What do you do in the off-season?

[soflabasser]

If I lived up North I would do ice fishing. Seems like a unique way to fish and you can definitely catch decent sized fish this way. 

[TnRiver46]

No off season in East Tennessee either. Sometimes coves freeze over but generally not for more than a week. You can always find somewhere to fish

[Paul Roberts]

Outside of family time, I hunt, tinker with tackle, wait for thaws (which we tend to get one in Jan or Feb), write, and this year I'm editing videos.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Alan Reed said:

I'll guess take cover from a hurricane.

A-Jay

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

If I lived up North I would do ice fishing. Seems like a unique way to fish and you can definitely catch decent sized fish this way. 

It's unique alright.

It's a good way to freeze your Dangle Berry rig right off too.

A-Jay

[Columbia Craw]

I bake.

[Attila]

I'll go ice fishing a few times for perch, crappie, and bluegills.  It's fun and hey, a bent rod is a good rod.

Apart from that I'll do some photography if I feel so inclined...

On the bass side of things I review video and research new water that I plan on fishing next year, along with stocking up on my favourite lures and some new ones that I want to try out next year. I'm also debating going to Flordia for a few days to catch a double digit bass on a shiner under a float...it'll be a last minute decision though as air fare gets pricier this time of year.

Today I put my rods and reels away for a winters nap; they'll be back out in March along with a couple of other combo's that I've picked up to target panfish, pike, and trout.

Cheers, enjoy your off season if you have one!

[Ohio Archer]

Shoot more archery. Tournaments start in January. Didn't hunt last year and probably won't this year. Trying to fish up until the lakes freeze but once it gets below the mid-30s it's kind of difficult.

I'll spend a ton of time online and trying to get my gear/boat ready for spring. 

[The Bassman]

I start looking at new stuff. Funny, when i'm busy with fishing I don't pay that much attention to it.  Now that I can't get out I get preoccupied with rods and reels.

[soflabasser]

I have seen videos of people catching big muskie,pike,lake trout, sturgeon and other big fish while ice fishing. Definitely a type of fishing I plan on doing in one of my next vacations.

[stk44]

16 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

I have seen videos of people catching big muskie,pike,lake trout, sturgeon and other big fish while ice fishing. Definitely a type of fishing I plan on doing in one of my next vacations.

I thought about ice fishing. My dad used to all the time. I just don't know much about it. I'm sure I'd like it, but between bass fishing 9 months out of the year, shooting, and guitar I probably won't be heading out on the ice anytime soon. 

[MassYak85]

34 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

I have seen videos of people catching big muskie,pike,lake trout, sturgeon and other big fish while ice fishing. Definitely a type of fishing I plan on doing in one of my next vacations.

I don't do this but some guys will catch or buy BIG (I'm talking 8+ inches) shiners or suckers and rig them up on tilts and target either pike/musky or trophy bass, especially out in western mass where the pike are more prevalent. I ran into a guy last year who was using them in this tiny pond that I've never seen anything bigger than 2 or 3 pounds come out of. I don't think he caught anything but I got to give him credit for trying. 

[Will Wetline]

I make baits.

[stk44]

8 minutes ago, Will Wetline said:

I make baits.

Now that's something I might get into in the future. Do you pour your own plastics too?

 

[GTHenson]

Fish, clean reels, order the new rig for the next season and spend some time with the family. I also have a few secret books I like to study on when I get some off time. 

[soflabasser]

48 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

I don't do this but some guys will catch or buy BIG (I'm talking 8+ inches) shiners or suckers and rig them up on tilts and target either pike/musky or trophy bass, especially out in western mass where the pike are more prevalent. I ran into a guy last year who was using them in this tiny pond that I've never seen anything bigger than 2 or 3 pounds come out of. I don't think he caught anything but I got to give him credit for trying. 

Maybe he caught one after you left.Its surprising how big of a fish can come out of a hole in the ice,especially since these holes look small in relation to the size of the fish. 

[geo g]

5 hours ago, scaleface said:

What do you do the other 5 days .

Its in the contract, the wife gets 5 days a year!

[MassYak85]

20 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Maybe he caught one after you left.Its surprising how big of a fish can come out of a hole in the ice,especially since these holes look small in relation to the size of the fish. 

It wouldn't surprise me but the pressure that pond gets from live bait fishing during the regular season is pretty harsh. And usually the people fishing it are doing it for food. You can reach the other side with two casts probably. 

[soflabasser]

14 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

It wouldn't surprise me but the pressure that pond gets from live bait fishing during the regular season is pretty harsh. And usually the people fishing it are doing it for food. You can reach the other side with two casts probably. 

Small bodies of water often have big fish so it's possible there might be some big bass or pike there.The people taking out the biggest fish are not helping that's for sure,but they are entitled to keep their catches as long as they have fishing licenses and are following fishing regulations. Just saw a couple videos of people catching big muskie while ice fishing with small ice fishing rods,looks fun.

[Will Wetline]

I don't pour plastics. I keep busy enough with what www.tackleunderground.com refers to as "wire baits." Do check out this site.

There is quite a bit about jig tying on YouTube. Start by Googling "smalljaw." Then click on "videos."

Catalogs you should have:

www.barlowstackle.com

www.lurepartsonline.com

www.jannsnetcraft.com

www.lurecraft.com

You may find helpful basic information in this article:

If you're molding, the first thing you should be thinking about is safety.

And, lastly, I can't say enough about the value of patience and practice. Put all of the above together and you'll have a rewarding hobby.

 

 

[MassYak85]

@Will Wetline I love smalljaw's videos! 

[stk44]

18 minutes ago, Will Wetline said:

I don't pour plastics. I keep busy enough with what www.tackleunderground.com refers to as "wire baits." Do check out this site.

There is quite a bit about jig tying on YouTube. Start by Googling "smalljaw." Then click on "videos."

Catalogs you should have:

www.barlowstackle.com

www.lurepartsonline.com

www.jannsnetcraft.com

www.lurecraft.com

You may find helpful basic information in this article:

If you're molding, the first thing you should be thinking about is safety.

And, lastly, I can't say enough about the value of patience and practice. Put all of the above together and you'll have a rewarding hobby.

 

 

Thanks. I will definitely check this out. Do you find that you save money by making your own or is it more just for the fun of it? 

I know with reloading, everyone starts out to save money, then you start buying premium bullets, brass, experimenting with powers, etc and then you start spending more money than just buying the manufactured product. Not that there's anything wrong with either option. Just curious.

[davecon]

I usually straighten out the tackle, clean the reels, etc. But keep in mind that is August for me. Gets awfully hot here in Florida. 

To tell the truth though, this morning the grandson and I actually had to wear long pants and sweatshirts. Got down in to the 50's. Bitter I tell you. Excruciatingly cold to us. Why we even had to wear socks !!! Hard to believe.

[hunterPRO1]

what off season ?

 

im running the ac on christmas morning i aint got no off season

[Raul]

What do I do in the whut ? 

[JustJames]

I have to many things I want to do but too little time, so I schedule myself to do thing inbetween

late spring and early fall

ride my motorcycle and of course bass fishing

summer time

carp and catfish fishing and also bass fishing

winter time

wood working and also bass fishing

this is part of my rod holder and I think I need a second one.