NYWayfarer

I had a few White Claw raspberry flavored hard seltzers and some BBQ chicken last night. A refreshing end to Summer.

Awesome. I love Rebel baits. Wee Craws and Crickhoppers for river fishing. The Pop-R is still my favorite popper of all time. I change out the stock hooks on my Rebels.

It's threads like this that make me glad I use Berkley Big Game almost exclusively. Kastking Superpower braid and Yo-Zuri hybrid round out my line choices.

On my last quest to Walmart for clearance section goodies I noticed they finally stocked some Ozark Trail lures. I picked up their version of the Rebel Crickhopper and the Whopper Plopper. http://I This Labor Day morning I was able to catch some River Smallmouth on both. http:// http:// http:// Not bad considering both lures combined cost less than half the price of a Whopper Plopper.

Before you leave Lew’s you might want to try the $59.99 Speed Spin. It’s my favorite spinning reel right now. I like it better than my Custom Pro, Mach Crush and Mach 2 spinning reels. It impressed me so much I bought another one. I paid full retail for a 200 and 300 size and I never pay full price for anything. I like every thing about this reel even the silver and gray color that seems to go with every rod I have. The handle is the best part to me. It never gets loose unlike the screw on knob types I have come to dislike. It’s smooth and the drag was able to handle a 5+ pound Largemouth fight with 8# line.

It’s all downhill from here. The fishing gets better as the Bass feed up for fall but it’s bittersweet as hard water is just after that. I can’t complain. It’s been a great year for me. I smashed my quantity and quality records.

I took my kayak out for some river Smallmouth fishing Sunday morning. Equipped with 2 rods, 1 spinning (Lew’s Speed Spin combo) with a Rebel Pop-R and 1 baitcaster (Lew’s Pro-Ti on a Lew’s TP1 Black 7’ M/MF Speed Stick) with the Tiny Child Rig (Z-Man finesse TRD, screw in Neko weight, Zoneloc 1/0 worm hook) tied on. The day was going great. I caught a few Bass on each lure. http:// http:// http:// I was on the water for three and a half hours and getting hungry so it was time to leave. Making my way back to the launch area I passed by a shaded area with a natural rock wall that has a steep drop off. I figured that would be the last spot I would hit before leaving. I cast my Tiny Child Rig past the drop off and let it drift down, hopping it along the way. I felt a strike, so I reeled in the slack and set the hook. I knew immediately the fish was big and when it started to dig I knew it was a Catfish. Four times I was able to get him to the surface where he would thrash his tail soaking me. The fifth time was the charm and I was able to net him. http:// Now the dilemma. I could not weigh this fish in the kayak. Also the hook and line was tangled in the net. Leaving The fish in the net I paddled quickly to the launch area where I was able to beach my kayak and get the fish Unhooked, out of the net and on a scale. It came in at over 9 pounds. Broke my PB Channel Cat by over 5 pounds. http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// I got a release video as well

I had similar issues today with accuracy and a spinning setup. I tied on a Rebel Pop-R and I was all over the place with it. Trying to cast to the edge of some lily pads was frustrating.

Lew's Mach 2 Speed Spin size 100 on a Lew's Mach 2 Speed Stick ML/F 4#Kastking monofilament line, size 6 or 8 Eagle Claw Aberdeen hook. Usually a piece of red wiggler worm.

Beautiful puppy! If she grows into those ears she will be huge!

I picked up a pack of YUM Ned Dingers at my local Walmart. They only had a weird color called “soft watermelon/red flake. I prefer a darker bait but was willing to give it a try. First time out I used them on a Berkley half head jig true Ned Rig style. All I got was a Rock Bass. They have a hole at the top of the bait that traps an air bubble to make them stand straight up. I found this interesting and when I decided to T-Rig them with a 1/8oz tungsten they really shined. That air bubble made the worm stand when hopped back or paused on the retrieve. The River Smallies ate them up. http://

I am sure it would be. I made a mistake on that post, my rod is actually 7’ M/MF and labeled “All Purpose” No mistake that it is still my favorite rod and in my hands most of the time.

Mine had a bubbling aerator and a hook remover in clearance. $5 each

Great find! Wish I could have snagged one. I need to replace my broken Mach2 rod. I accidentally snapped it high sticking a fish while netting him in my kayak. I loved that rod. The weight, balance and sensitivity were all just how I like my MH rods to feel.

In-line spinners are great for creek Smallies. Glad to see you got some for the trip. 4” weightless Yum Dingers work great. let them drift in the current and Smallies will get them. Small cranks like the Rebel Wee Craw, Rage Tail Baby Craw T-rigged, Ned rigged Nikko Hellgrammite have all been very good to me this season.

Watch “Extreme Philly Fishing” on Youtube. He is a life lister and does all kinds of micro fishing. He has videos exclusively on the pine barrens of NJ. Some of those Sunfish you need a permit to catch. I enjoy microfishing on my local canal and river. Here are some baby Smallmouth and Largemouth I have hooked. http:// http:// http://

I would as well. As much for the chicken and sausage Gumbo recipe as for the fishing tips.

I regret nothing!

All new lures want to be the next GYBC Senko.

I was watching Roland Martin on YouTube yesterday. He was down in Mexico somewhere with the guys from Favorite Rods hunting Doves. No limits there. He said he got over 100 of them.

Pickerel on a Plopper. Quite a rush to see this guy shoot out of cover to hammer the Whopper Plopper. http://

I use KK Superpower braid from 10-40# I have no complaints. Its a good braid considering the price. I also used KK Florokote line in 8# and 12#. Again it's a good line for $6 a spool. My only complaint is the line felt "bumpy" when I run it between my fingers to check for integrity.

Had a great weekend with friends that were visiting our area. They stayed on my favorite lake and I was able to fish at their cabin’s dock. I caught this nice Largemouth on a T-rigged Rage Menace. We also fished and kayaked at my local river. I was able to get some fish on the Whopper Plopper. And the Blooper

Great thread and a good read. My answer is patience and the willingness to try new things.

I pray everyone in this storms path stays safe. This looks bad.