Koz

Thank you. So far my plans are still up in the air, but I’m leaning slightly towards Texas. the last minute weather forecast will play a role.

Baby back ribs Baked potato Broccoli Beer and Baseball Go Yankees!

Geez, that’s nasty. I’m glad you’re on the mend. Last month I got lit up with 6 or 7 yellow jacket stings mowing over their nest. But that’s like a mild sunburn compared to what you went through.

After 4 months, what are your thoughts now?

Nothing. Got home late the next day and made a few casts with my new Cashion FFS rod and new Daiwa Procyon reel. I’ve been getting home after dark since. But I have two days off later this week and I plan to spend them fishing and watching the Yankees win.

If you can see they are interested but not biting, you need to change up your retrieve.

My new 7' 4" Cashion Icon FFS M/F spinning rod came in today and I have to say I'm impressed. I paired it with a new Daiwa Procyon AL LT spinning reel. Most of my arsenal is comprised of Exprides and various St. Croix baitcasters. In fact, before today I had only one spinning combo, a ML/S Falcon rod that I used for mainly drop shots. That soft tip on combo didn't do a good job with jig head minnows. But this Cashion rod really imparts the proper action when shaking a minnow and does it with minimal movement. It's light, and compared with that Daiwa it doesn't wear me out when shaking a minnow. The rod is designed to handle light jig heads and baits that are all the rage with FFS fishing. The diameter of the tip end is really, really small. I worry about breaking it off if I'm navigating under trees. I'm really going to have to watch out, especially since this rod is 7' 4" and most of my rods are 7' and 7' 2". The grips are comfortable and not bulky at all, another reason why it didn't wear me out while I was constantly shaking the bait. It also casted well (as did the Daiwa with 10 pound braid) with what I was throwing. It will be interesting to see how it handles the lighter and smaller jig heads and baits. After setting it up today I fished off my dock for about 30 minutes with a Dirty Jigs head and a 5" Damiki Armor Shad. The bass were once again blowing up beyond my casting distance, but I did hook up with one fish but didn't land it. It was actually quite odd because I neve felt the fish hit the bait. As I was shaking the minnow I felt tension in the line and reeled down. The fish came straight at me barely pulling, But when it did pull a little I realized I hadn't set enough drag and as the fish was near the dock it made a run looped back and the line slacked and I lost it. It never came to the surface so I assume it was probably just a 2 pound catfish. Anyway, I really like this rod and the reel as well. I'm going to try and get out on my kayak this weekend and put them both through their paces. If I still like it in a week, the next time I need a baitcasting rod I'll try another Cashion.

Ivie would essentially add another day of traveling and I’d lose a day of fishing. Going from GA to TX is already a long trip. But it would probably be epic to go there.

Tonight around sunset I took my dog outside and as usual I saw dozens and dozens of baitfish balls near the surface throughout the creek channel. But this time bass were just blowing up everywhere on the baitfish, Some of the bass looked to be good size as they launched themselves out of the water. I ran inside and grabbed a rod and a tackle tray with lipless crankbaits that I can cast a mile. Unfortunately, none of the action was within casting distance. I thought about my AP 120 kayak, but it was trailered and with the water level low I didn't feel like hauling it over the sea wall. What I forgot about was my old pedal drive kayak stored in one of my sheds. But tomorrow night I'll be ready of the bass are blowing up again.

Thanks. I'm going to make a note of those in my phone. So far I'm leaning towards Texas as I begin pricing out places to stay. I was thinking of staying in Tyler or thereabouts in an AirBnB so I'm fairly central to the lakes where I want to fish.

I prefer the warmer climates this time of year. But I do have family throughout Ontario. Years ago I did some pike fishing up at Lake Nipigon.

Already done. My new Cashion FFS spinning rod, Daiwa Procyon AL LT, and a bunch of soft plastics are already on the way! While a guide would definitely be a help and I’d catch more fish, my goal is quiet time and some self care. In my job I constantly deal with people. That’s part of why the slow pace and isolation of kayak fishing appeals to me.

I live in GA and I’ve fished almost all of the larger lakes and a lot of the PFA’s. Spotted bass have taken over most of the bigger lakes. Between formerly living in SC and fishing tournaments of fished all of the major SC lakes as well. On this trip I’m not looking for good fishing- I’m looking for giants.

Knowing my luck one of the cartels would get me. No thanks. I’ll stay stateside.

But you can make bank as a good welder. I’m tired of running hotels at the property level. That, and when I took over this hotel in early 2021 we were supposed to completely renovate by the end of 2022 and we’re not even close to that. This property should be a gem, but it’s not. I’m looking for a Regional VP position instead. That would mean no more 24 hour work days and having to work 7 days a week. I wish I had the money to retire.

Over the years I have been to Florida a lot and done everything other than fish. Fishing is the sole purpose of my vacation. I’m also making this trip solo and using it as a time to think and decompress. Running a hotel is a 24/7/365 job and it’s stressful as it never ends. With that, I’m deciding whether or not to quit my job and do something else.

It's been years since I've taken the time to go on a real vacation and I'm bound and determined load up my truck and kayak to head somewhere next month (November). Originally I planned to fish a handful of Florida lakes, but after the hurricanes I'm rethinking that. I don't want to be in the way of any cleanup efforts, ramps may be closed, and the lakes may or may not be in good shape. My goal is to make this a bucket list of fishing vacation and I'm planning to be gone anywhere from 8-14 days. So, of these destinations, where would you go? Option 1 - Florida Trip The first stop would be Orange Lake. It's only a five hour drive so I could fish the same day I left. The other lake I definitely want to fish is Toho. Depending upon how things are going I might add Istokpoga and Panasoffkee to the trip. Option 2 - Texas Trip The two definite lakes on my list are Lake Fork and Caddo Lake. I missed out on the Bassmaster Caddo event because of work. Depending upon how things are going I may also fish Toledo Bend and Rayburn. I thought about OH Ivie, but that adds a lot of driving. If I go to Texas I may also enter the Native Watercraft No Limit Big Bass Event on November 16th. I'd get there to have 2-3 days of practice before the event. In this event, all your catches 14" or more count and there's a $1,000 big bass prize each hour. But gong to Texas I lose two days of fishing because it's a 10 hour drive just to get to Caddo. So, among these choices would you choose Florida or Texas?

Well, I couldn't fish the Bassmaster Caddo Lake event this week because as usual, work got in the way. The smart thing to do would have been to just bank the money I would have spent. I'm not that smart. The only spinning gear I have is a ML drop shot rig, so I purchased a Cashion ICON FFS MF spinning rod and a 2500 Daiwa Procyon AL LT reel. I also added some Giant TRD worms, 5" Damiki Armor Shad, and I bunch of jig heads because I go through them like crazy. And I added another free TW t-shirt and sticker to my collection because, hey, they're free. I've got a big trip coming up in the next few weeks but I'm not sure if it's going to be Caddo/Lake Fork/Toledo Bend/Sam Rayburn or hitting a trail of Florida lakes. I'm playing it by ear. A lot will depend upon the weather forecast and if the Florida lakes are in decent shape (and ramps open) after the hurricanes. I really wanted to add OH Ivie if I headed to Texas, but it's too far out of the way from the other lakes. Florida would be the easier trip because I could be fishing in 5 hours whereas it will take a full day of driving just to get to the first stop in Texas.

Not me. If I see a grown woman sunbathing on her dock I'm gliding my kayak right by and wishing her a good day!

I want to emphasize that I was ticked because they were casting on top of me and in my immediate zone. Normally when a boater is around my dock and I'm out there I will tell them the best spots to fish in the creek channel where I live. When I'm not out there fishing my back yard I have no problem with people fishing my docks or sea wall.

Ethics is becoming a thing of the past

I was out fishing off my dock early this evening and two chuckleheads in a crappy jon boat pulled right up and fished right where I was fishing and casting. It’s too bad I had only one rod with a weightless Freeloader on it. If I was throwing a Carolina rig I would have been tempted to do some target casting 🤣 I told them it was a #%$& move to fish a man’s back yard while he’s out there fishing that exact spot. Who the rolls up on someone like that when there’s 26 miles of lake to fish? I steer clear of everyone including people fishing from the bank. Sometimes I’ll ask the bank angler if they want me to livescope the area for them and call out what I see. But otherwise I never even come close to their casting distance.

That Freeloader is magic. I also fish it weightless rigged like a fluke.

I’m still getting lots of bites, but missed some hookups as the only spinning rod I have is a medium light / medium soft drop shot rod. I’m looking to add. Cashion rod to my arsenal soon. I need to pick out a spinning reel as well.