casts_by_fly

Last year was a 'variable' weather summer for us. We were just talking about it in the pool yesterday how this year has had so many more hot/dry/blue days than last year. Last year we barely used the pool and when we did we had to heat it because the air was so much colder and there wasn't much sun. Last year that led to pretty great fishing in July and August. Today is bringing a 'colder' front through and the next week shows lows in the mid 60's and highs only in the mid 80's with lots of cloud cover. Pressure is variable, wind is variable. So he's hoping that's the break we need. My dad is a 'basics' fisher a lot of the time. For largemouth, he'll almost invariably have a buzzbait, spinnerbait, jig and pig, and one other thing tied on. I tend to be a plopper, chatterbait, jig or texas rig, and something else. It was an interesting comparison last week. When he fished a buzzbait I fished a plopper (we had the same number of hits there about). When he went spinnerbait I was throwing a chatterbait or swim jig (he outfished me). Neither of us picked up a fish on bottom baits. It wasn't a scientific experiment, neither of us was competing, and the sample size was too low to draw any conclusions. It was just nice to be out.

the second scenario is what we've had for the past 2-3 weeks. Highs in the 85-95 range, bluebird sky, and steady pressure from 29.0-30.0 inhg. There are fish around, but nothing spectacular. Combined with the grass die off in a couple of my favorite lakes that ordinarily produce now, its been a tough summer. I was just thinking yesterday that I haven't had a good frog bite day all year and by this time of the summer I should have had at least one or two. Next weekend is bringing some high pressure (30.2) so either I'll catch them on the way up this week or on the way down next week when it crashes. Either way, its like a basketball shooting slump- you just gotta keep shooting. I'm 'shooting' after work this afternoon. Going to have to try a swing head beaver. It seems to be a winner...

If you like the durability of the D-bomb, try the palmetto bug from Z-man. Its elaztech so you know what that durability is like. Once you get used to dealing with Elaztech I find they are my baseline pitching bug. 4/0 straight flipping hook snelled. They stand up off the bottom just asking to be eaten.

correct. You can’t share the side scan across them. And, I don’t think you can link them but I forget why now.

Siebert outdoors, board sponsor. https://siebertoutdoors.com And some pictures of where they need to be, dirty shad color (green pumpkin over barred chartreuse- great stained water color).

the answer is no, you can’t link them. My dad ended up getting the FS with the split shot transducer and mounting that on the trolling motor so it was smaller up front.

I got a great deal on d-bombs and bought a bunch, both regular and mini. I use them as jig trailers and they work for that. Never fished them bare though.

agreed. I’ve done a couple conversions. I have a ~6’9” forecast 3 piece that used to be a 9’ 6 wt 4 pc. It’s fine but action is a bit slow and ‘mushy’. It was a great 6wt that I broke above the grip. I have. 9’ 8 wt that wasn’t a great fly rod for more than lob casting monofilament running line and weight. Converted to a medium/mh spinning and it’s fine for casting out and sitting on the bottom.

i don’t know the elite, but the tremor is great. Fast startup and good thump. If you want it to hunt erratically a quick turn of the reel or pop of the rod does it. Sharpest hooks I’ve ever seen.

im not sure if it’s intentionally lowered or just that we haven’t had any rain. The two main creeks feeding it are practically dry. I only started fishing it this year so don’t have a frame of reference other than gauge data and it looks like it’s hit it’s three year low already. The steepness of the curve though says it could keep going especially with the lack of rain and high temps in the next 10 days.

Yeah, sandpaper it is. Don’t worry about it too much. That’s how cork grips are shaped in the first place. You can use a lot of 400 grit on a cork grip and not hurt it. Go slow with a block until you’re just breaking through the surface of the sticky bits. Then cut a piece of sandpaper 1” wide by as long as the paper is. Hold the rod between your knees or however else you can hold it without your hands. Then wrap the paper a 180 around the grip. Pull from one side and back to the other with light pressure. Easier to do than describe. Go slow, use light even pressure and it will be like new.

have you fished the tremor also? I find they start up as slow as you want also and was hoping you could compare.

Hi all, im selling my falcon “buzzbait” rod. That’s their title for it that is on the rod. I believe it is the same rod as the current “table rock”. I bought it used from ALF in a recent used drop thinking it was going to be MF H like the bucoo version but it is more moderate than moderate fast. It’s just a little too slow for what I want it for so it’s the last rod I reach for to put in the boat. It would be a great crankbait rod for 1/2 oz and up. It fishes a chatterbait great if you prefer a more moderate rod. It’s listed as a big buzzbait rod from falcon and I’d go with that (3/8 and up). It’s just not what I need as I have all of that otherwise covered. it’s in very good condition per ALF rating scale when I bought it and it’s only been out a couple times since then. There are a couple boat rash type marks but otherwise the cork, seat, guides, and blank are in good shape $150 $130 in New Jersey. I’m up for other falcon expert or cara trades (cash to balance) so whatcha got?

Wanaque reservoir is a good source of water. All of the surrounding area is state forest and remote. Monksville empties into Wanaque. I have no questions about that water quality. What I meant was the water feeding into Oradell in the first place (Pascack brook and the other feeders). They flow from Spring Valley/Nanuet area and down through north jersey suburbs. If you can launch your kayak into the lake you'll be in a lot better shape. That's true for basically everywhere in north Jersey as shorelines will limit what you can fish/see/do. Merrill gets quite busy, both fishermen and other paddlers. Its electric only which helps, but it has a varied fishery (largemouth and small mouth both, salmon and trout, panfish) and its a beautiful place to be. So it pulls people. Spruce is also popular but week days are fine. Both have tons of cover and structure to fish and good populations of fish. Spruce is down about 5' from normal pool so shoreline cover is getting sparse. Last I was there 10 days ago the grass was largely dying or dead. The fish didn't go anywhere though so its still well worth fishing. Monday we caught a few fish at Monksville- not a skunk but not a banner day. Its a tough lake so be prepared for that.

Yeah, in that case about the only way you're going to fish it successfully is to yo-yo it. Let it hit bottom, rip it up 3', and let it fall again. Even then, that's painfully deep. If you really, really wanted to fish it that deep on a steady reel, I image a 1 oz carolina rig would keep it down. In that case you could get by with a lighter chatterbait.

Are you sure that's the inflow water? I would be very surprised if the inflow water was right next to the dam. It's basically just going to push the new water right over the dam and into the river, while not improving the rest of the lake at all. Given where you're at, I'd seriously consider just fishing the river right below the dam. Small topwaters and 3" twisters bounced along the bottom should catch bass there. Bonus, you might end up with a schoolie striper, though that's a long way up. If you can't get into that area, I'd suggest covering water in low light hours as suggested above. small buzzbaits and ploppers would be my start. Cast to any cover you find, blind cast down the shorelines, and keep moving. If you're not set on fishing that lake, I'd consider a run 25 minutes northwest to pompton lake. Based on reports it has bass and tournament results back that up. I don't know shore access, so you'll have to explore, but a kayak would get you around it and there are a couple launch points. The other thing to remember with that lake is that pretty much the entirety of the watershed that is draining into it is suburban and urban (I used to live next to the main stream flowing in where that stream is 5' across- it was bad even that high up). The quality of water coming in isn't great to have a productive fishery. So temper expectations a little.

It is a very good rod for weightless plastics and other light baits. I have a revo MGX on mine which is touted as a light weight bait reel (I'd largely agree with that). With that reel and 12 lb supernatural (0.011 diameter, so thin for its rated test) it will throw a weightless fluke a mile (well, 40 yards but that's a long way and probably further than fishing range). I imagine a 5" senko would cast wherever you want, however you want. I keep meaning to try it, but senkos aren't my thing. I'd rather put a finesse jig in the same spot. What reel did you put on it?

sorry, I missed the question about the finesse jig rod when I first read this. i love the finesse jig rod. It’s a lighter version of the head turner to me. Both have pretty quick tips for casting purposes but then they get into the top meat of the rod quite quickly. With a fish, you’re into the middle of the rod fairly quickly but it always seems that there is more power to give in the butt. I’ve not fought a 10# plus fish (of any species) on either yet so maybe it will give up eventually but I haven’t gotten there yet. The power transition from tip, top mid, bottom mid, and butt is not noticeable in any way. I have overloaded the finesse jig with a 1/2 ounce chatterbait and zako (total weight almost an ounce) and it just flings it. Anything over 5/16 or so and just let it rip for a 35 yard cast. Super lightweight overall. If I were to duplicate rods in my arsenal, that would be one (the head turner the other).

while I agree with the general sentiment, light penetrates 200-400’ in modestly clean water. In the depths that bass inhabit, day and night are very different.

lews and revos feel basically the same. He’s pretty set on his chronarchs (he has 5 I think) hence looking for a high speed shimano.

thanks. I’m not sure a 300 sized reel is going to work though. Have you handled one and is it relatively close to a ‘normal’ sized reel? thanks rick Thanks for the heads up. I don’t know Daiwa very well so wouldn’t have known that.

Hi All, What's the highest IPT shimano reel available either in the US or JDM? My dad has a Revo rocket 10 but much prefers his Chronarchs for feel in the hand. I don't know of a 10:1 shimano to duplicate it. The best I can find is 8.5:1 in the Curado 200 DC which comes out to 37 IPT (the Rocket is 41 IPT). I've searched Digitaka for the JDM market, but don't see anything more. Is there another shimano that gets closer? I'm aware of the Daiwa Zillion 10 already and that could be an option if he likes the feel of my soon to arrive Zillion better than his Rocket. thanks, rick

I don't know those rods, but I start around a quarter ounce and a 3.3 Fat on the baitcaster. I use my 6'10" Expert MH/MF (though a little faster than that) with 12 lb mono. I've done an eighth and a 3.3 fat on a baitcaster, but that's overhead casting only (with the rod I was doing it on). That was with 30 lb 832 braid and a piece of 12 lb fluoro leader.

Smear the dawn dish soap onto the grip, not in the water first. It will help dissolve any grease or oils first. Then a water wash will take as much as you can get with dish soap. Goo gone is a good shout. Acetone applied to a rag might budge it if the first two don't. Then acetone directly onto the sticky next. You could go so far as white spirits the same process as acetone. if none work, then 400 grit sand paper in a small wood block will definitely work. Go slow and don't gouge at it. I wouldn't go heavier on the grit as it will start digging deeper than you want before its all removed. just take your time with the 400 grit.

For more details which I should have put originally, the lakes are a mixture of manmade and natural. None have significant water traffic- they are all a mix of 9.9 and electric only lakes. So a couple of them get fished fairly hard but some do not. Water clarity varies by lake. The one that's down 3' right now normally has 2' visibility. The one we fished tuesday is normally 6' visibility or so. Tuesday's lake I could see the township and lake house residents banding together for a spray, but there were no signs (which I think are required by law). I also fished it 5 weeks ago and there was plenty of grass. The lake that's 3' low is a state park lake and is experiencing an algal bloom starting up so I thought that might be a cause, but its the only one of these lakes with that problem. I'm starting to think that the reason might not be the same for all of the lakes but I don't know. Too many lakes and too few commonalities among them. I might need to go for a drive and look at a couple other lakes around to see what's happening.