I can't be the only one...

[ironbjorn]

17 minutes ago, RDB said:

I think the economy and everything going on in the world has people on edge.  This was obviously a light hearted post that has somehow turned judgmental.  People need to lighten up and talk about things we can all agree on…like which is best, mono or fluoro.

Which is best? Mono or fluoro, and why is it mono?

[CrashVector]

12 hours ago, Brownbasser said:

Has anyone else been so desperate to feel even a little tug, that you've considered tossing a line (maybe tiny sewing thread) into your kids fish tank??? I NEED spring! I need to be on the boat with my fishing buddy, hunting for some action! Anyone else?

Come down here.  We catch fish 12 months a year

[islandbass]

6 hours ago, Brownbasser said:

At least your ice is thick enough to stand/sit on. And who said I'm sitting at home wanting to fish. Looks to me like you can't read very well, I never said I haven't been fishing, they're just not biting.

I do a lot of other things, I was just thinking that I'd sure like to feel a tug

 

Good for you. I never said it was too cold, never implied I haven't been fishing. I was merely stating that the bite sucks right now. You people are far too serious

Their just ribbing you because we folks in the north start teasing all our southern brethren. For some of us the season could be such that they aren’t even allowed to bass fish. In my area many of my key lakes are closed from October until the last Saturday in April of the following year. A bit of envy and jealousy if you can imagine. We’d certainly take a skunking in warm weather over a skunking in freezing weather. 
 

Last Monday, I braved the cold and entered battle knowing full well that this time of year from the shore is nearly a guaranteed zero chance for bass. And I just confirmed that notion. 6 hours straight fishing for bass. Not a bite, super cold, hands down frozen that I could barely put my fingers on the handle to turn the crank. I didn’t want to catch trout so I left that tackle home and focused only on bass. I have been fishing since 2004 and have yet to catch a bass in the winter from the shore. ??
 

Fast forward to yesterday. Same lake. This time I wasn’t coming home skunked. If bass fishing fails, I was ready to go for trout. Unfortunately, bass fishing failed again so I switched gears.  Same bitter cold, but I went 2 for 5 on trout. One advantage of this style is that it is a form of still fishing so you cast out, set it up and leave it hands free, thereby allowing to keep your hands warm. But sometimes it’s so boring so much so you might be tempted to watch paint dry instead. It can however be very effective. It sure felt good not to be skunked be I want my winter bass, lol!!!

 

To your topic, I remember when I was 3 I saw a magnetic ? fishing toy. I thought it was the coolest thing. Maybe I should buy one to hold me over when I can’t fish during the winter, lol. 
 

 

Update: I just found this on YouTube. Imagine honing your pitching and casting skills with this, in the winter of course. 

 

 

Edited January 24, 2022 by islandbass
Update - Addendum

[T-Billy]

5 hours ago, RDB said:

People need to lighten up and talk about things we can all agree on…like which is best, mono or fluoro.

Sewing thread is the best. I like red because it disappears underwater and it's the most abrasion resistant and best handling line ever made.

[Brownbasser]

4 hours ago, islandbass said:

Their just ribbing you because we folks in the north start teasing all our southern brethren. For some of us the season could be such that they aren’t even allowed to bass fish. In my area many of my key lakes are closed from October until the last Saturday in April of the following year. A bit of envy and jealousy if you can imagine. We’d certainly take a skunking in warm weather over a skunking in freezing weather. 
 

Last Monday, I braved the cold and entered battle knowing full well that this time of year from the shore is nearly a guaranteed zero chance for bass. And I just confirmed that notion. 6 hours straight fishing for bass. Not a bite, super cold, hands down frozen that I could barely put my fingers on the handle to turn the crank. I didn’t want to catch trout so I left that tackle home and focused only on bass. I have been fishing since 2004 and have yet to catch a bass in the winter from the shore. ??
 

Fast forward to yesterday. Same lake. This time I wasn’t coming home skunked. If bass fishing fails, I was ready to go for trout. Unfortunately, bass fishing failed again so I switched gears.  Same bitter cold, but I went 2 for 5 on trout. One advantage of this style is that it is a form of still fishing so you cast out, set it up and leave it hands free, thereby allowing to keep your hands warm. But sometimes it’s so boring so much so you might be tempted to watch paint dry instead. It can however be very effective. It sure felt good not to be skunked be I want my winter bass, lol!!!

 

To your topic, I remember when I was 3 I saw a magnetic ? fishing toy. I thought it was the coolest thing. Maybe I should buy one to hold me over when I can’t fish during the winter, lol. 
 

 

Update: I just found this on YouTube. Imagine honing your pitching and casting skills with this, in the winter of course. 

 

 

Funny stuff! At one point, having 4 boys, we did have that magnetic fishing game. Kinda wish we still did. Lol. I get what you're saying about getting skunked so switching species. Our lake stocks trout in the cold months and we fish for them, with that being said, the last few times I've been out, I couldn't buy a bite.

[N Florida Mike]

6 hours ago, RDB said:

which is best, mono or fluoro.

MONO , of course !!!! ?

?

[RDB]

2 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

MONO , of course !!!! ?

?

[cyclops2]

Island bass makes a critical point about catching fish in cold water. They are there of course. But the space between playing a fish to shore & then finding enough food is critical.  We have no way to tell if we have raised the Lactic Level too high. The fish may die and lay on the shallow bottom for weeks because the gas producing bacteria are inactive.  

We really have no Idea what the death rate is in N J & N Y. I have asked F & G people. They refused to guess on anything about iced over water & fish. So I stopped my catch & release on 4# lines.

[TnRiver46]

22 hours ago, Brownbasser said:

Has anyone else been so desperate to feel even a little tug, that you've considered tossing a line (maybe tiny sewing thread) into your kids fish tank??? I NEED spring! I need to be on the boat with my fishing buddy, hunting for some action! Anyone else?

Not me! I would much rather fish in winter than spring. I catch better fish for the most part and there are minimal pleasure boats (Although I have seen people water skiing and jet skiing in sub freezing weather a few times )

[Skunkmaster-k]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Although I have seen people water skiing and jet skiing in sub freezing weather a few times )

People is crazy ? 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I normally fish quite a bit in the winter because of the reasons TnRiver46 mentioned , but this year we’ve had freakishly strong winds. Every time I get a chance to go it’s 50 mph with so much dirt in the air you could plant a garden in my nose. 

[Bluebasser86]

I caught 10 bass and a 15lb flathead Saturday ?‍♂️. I'll probably be back out there after them this weekend too. 

[islandbass]

13 hours ago, Brownbasser said:

Funny stuff! At one point, having 4 boys, we did have that magnetic fishing game. Kinda wish we still did. Lol. I get what you're saying about getting skunked so switching species. Our lake stocks trout in the cold months and we fish for them, with that being said, the last few times I've been out, I couldn't buy a bite.

Just so you know, I’ve been tempted in the past to change my screen name to “can’t buy a bite bass”. I’ve been through some serious lows but no one to my knowledge ever had it as bad as my brother. Long story short, it took him 14 years to catch his first fish ever. Any species. So when I start to pity or get negative on myself, I think about what he went through and re-ground myself. ?

[Brownbasser]

1 hour ago, islandbass said:

Just so you know, I’ve been tempted in the past to change my screen name to “can’t buy a bite bass”. I’ve been through some serious lows but no one to my knowledge ever had it as bad as my brother. Long story short, it took him 14 years to catch his first fish ever. Any species. So when I start to pity or get negative on myself, I think about what he went through and re-ground myself. ?

Wow!!! He must be strong willed to keep trying! I hope he's glad he kept going.

8 hours ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I normally fish quite a bit in the winter because of the reasons TnRiver46 mentioned , but this year we’ve had freakishly strong winds. Every time I get a chance to go it’s 50 mph with so much dirt in the air you could plant a garden in my nose. 

Skunkmaster, I tried that once. Needless to say, it doesn't work very well. That wind can be a bear to deal with!

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I caught 10 bass and a 15lb flathead Saturday ?‍♂️. I'll probably be back out there after them this weekend too. 

That's awesome! I don't have luck like that until spring. Though, I've never got a 15lb cat. Good job!

10 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Not me! I would much rather fish in winter than spring. I catch better fish for the most part and there are minimal pleasure boats (Although I have seen people water skiing and jet skiing in sub freezing weather a few times )

People are completely insane. I agree with you about winter being a better time for fishing, without all the loud, obnoxious folks crowding the place up. My preferred time to fish is when the water temps are still cool enough that no one (around here, at least) chooses to be in it, or skiing on it, but the fish are hunting. I like it before it's 1,000° outside but not below freezing.... Yes, I'm a pansy, lol.

[TriStateBassin106]

Here in New Jersey we have been frozen in since December and the temps barely break 35. I've noticed slowly after new years the days are getting a bit longer and I find myself looking at my fishing gear more and more. But right now we're probably at the bottom of the hole. I always think the end of January/early February the worst of it. There's light at the end of the tunnel though, spring is coming. 

[N Florida Mike]

I used to fish any time. I caught 90 something bream one hot day in july , fishing in 90-98 dgree heat . I fished nearly every day all summer in the heat. Of course, If I got hot Id just jump in and cool off….I was wade fishing a lot then anyway….

Cold weather didnt matter either. I remember going when it was 27 degrees and dropping . Had a catfish pull my canepole off a dock. He was dragging it out ( cane poles float) across the neck- deep water. I jumped in and got it back…I still have the picture of it somewhere…. The water felt warm, but when I got out to walk home the 1/8 of a mile I thought I would freeze. 

I also would wait too long and get caught in lightning storms, I did get a little nervous about that but not nervous enough to do it again next time.

I totally disregarded the elements.

Fast forward 40 years: I’m not like that anymore, haha. I pick and choose days  that the weather will be most cooperative. 

Good luck with your quest for fish. Keep on and you’ll get into some.

Fish gotta eat at some point no matter what the conditions…

[Aaron_H]

On 1/24/2022 at 12:37 AM, ironbjorn said:

Which is best? Mono or fluoro, and why is it mono?

 

You misspelled braid to leader, but I forgive you.

 

16 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

I used to fish any time. I caught 90 something bream one hot day in july , fishing in 90-98 dgree heat .

 

That's a cool autumn day in Florida ?

 

Thankfully, I don't get cabin fever since we don't get iced out down here and I've managed to get out 17 days so far this month. I can't handle the cold that great, though. No idea how you northern guys do it.

[Brownbasser]

1 hour ago, N Florida Mike said:

I used to fish any time. I caught 90 something bream one hot day in july , fishing in 90-98 dgree heat . I fished nearly every day all summer in the heat. Of course, If I got hot Id just jump in and cool off….I was wade fishing a lot then anyway….

Cold weather didnt matter either. I remember going when it was 27 degrees and dropping . Had a catfish pull my canepole off a dock. He was dragging it out ( cane poles float) across the neck- deep water. I jumped in and got it back…I still have the picture of it somewhere…. The water felt warm, but when I got out to walk home the 1/8 of a mile I thought I would freeze. 

I also would wait too long and get caught in lightning storms, I did get a little nervous about that but not nervous enough to do it again next time.

I totally disregarded the elements.

Fast forward 40 years: I’m not like that anymore, haha. I pick and choose days  that the weather will be most cooperative. 

Good luck with your quest for fish. Keep on and you’ll get into some.

Fish gotta eat at some point no matter what the conditions…

That's some serious dedication! We do still go out in the winter, doesn't get quite that cold here. We just can't seem to find the hungry ones.

1 hour ago, Aaron_H said:

 

You misspelled braid to leader, but I forgive you.

 

 

That's a cool autumn day in Florida ?

 

Thankfully, I don't get cabin fever since we don't get iced out down here and I've managed to get out 17 days so far this month. I can't handle the cold that great, though. No idea how you northern guys do it.

Agreed! They handle far worse conditions in the cold and still get out in it, I don't have that kind of nerve. It hurts, lol.

[Skunkmaster-k]

12 hours ago, Brownbasser said:

Skunkmaster, I tried that once. Needless to say, it doesn't work very well. That wind can be a bear to deal with!

Which did you try? Fishing in the winter or growing a garden in your nose? 

[Choporoz]

On 1/23/2022 at 12:55 PM, Brownbasser said:

Has anyone else been so desperate to feel even a little tug....

 

 

9 deployments

[Brownbasser]

7 hours ago, Choporoz said:

 

 

9 deployments

Thank you for your service!

9 hours ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Which did you try? Fishing in the winter or growing a garden in your nose? 

Growing a garden in my nose, of course! Seriously though, I do fish in the winter, but as earlier stated, I am a pansy with cold weather.

[uglyasheck]

On 1/23/2022 at 11:55 AM, Brownbasser said:

Has anyone else been so desperate to feel even a little tug, that you've considered tossing a line (maybe tiny sewing thread) into your kids fish tank??? I NEED spring! I need to be on the boat with my fishing buddy, hunting for some action! Anyone else?

Your profile says your in Texas> Has the lakes and rivers frozen over?

[Brownbasser]

On 1/31/2022 at 9:27 AM, uglyasheck said:

Your profile says your in Texas> Has the lakes and rivers frozen over?

Where I am in Texas, some have frozen over. Where they aren't frozen, you couldn't buy a bite for a long while. Since I made the post, I have been able to get some walleye, so I won't fish in my kids fish tank.

[Finessegenics]

26 minutes ago, Brownbasser said:

Where I am in Texas, some have frozen over. Where they aren't frozen, you couldn't buy a bite for a long while. Since I made the post, I have been able to get some walleye, so I won't fish in my kids fish tank.

 

I didn't know there were Walleye in Texas! You learn something new everyday

[Skunkmaster-k]

Oh yes. I live 30 miles from the best walleye lake in Texas. I went there today and caught five eaters.