NYWayfarer

Awesome pics! That’s a lot of fish and a huge Drum!

Yes. My job closed in late March and even though we opened in early May it has been on a staggered schedule. I report 3 days one week, then 2 days The next. I worked from home the entire month of April. That allowed me to fish before and after work from home hours. Normally I am not able to do so since my commute is an hour each way. On days I work from home with the staggered schedule I have been fishing mornings and after work. Even with the increased pressure from people that discovered fishing while quarantined my numbers are way up this year.

I have tried lots of rods. My favorites come from the following brands, Lew’s, St. Croix and Powell. Kastking for travel rods. For reels it’s mostly Lew’s with a few Shimano, Daiwa, Kastking and Pflueger in my rotation.

Nice to me is a 2 pound Smallmouth or a 3 pound Largemouth.

When fishing snaggy areas I have not had many issues. Downsize the Shroomz jighead to a lighter size. Those hooks bend easy with 8lb line and a steady pull. Reel them in, bend the hook back with pliers, re-tie in necessary.

Little different around these parts. If it’s a store I have never been to I am in and out, don’t care to socialize. If there is a self checkout line I am real happy. I have been going to the same pizza place for more than a decade. In there I am like Norm from Cheers, everyone knows my name and we have a conversation. The owner is always there to greet customers and thank them for their business. I work for a not for profit as a manager. Calls get escalated to me. It’s easy to become jaded to the “customer” as you hear the same stories over and over. My favorite line that I hear at least twice a year is “I’m not dumb, you know” if you have to tell me you are not dumb, well then the first thing I think is your dumb. Most of the time it’s me trying to figure out the best way to tell someone if they want “this” then I need “that”. You don’t have “that” then you don’t get “this”. They find “that” pretty quick.

I guess a line would last all year if you don’t cut and re-tie lures, ever. You debunked the knot strength myth of Fluoro as well as that must be one strong knot to last all those 8 and 3-4 hour sessions without re-tying. No line besides braid lasts a year for me. Braid only because of leaders that I despise. Even if I don’t switch lures during my session I still cut The lure and 8-12” of line when I get home.

I caught 2 Smallmouth on the Whopper Plopper today. This one was the best. I had two more that rolled on it and missed getting hooked. Sure does get the blood pumping! http://

There is the issue right there. Some people were not raised with ethics. I find common sense to be in short supply as well. I get asked “Did you catch anything” while bank fishing more times than I can count. The first few times are fine but after awhile it becomes annoying.

I took my son to a local pond when he was real young. It has a playground so I fished and kept an eye on him while he was on the slide and swings. When I hooked a fish I would call him to run over and reel it in. Catfish, Sunfish, Bass and Trout. He had a great time and we did it quite a few times. Flash forward to his teen years and he doesn't want to fish with me. He hangs with friends and goes fishing with them from time to time. Sooner or later the pendulum will swing the other way and we will fish again. I know it did with me and my Dad.

I use Berkley Vanish It's easily available at Walmart. It's relatively cheap as far as Fluorocarbon goes. The 12lb 110 yard pony spool fills my baitcaster perfectly. I have not had any issues with the line. I will eventually get around to using other stuff recommended here when I can get a good sale.

Freshwater I prefer Yellow Perch. Saltwater it's Fluke and Flounder for me.

Memorial day weekend nearly cleared out the tackle sections of the two Walmart stores near my house. Almost no line on the shelves. Lots of popular lures were gone as well.

Another great day of Smallmouth action before I had to sign in for work from home. http:// Got my first Whopper Plopper Smallie of the year today. http://

http:// Nothing puts finesse gear to the test like Smallmouth Bass. My medium light Lew’s Carbon Fire Speed Stick and size 200 Lew’s Carbon Fire Speed Spin were up to the challenge. Got this guy on a finesse worm and 8lb line.

I just caught a Smallmouth on a chatterbait in ultra clear water here in the Northeast the other day. They do work here. Not my favorite bait for Smallmouth. I have much more success using them for Largemouth in ponds. The main difference in fishing the northern waters and the south is line and rod size. I use 6 and 8lb line on spinning gear and 10 and 12lb line on baitcasting gear. Southern boys would blanch at such light stuff. If I were fishing the Great Lakes or heavy cover I might consider heavier gear.

I do my fair share of bank fishing. It’s quick, it’s easy, unlike loading unloading a kayak and dealing with boat ramp madness. I have 2 kinds of trips I take. A local pond or a river and canal walking trail is one or a hike to some secluded river fishing areas. for the pond and canal trail I take either 1 spinning or a spinning and baitcasting setup or two. I hate cutting and re-tying often as it wastes line when you carry one setup so most of the time I take 2 set ups for a 2-3 hour trip. My tackle and tools are in a Gamakatsu shoulder bag that I do not have to take off to cast. It rests at my hip and swing around to my front for easy access. I can get 2 3500 boxes in it, first aid kit, bug spray, sunscreen, pliers, multi-tool, scale, knife, scissors and fish grips. For hike and fish I carry a spinning and baitcasting setup. The bag I take is a Samurai Tactical Iwashi sling bag. It fits everything my Gamakatsu bag does plus a 3700 size box, and some extra tools including, hook remover, water bottle, snacks, rod stakes and a flexible cutting board. These trips are usually 4-6 hours so I like to have options.

Broke 2 rods last year that were in the hand I was using to break my fall...

Look for submerged cover. Even if not visible to the naked eye you can tell sometimes by the way the surface water swirls that there is current breaking cover underneath. Letting bait drift past, casting behind or over these points will sometimes get you a bite.

I avoided the big lakes this Memorial Day weekend. I hiked to some areas on the upper Hudson River instead. In-line Spinners produced lots of species, Yellow Perch, Fallfish, Rock Bass, Sunfish and my intended target Smallmouth Bass. http:// http:// http:// http://

Best river Smallmouth Bass of the weekend so far. Fishing has been great. My numbers are way up from this time last year. With the work from home order, I have been able to get some fishing time before I have to clock in.

Great to get my new Lew's Pro TI reel and Lew's TP1 Black Speed Stick out on the water. http:// I upgrade the knobs on my Lew's Tournament MB to Winn Grip ones. http://

I figured when you asked the question. Sauce, gravy, call it whatever you want as long as it's delicious. My Irish Mom makes better sauce, gravy than my Italian grandmother did but then my grandmother made better potatoes than my Mom, go figure.

First river Smallmouth of the year. The old Panther Martin came through in the clutch. He was no monster but I was so happy to catch him. It's been 6 months since my last Smallmouth catch. http://

My Mom’s Irish so it’s tomato “sauce” my Dad’s Italian. His side of the family calls it “gravy” Gravy to me is brown and goes on meatloaf and mashed potatoes.