jbmaine

Pearl with flake and bubble gum Senkos have always worked for us. 7.1 LM on the pearl Senko Jim

You could be right, but I know my wife's technique didn't change that day, only the bait she was using. All I know for sure is wasn't catching anything until she switched to a coffee tube then she was pulling them in every 5 minutes. Since then I've caught a stupid amount of fish on coffee scented baits. Would I have caught the same amount on non coffee scented baits ? I don't know but last year I fished nothing but swim'n caffeine shads ( that is all I used ). I kept waiting for it to stop producing but it never did. From April thru October I never got skunked.

Let me start out by saying I love to drink coffee, every day, all the time. My wife on the other hand can't stand it. So when Strike King came out with coffee tubes I bought a pack, mostly to bug her. A few weeks later we were out on the lake going thru an area we called the " bowl", an area around 25 ft. deep, flat and smooth, no rises, humps, anything of note. The fish finder started picking up fish, just off the bottom. I have no idea why they were there, but they were. I dropped the anchor and as it was a really windy day we both cast off the stern using, I really don't remember. No joy after 20 minutes. For something to do I tried a coffee tube. Caught a fish, then another. told my wife to try a coffee tube. Said " it must be the coffee!, I got a dirty look, but she dug thru the tackle bag and found non coffee tubes, same size shape and color., and tried them. After I had caught 7 fish to her zip she finally broke down and tied on a coffee tube, and started catching fish. I'm not saying coffee flavor works all the time, or for everyone, but that day we had the same line, hooks, technique ( letting the tube rest on the bottom slowing twitching it in) and were fishing within feet of each other, and the fish ignored the non coffee tube but devoured the coffee flavored one. We ended up with 18 fish from that one spot, LM, SM, and Pickerel. From that day on I have used coffee, caffeine, flavored soft plastic with great successes. The latest being the swim'n caffeine shad. This is the only bait I keep tied on full time. I caught my first fish on it this spring, my last one on it this fall, and many in between. As I said it might not work for everyone, or all the time, but for me at least 90% of the time coffee, caffeine , flavored baits are my go to, get er done, high confidence baits to use. Note: in the interest of full discloser I have never caught a bass holding a cup of coffee in it's fin, but you never know. Jim

With all due respect I believe it really helps.

me too, been using just spinning gear for 50 yrs. now. Jim

I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the heads up. Jim

I'm from Maine and I mean just hooks, I fish a lot of soft plastic's and have hooks for every occasion, and then some.

I'm sorting thru my tackle and my plano box that I keep my hooks in is stuffed full. I need to add more hooks and there is no more room. It made me realize I'm a hookaholic. Hooks are one thing I can't pass up whenever I shop. Weighted, unweighted, worm, swimbait, wacky, dropshot, shakey, jig, the list goes on, and on, and on. They look so innocent hanging on the racks in the store, but as I pass by I hear their little voices say " buy me! I'm new and improved, I'm soooo sharp, you won't catch anything with out me! I'M SHINY, BUY ME!!!!. I'm sure I need help, but there's no time. I'm off to buy more hooks. Jim

To me the best is a Copolymer line. It's mono only better. Jim

me too

Thanks for the ideas. I'll see what I can come up with. A-JAY- I would always want the rod on the bottom Jim

Hi all, The new boat I'll be picking up in the spring has a rod locker (my first) and I'm assuming the rods stay in there full time. I've got sleeves to go over the rods but what is the best way to secure the rods, not from theft, but to keep them from bouncing, sliding, etc, mostly during trailering the boat. I'm thinking maybe Velcro strips or a bungee cord, but I thought I'd see if I could get ideas about what others have done for this. Here's a pic of the rod locker. Thanks Jim

Received my order today. Everything looks great! Thank you so much Jim

Great Post-- Thank you My rules I try to follow. Fish as often as possible and catch as many fish as possible. While doing so don't be rude, crude, mean, spiteful, hateful, selfish, greedy, annoying, antagonizing, demeaning, and generally a pain in the butt. Try to help others when ever the opportunity presents itself, be patient with others ( especially at the boat launch ). Do everything you can not to hurt yourself, others, or the environment. AND ABOVE ALL- I really, really hope some of the @#$% jet skiers we run into all the time read these posts and follow them. Jim

TW sale-- per what the TW rep told me-- the sale applies to everything except Min Kota ( bummer dude ) and mega bass. I bought a Shimano reel and was told the discount would be applied when it was shipped. per their contract Min Kota will not allow them to be discounted. Jim

Nope, I just called them. Minn Kota's are not on sale!!!

TW sale excludes Min Kota!!! For months now I've been lookin to buy a MK Ulterra. Everyone has said wait for TW black Friday sale and buy it for 20% off. The sale comes up and they have excluded MK. I'm really disappointed. Any one know where they might be on sale?

TW black Friday sale starts at what time on EST ?

If you are out on the water, look behind you, and see that you are towing a " tackle barge", then maybe you have too much tackle with you LOL. Seriously though I always carry as much as I can for the days " old faithful " doesn't do the trick, and I have to throw everything under the sun to find what the fish want. That being said, I don't have, nor can I afford every size, shape, and color out there, but I always try to carry a few of enough different things so I never have to think " If only I had brought XXXX or XXXX I would have caught fish. Jim

Thanks for the replies, I'll see if I can't look at a couple of these in the near future. Jim

I'll second this. I placed my first order with him yesterday. Within an hour of that he responded with an E-mail asking me about my order and suggestions about what I had ordered. I'm impressed to say the least, and will use him as my go to from now on. Jim

Hi all, Not sure if this is considered "Tackle" but I'll give it a try. I'm in the market for a folding net to use in a smaller boat. I'd like something that will collapse and fit in a storage locker when not in use. Does anyone use a net like that and if so which one. So far the only one I've looked at is the one from Cabela's @ around $ 80. Thanks Jim

Thanks, Just placed an order. Jim

Hi all, Thanks for the replies, Bigbill- I'm fortunate, I have always lived in this area, the sea food can't be beat. Outdoors- It might be a bleeding shad, it has some reddish orange around the gills. If anyone is planning a trip to the KTP let me know, I'm within 5 miles of there, maybe we could meet. Jim

My wife and I were out doing some errands this A.M. and happened to drive past the Kittery Trading Post. We were surprised to see a very long line of people waiting by the front entrance. When we got home I checked the KTP web site and found they were having a food drive. The first 1000 people to donate non perishable food items got a gift card $ 10 up to $500. We grabbed some cans of food and ran back down. We lucked out and were among the last to get in under the 1000 first people to bring food. Our gift cards were for $20 and $75. I have a post in on getting a "starter kit" of crank baits ( I've never used crank baits but want to try them) and the replies I've gotten have been very helpful, so with the info I've gotten so far we hit the fishing dept. It seems we lucked out again as the fishing dept. was having a pre black Friday sale today, buy three lures and get the forth for a penny. The displays were not that full but I think we did pretty well. For donating a few cans of soup we got 4 RNR-7 rattlin Repala's, 4 half oz. Rat-l-trap, 4 Strike king KVD 1.5 dives 3-5 ft. and because I love frogs 4 booyah pad crashers. This kinda taught me a lesson. I've been waiting for sales at Cabelas, BPS, TWH, etc. but never thought to check KTP in my own neighborhood. Every one says " no pictures didn't happen" so here's some pics.