FishTax

@A-Jay you are an inspiration. I'm stepping up my game starting today with a focus on mobility and longevity, but hopefully getting a little jacked too. Having back arthritis in my 30s is frustrating but maintaining good health is probably the best way to manage it long term.

I don't have lots of fancy specific rods, although lots is relative and my wife may see things differently. I do have some preferred rods for different presentations. Especially the ones I throw regularly like swim jig, brush or football jig, heavy jig, and spinnerbait. I also have a few different spinning rods. Technically all medium but they fish very different. I'd throw a mid weight shaky head on a different one than a weightless wacky because they load up a little differently.. it's not all necessary but definitely makes it more enjoyable and increases my confidence some.

It's very cold here. For NC at least. I went out yesterday briefly and got skunked again. I think today is our last really cold day for a while so hopefully the bite will come back after Christmas. I'm planning to catch at least one more before this year ends, and I'm hoping it's 5+. (trying to manifest it by typing it here )

I'm hoping to catch something good in the next week, so will update when the year is over But as a teaser, Seibert swim jig in 3/8 with a shad looking deal and a twin tail zoom trailer in white was my #1. Occasionally I'd swap the trailer to a pintail type thing from BPS in silver. The pond fish couldn't get enough of that deal this year.

I'll just say I have this same model kayak and love it. Sorry to hear it didn't work out for you, but if I had a boat I may be in the same spot.

Everyone pulling rods up with treble hooks is inspiring me.. how many times will I lose a lure if I drag a lipless trying to get the rod? I think the bottom in that area is generally clean but a lipless will definitely let me know... Maybe I'll go to Walmart and see if they have some cheap heavy Ozark ones to try with

That's nice that you can retrieve them. Mine was in 20' of water. I went out yesterday with a magnet and tried to get it as I know generally where it's at, but no luck. The wind was so heavy I was blowing 1 mph every time I quit paddling, according to my electronics, so it's was difficult to maintain position. Even if I had position though, I don't think the magnet thing would work. I tried sticking it to another rod I had with me and it barely found anything magnetic so that was probably a failed strategy. Seemed like a good idea though, I'm surprised the rods don't have more metal on them, I guess only the reel is and the guides are too small. I think the lake owes me a big bass for that one.

Lost my cell phone a few months ago, trying to text and bumped my arm and plop. It sunk very fast. Some ladies kayaking nearby saw it happen and checked on me, even offered to let me use theirs to call my wife but I decided not to call her from a strange lady's phone so I just headed back immediately so my wife would know I wasn't dead floating somewhere. I lost my new prized rod and reel combo on Monday that I bought on Black Friday. Nicest one I've ever owned, first time out with it. Somehow when I was casting it flew out of my hand. I almost dove after it but better sense stopped me luckily. Diving into 50 degree water alone from a kayak would have been way worse than losing the nicest rod I ever bought I believe. I'm still tore up about losing that rod but I'll get over it. Not sure what lesson to learn from it except to not get too worked up about it, I can always buy another one although not at the price I got it at or with what's left of my budget after Christmas.

Water temp was 51 yesterday on my lake. I think it'll be high 40s when you're here. We'll see. Hopefully the bite will be back by then. They can't keep their lips sealed forever.

I caught one at the pond on Saturday on a blade bait that I posted on the other thread. I've been skunked before and after that and echo the other guys. Super weird weather pattern. Clear water, just ending a warm front that has water back up to 51 today but it was in upper 40s last week. Yesterday I went out and somehow threw my brand new swimjig rod and reel into the lake and lost it. First time out with it on the lake. I'm pretty sad. Between losing my brand new setup I got on black friday as a gift to myself and getting skunked several times, it's been a depressing week. I bought that combo as a present to myself for a good year at work, most expensive one I've ever owned. Pat and I agree we're ready for real winter. Who'd have thought us southern boys would ever say that? I'll be whining when it happens, but hopefully catching decent fish again at least.

I generally throw a nighttime spinnerbait. I usually catch a tree and have to break off. Usually after 2 of those and one good beaver splash in ready to hang it up until tomorrow... But yeah I feel like night time has a lot of potential and plan on exploring that even more this year. I've seen @Pat Brown wreck them on a frog at night from the bank.

I use the bps and Cabela's ones. I'm far from a pro though. Also I throw on mono as I do most things. They vibrate hard so no issue feeling it. I've got a giant steelshad xl I'm waiting for the right time to throw. Not sure when that will be but probably over deep water. I'm definitely getting more into blade baits this year. So far I fish them like a lipless but I'll also say @AlabamaSpothunter seems to be a wizard with these so watch his posts and videos to learn.. He had some great ones last year that inspired me to buy my first collection of baits.

Are you on Hyco?

I've never seen a setup I wouldn't throw some sort of a jig at. Which jig and how to present it is the question

I set up a game camera facing the big tree they're working on destroying. At least I should get a good photo of them to see what we're dealing with. Does anyone know if urine would deter them? I know it deters coyotes, not sure what else. I have boys, so getting urine on a tree is easy...

My 7 year old has been begging for a white German shepherd for about a year. Beautiful animals. Love the photos!

Had a cold NC day with wind so didn't want to mess with the kayak. Hit up @Pat Brown to see if he wanted to try a new pond with me at a city park. Ended up getting our families together which was fun! We explored the ponds which feed each other in a chain. Pretty cool place with a variety of cover. I ended up deciding to try a blade bait as a few of you have inspired me but I'd never thrown one. I had a pretty small chartreuse one and threw it for an hour. Slow day and I varies the retrieve, ended up catching one good one on it. Both pics are same fish. Felt good to catch one on a new bait in a new place. Now I want to try a larger one on the lake. Looking forward to further exploring these ponds and possibly adding to our rotation of pressured ponds with a few big fish in them!

I told you where to throw it and what was going to happen. You had one job... 😎

My clients (healthcare) are definitely feeling pressure, especially in elective and cash pay sectors of business. Many patients pinching pennies who were blowing cash a year ago.

Can getting arrested be click bait? Interested to learn more but I'm sure this only helps his YouTube.

@Koz Santee Cooper isn't too far from us, maybe we can do member meet up sometime with a few of us if you end up in the area

As usual, @Catt is giving away all the juice On that note, I'm pumped to try my new Siebert megladon 1 oz jig. I'm not planning to throw it anywhere near grass, but I am planning to get a double digit on a reaction strike. I'm pretty excited to throw it and see if there are any takers out there!

I have shopped at BPS my entire life. I mean, why is no one mentioning the aquarium? I have to stop any time I pass one and go see what's on sale, and just watch the fish in the tank. These days most of my purchases are online, and I do still order from BPS regularly but usually from the bargain bin (received a new President XT from them last week on a great black friday sale). But if I'm driving by one, especially with my children, we're going inside. It's nostalgic to me, and the kids get pumped about the taxidermy and the aquarium. These days though, Academy does the most damage to my wallet because it's 3 minutes from my office, and they send me seductive emails sometimes.

I received my ABU order today from black friday. They are very slow processing as someone else said, the entire pure fishing family is slow. But the deal was great so it was worth the wait!

@Delaware Valley Tackle they are a forum sponsor.