of activity, waters clarity, and technique in question all play a role here. If the fish are active and your tossing a spinnerbait even in clear water the line's color/diameter really isn't that much of a factor. BUT,.If the fish are not active, in same clear water, and your using a finesse bait, like a jighead and small plastic. The lines color and diameter may factor in as to how many nibbles you get. Hence the big "flourocarbon movement",... Since im gettin older, And living in a area loaded with alot of clear waters,... and all I had years ago was mono,..I've just stuck with green stren, and consider a pound test for their perspective diameter as a guideline. tough day? 8 or even 6 for said jighead. Active day? I go a higher pound test,.. and so on. Do I believe fish can see your line? yes Do I think it matters? only when the fish are either stressed or finicky in clear water.

Depends on how you fish, where you fish, and what lures your using. I keep a older 5'6" light action rod on my boat with 6 pd test mono for tough days that require the lighter lures such as 1/8 oz and lighter. It works for me, as I do have a few choice 1/16 oz lures for such conditions. And 8 pound test line and a slightly heavier rod just doesn't cast the distance im seeking. But It really comes down to you. Everybody has their own likes and dislikes, and nothing is really written in stone about this subject. I "prefer" the steps I take,... and you,... may not.

My decision to target Bass came to fruition in my late teens. I had a small suzuki gs400 motorcycle and I would strap a old 2 piece berkey spincast rod reel combo to its side and run around the area hitting all the available shorelines with a small metal tackle box strapped to the rear seat. The box had a hula popper, zara spook, a jitterbug, a couple rebel jerkbaits, a few beetle spins, 2 daredevil spoons, a plastic bag with some plastic worms, and a small pack of hooks. a few bobbers and somecasting weights,... Pliers, a nylon stringer, a old de-lier, and a boy scouts multi knife complete with 15 blades including the spoon and fork. lol,..I cant list the tackle I now have, other than to say,...look at a basspro catalog and I probably have 75% of it Little did I know how to use them all, but alas, I gave it my best shot. The hula popper outfished them all, as it was the easiest and most evident technique. I did pretty well with the beetle spin, but had not a clue of spinnerbait techniques, other than just a steady retrieve. And since I had a spook, you'd think I knew how to walk the dog?,...lmao, that thing sat dorment as I was iggy about its actual use,..Then one day, I saw a article in either sports afield or outdoor life, or field and stream, about the up and coming B.A.S.S.,... I joined and was shocked to get the tackle pack and member card in the mail. For once, I finally received perks, that they stated I would receive that wasnt a huge pile of balogna. I got package of manns jelly worms and these "funky" looking hooks, a bass jig (which Ive never even heard of) a actual spinnerbait, a rapala fat rap, a hat, sticker etc. But what stood out far and beyond anything I got in that box, was a bassmaster magazine. Nothing had I ever read, captivated my interest in such a way. It was chock full of bass fishing info, and I read every word, (even the ads) over and over again, I wore that rag out til I got the next one. It was my bible so to speak and I applied everything I learned within it, with baited attention. Some of its info worked, but most didnt as I was beating banks and not towing any boats with my suzuki,...lol. Also, most of its "teachings" was geared to southern waters, and the tournaments which took place within them. It was a long, disappointing road for a decade or so, before I found a club in Massachusetts. And it was there and then that all the bassmaster teachings clicked in, and the rest is history. You want to "learn" ?,... join a draw format club. If that isnt a option, I recommend, starting with a texas rigged worm, and search this site. Everything any bass angler could ever need, is here. Kudos, to you Glenn,...for offering such a entity with your unequaled passion and dedication.

Keep in mind,. just because you find the baitfish,.. doesnt mean you will automatically be hooking up. Often, when you see the bait being corralled by fish, the fish in question are actually inactive, not always, but it does happen. They will keep that bait in check so they can pick one or two off when the dinner bell rings. But a lure even dropped on their nose, will be scoffed at. Whats going on in this situation is, the bass are keying in on that specific bait. They wont be hitting anything else, until their activity level changes. If you can mimic the bait they are keying in on, their size, natural colors, scent, and movement, you may incounter a hit. But its a fine line, and on larger water bodies, its just easier to find more agreeable bass. if available. There are times when you find the bait,. the fish are active, and on a feeding spree that you will catch some. And its a gratifying experience, you have conquered the deeper invisable fish, and the fishing gods shone down upon you.

After 16 years, I finally got a day to fish the Quabbin res. My favorite place to fish, Thank you Je1946, you are a stand-up guy, with a really nice quabbin rig. We met at the ramp around 7:30, which seemed perfect at the time, but as we left the shore, the evident steam coming off the warmer water, meeting much cooler air temps, collected as ground level fog. So thick that the thankful gps unit John has, guided us through it, till it burned off around 9. When it did burn off we were met with clear bluebird skies, and evident suspended fish hanging around baitballs anywhere from 15 feet to 40 feet. The res. was lower than I had ever seen it, and John stated its down about 10 to 12 feet, therefore, with the usual rocky shallower cover and structures now above the shoreline. The fish have relocated, being forced to find new adventagious locations. We did our best with finesse techniques and bottom bouncing lures throughout the day, but were met with negative results. I did hook into one small smallie with a white spinnerbait tossed to a rocky shoreline (which spit it at the boat) next to a fish filled fishfinder, and John boated one small smallie in a similar situation, with a senko later on in the day. We gave it a good attempt, during a tough day on the Q, with good conversation containing, mutual area discussions, lures and situations, and some of our best days out there on massachusetts biggest (and in my opinion) best water body. Several other boats fishing thursday were met with the same results, or a dead on skunking. Thank you John,.. for a great time out on the Q. Hopefully our next outing we will be met with more agreeable fish, as I know, no matter what, it would still be a good day on the water nonetheless. Your generousity, and boats open seat, was not taken for granted. Rather, cherished and respected as it should be. Your welcome on my boat anytime sir, and I look forward to our next day on the water.

Nice smallies A-Jay, that waters surface looks perfect for a topwater.

God bless Sandy, I hope she's faring well. I miss our discussions, and her ability to get whatever I needed. She's a sweetheart thru and thru

Color "can" play a role, but more important is what Bluebasser stated. If it comes down to the nitty gritty of the color scale. Keep in mind colors change the deeper you run the lure. Many firetiger crankbaits that run deep, are typically that color to appear whitish at proper running depths

Thats a good looking bait there redbirdsfan44. I'd imagine it gets some good hits in clear waters.

Say Im fishing the lakes region of New Hampshire, And the lake im on it seems as though I cant buy a bite. The fish are not hitting at all. If I leave the lake and go over to the river, I will usually start to hook-up. It appears that river smallies are not as effected by frontal pressure, bluebird skies, and calm winds.