NH-Fishin

Thanks for the thoughts everyone, I am headed to Bass Pro tomorrow to see what feels good. I do have some cheap mono to get some good practice in the yard - I am looking forward to the challenge!

I have always used full grips but just ordered a split grip offering...I didn't give any thought to that being an issue, I guess we shall see. As others have said, St Croix offers a good mix of both.

I am looking to buy my first bait caster set up and am sitting on a $200 gift card to Bass Pro. I am looking at getting a 7' rod, MHF. Three combos caught my eye on their website. A Daiwa Tatula CT on a PQ 2.0 rod ($200), Abu Garcia Revo X on a pro qualifier rod ($180), and a PQ 2.0 on a PQ 2.0 rod ($170). Really I am a bit at a loss as what to get - the selection is a bit overwhelming. Any thoughts on what you would go for of these three, or a similarly priced alternative (up to $200)? Pretty much all of my fishing now is done on a St Croix Triumph MLF 7' with a daiwa BG spinning reel, just need something for the heavier tackle. I love that reel so was leaning towards the Daiwa side, but was curious what kind of guidance can be offered. Seems can't go wrong with any, but what would you buy?

My truck is a bit anti accessory...no bed liner, no carpets (vinyl), no power windows, no power door locks, no cd/aux/bluetooth - am/fm only. 2013 GMC Sierra WT - everything I need (a bed, tow hitch, 5.3L v8, 4x4, and a back seat) and absolutely nothing I don't need ha. Bought it just over a year ago with 34k miles on it, great truck. Looking into doing a DIY bed liner with UPol Raptor, and I might pick up a used cargo cover off craigslist. Keeping it basic, which the inner car guy in me has a hard time doing!

A pretty good chunk of the fish I have pulled in this summer have been on a senko either texas rig or wacky rig. Granted, you catch on what you use, and use what you catch with...so using a lot of senkos, catch plenty of fish on senkos. Though yesterday I was out for about 4 hours, for 2.5 hours was using rage tails, chatter bait, swim baits...nothing. switched to texas rig black and blue senko and caught 6 lmb in an hour and a half, all 1-2 lbs.

Yep, buying out of state anywhere doesnt alleviate sales tax. All states that have it have a sales and "use" tax, meaning if it isn't withheld on the transaction you still have the pleasure of paying the tax for the use/storage of your boat in GA. If you don't pay upon registration, many states make connections in their system and will realize sales & use tax hasn't been paid on your new boat you just registered, and they'll send you a bill. Maybe you can get away with it, but certainly plenty of opportunities for that plan to bite you.

After a good rain the pond I fish most of the time is also fairly murky, and always very weedy. I fish lots of texas rig - craws, senkos, creatures. If you need some weight try an unpegged bullet weight, those help minimize the weeds. In the not as weedy areas I have good luck with wicked wacky gamakatsu hooks as well. For colors - anything dark. Blue, black, dark green.

A number of places, but Lake Okeechobee seems to be the one that will happen soon. My brother moved to Orlando last year so I have at least a free place to stay within a couple hours of the lake.

Definitely not better skill wise, but certainly has more opportunities. I think this also depends on location as well - for opportunity. For example in New England trees and brush are typically very thick, so most shore fishing spots are man made, which often means they have significant pressure. In a place like some areas of Texas where there aren't as many trees and brush due to the climate, the shore fisherman have many more opportunities. Around where I live most ponds have very limited shore access, the last few I fished had maybe 20-40' of fishable public shore access on an 80 acre pond.

I can believe it - 1 is simple and cheap, 20 would add up quick. Sounds good, I appreciate the offer. Any thoughts on a good place to launch / fish from a kayak there? I have been avoiding larger bodies of water due to the difficulty in really getting to explore such a large size from a kayak. I went fishing a couple times on Squam with my grandfather probably 10 years ago in his Lund Alaskan, but that has been about it.

Thanks! 20 would keep you busy, and certainly would give you a bit of an electric bill! Only one for us - a now 6 year old bumblebee ball python. She is pretty relaxed and is good with anything. I always tell people it is even easier than a fish - if you have everything on timers, you can literally leave her for a month except swapping out water and she'll be just as happy. Besides - how many other pets can you feed just once a month?

Hello all from NH! A little about myself...I have been fishing for 18 years (since I was 10), though it is something that I am really just getting back into. Since I graduated from school in 2012 I have been fishing maybe a handful of times a year, and most of my fishing time was spent just trying to catch anything. In the last few months I started targeting bass and surprise surprise...I caught more fish. As they say the bug has bit and I have been out almost everyweekend in the last couple months on local ponds. I live across the street from Rocky Pond in Canterbury NH which always provides some good entertainment. My biggest has been under 2 lbs, but still learning amd still fishing. Pretty much all of my fishing is done out of a 12' Old Town Dirigo Angler. About me personally - I am married with a 1.5 month old daughter, 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 snake. My other interest is cars - I have a 5th gen camaro which is always fun. It always runs great and car parts are not a priority so I dont work on it much, but still enjoy cleaning it up and driving around. I am a CPA with a firm in Manchester NH, and have spent most of the last 6 years working with small to large businesses and their owners. I look forward to being a part of the forum, continuing to learn, and catching more fish!