jbmaine

I have no idea if this applies to lakes/ ponds, but when I used to fly fish for trout in rivers I would put a screen in the water, scruff up the bottom with my boot, and see what was on the screen to be able to " match the hatch". I was amazed how many worms I collected.

Thanks everyone for this wonderful post and replies. I didn't buy one, but it's been fun reading all about them. I'll be looking forward to my first sighting of one on my local lakes. I guess you could say it's kind of like a "celebrity" sighting.

When I fly fished for bass the Dahlberg diver was my go to.

Anyone remember Gadabout Gaddis?

Maybe you mean American Sportsman? Either way it brings back a lot of memories.

One of the lakes we like to fish has a live cam on the shore. Just looked at it. A foot or better of snow sitting on the ice. Temps are supposed to hit the teens at nite for the next few days, and I'm starting to see a chance of more snow next week. Where I live still have around 2 feet of snow in the ground. Not fun

I guess you could call me a frugal Yankee. Buying everything on sale is a given. Buying plastics in only 3 or 4 colors is normal for me. Buying only lower to mid range rods/reels works fine for me. We did splurge and buy a new boat but only because we looked used for months and could not find anything that worked for us. Even then I got it on sale. Fishing and being on the water is our passion, but we don't spend so much that we feel bad about it.

Thanks again for all the replies, From reading all of these It seems I am like many, When the fish do what we think they should do, catch rate is pretty good ( most of the time I do OK). But when something changes, and the fish aren't where we think they should be, I am not alone in sometimes struggling to find/ catch them. The best advise seems to be more time on the water/ keep looking until you find them, and even then, some days it just isn't going to happen. I guess reading and viewing all the specific info out there put me in the mind set that I was missing some critical link. Seeing someone say " if you go to X and use Y and Z you will catch fish, and having them catch a 5 lb'r while they're saying this, got me to thinking, what am I missing. Thanks again Jim

Just stuck my head outside. 16-18" here and still snowing.

I took my nephew to a kids fishing derby once. There was enough tackle hanging from the trees to remind me of Christmas.

Ya, I tried using a Light sabre, Darn thing kept cutting my line

Usually the longer the wider. More storage room and stability. But it also means heavier. Bigger motor to push it and a bigger vehicle to tow it. More $$$$ to operate and maintain it.

It's snowwwwwwwingggggggg. 2" already and in my area up to 21" total before it's over. At this rate ice out is a ways away. Jim

Thanks every one for the great replies and information. You've given me a lot to think about and work on. Jim

I've always wondered why fish can be so particular about line color, but have no trouble ignoring the unnatural look of all the hooks hanging off the lures.

Thanks for the replies, I use the term "science " loosely " for lack of a better word. I guess I got thinking about this from a conversation with a local member. He was asking for advise on a body of water we both fish. I had a hard time giving good advise because I could say " I was here and I caught fish using XXXX. But I couldn't say the fish will still be there tomorrow unless these things change, because I don't know how to relate/ process the changes or what they all are. Maybe simple is all I need. I have a lot of time on the water and experience, but my mind just says, LM like shallow water and weeds/ lilly pads. If I don't catch them there, move deeper. Look for blowdowns things like that. If I catch one in the shade I'll keep fishing shade, things like that. My idea for SM is they like rocks. I'll try rock piles, gravel bottoms, drop offs, that type of thing. It's when I'm not finding fish that I wonder "if only I could process better the variables of what changed, I would spend less time hunting for the fish and more time fishing for them. It's when I try to process all the possible changes, and what they mean as to where the fish are, I stall out. Jim

I've been reading / watching all the info I can on bass fishing this winter and I find it somewhat overwhelming. It seems like we are inundated with " science " on fishing. Fish patterns/ weather patterns/ water conditions/ specific reasons to use this or that line, lure, rod, reel , etc.. To use all of this info we need to be a combination of physicist, mechanical engineer , meteorologist , marine biologist, electronics expert, and so on. Don't get me wrong, I am glad all this info. is out there, and I love learning more about the "science" of fishing, but for me it gets overwhelming and my brain screams overload. I have always fished on instinct, my gut, call it what you will. If a place looks " fishy " I'll stop and fish it. If I catch fish I'll find more similar places and fish them. If my sonar shows arches I figure they are fish and try to catch them. If a lure works I'll keep using it. If my rod will cast a lure 50" I don't know or care if a different rod will cast it 10 more feet. It seems fish need to eat, feel safe and comfortable doing it ,and some times need to breed. So I guess what I am wondering is. Is there a simple way to break down all this " science" and knowledge to make it easier for a "dummy" like me to use it? For example, our first trip out this spring I'll look for sunny shallow water and see if there are any LM warming up on them. I'll look for rock piles, humps, drop offs etc. for SM. If I catch fish great. If not, then I'm stumped. With all the things I've read/ watched, I'm not processing what to do next. Is there a simple way to relate all this info/ knowledge to every day fishing? Thanks Jim

As of now the forecast is for up to another 19" of snow starting tonight. I'm supposed to pick up my new boat in a little under a month. I'm starting to think I'll need to push that date back a little. Jim

Spent years with a fly rod, got out of it, but hope to get back into it this year. One of the things I like is fishing towards shore. Strip out line, make a cast, check your distance, strip more line and cast the exact distance again and again. Fishing with a fly rod is a whole different kind of fun. Jim

Does any one know is sticking on a grass cutter affects the warranty on a new motor?

Woke up this A,M, to 12-18 " of the wettest most miserable snow, and no power. Got the genny out, going and had coffee. In the dark it looked bad, in the day lite worse. Trees snapped off, branches every where. Had to pull the top of a tree out of the drive way. Started snow blowing and hit tree branches, snapped the shear pins, twice. Finally got it done, power came back on an hour ago. Here's some pics My drive way is some where thru those trees ( see the deer ) More pics So much for early ice out Thanks for looking Jim

Do you know someone that fishes? Or drive to your local body of water and talk to local fishermen. One on one interaction with a more experienced person knowledgeable with local waters and conditions can be a great jump start in the learning curve.

Honestly, most of my striper fishing was done with a fly rod. The biggest striper I caught was 35" on a fly 3" long. I would suggest a call to my local sporting good store, the Kittery Trading Post 207-439-5605. We are on the coast and they can give you a ton of info. Schoolie stripers aren't picky. I have seen the water white and silver with them, and caught fish every cast.

The wording is somewhat imprecise, Probably because it was written by non fishermen. Before the ban took affect I talked to a couple of people at the Kittery Trading Post and a game warden. The general consensus was nothing with un painted lead and no lead sinkers. I can only tell you I have painted all my bare lead, including weighted swim bait hooks and believe I am within the law. Actually painting them may have helped to catch more fish, it certainly didn't hurt.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input. Jim