january so far

[paul.]

it's been kinda a so-so january for me so far.  no big fish since the 7 pounder earlier this month.  i am still trying to go at least once a week.  my favorite lake is kinda stained up now and the water level has risen about a foot.  water temps are usually low to mid 40's with occasional ice on the water after a cold night.  these conditions have made fishing tough, but i have managed to catch about 5-10 fish per trip when i go.   lures that are working are jigs and tubes (on deep structure and/or wood), coffin bill cranks (fished shallow doctored with suspend strips), spinnerbait (slow rolled on shallow wood).  the red rattle trap worked its winter magic again last trip (friday) as well catching 4 out of the 5 keepers i boated.  they are all 1-2.5 pound fish, but i won't knock it.  it's nice just to be out there catchin' a few.  here's a picture taken a week or so ago of the typical size i'm gettin'.  i've got a new combo (gander mtn. guide series rod and diawa exceler 100h reel) that i'm hopin' a biggun will break in soon for me, but i ain't gonna hold my breath.  i hope y'all are catchin' some too.  

[MattStrykul]

Don't worry Hawg Caller you'll get the big one soon man. You gotta love throwin that jig around, throwing jigs is one of my favorite things to do. Looks like you're catchin numbers though!

[.dsaavedra.]

its january my man, dont be greedy  ;D

haha but seriously, at least you got some numbers to make up for size. i actually made a rare january appearance to a pond and fished yesterday and caught squat.

i thought you got a daiwa megaforce?

its funny, i was just about to PM you and ask how the fishing/new combo was treatin ya...havent heard from you in a while!

catch a few for me :

[paul.]

hey dave!   yeah, i did have the megaforce, but i decided that little twitchin' bar thingy was more of a gimmick/nuisance than it was a feature, so i upgraded to the exceler.  MUCH better reel overall.  super rigid aluminum frame, magforce-z anti-backlash control, free floating spool, 8+1 bearings, and the new "swept" handle design add up to one SWEEEEEEEET little reel!  i love it.   time will tell, but it's probably the best reel i own now (even though i still really like my pinnacle sentara and my shimano cardiff). go ahead and pm me if ya want and i'll be happy to tell ya more.  you're right about january fishin' - it can be real tough.    i'm glad you got to get out and give it a shot anyway.  felt good just to make a few casts didn't it?  hate ya didn't catch any though.  glad you're doing alright buddy.

[.dsaavedra.]

ok that exceller looks pretty nice. what did you do with your megaforce? did you trade it in or sell it or keep it or what?

yeah it was awesome to be fishing. didnt bother me at all that i didnt catch anything. i was happy to test out my new 7' avid casting rod. i found out that combined with proper reel settings, it can fling a 5" trick stick halfway across the pond with ease! i fished jigs alot yesterday with no avail. oh well...at least i was out there.

i think im gonna PM ya about jig fishing paul, your real good at it and i need to be real good at it ;D

[David P]

Dang, jigs really are the greatest! That's the only thing my partner and I have been catching our 2-4lb fish on the past week or two. No bites on anything else but a jig.

[Hawg Bass Assassin]

Paul, chear up Bro...Their another 10+ out their with your name on it.

Fishing been louse here too...nothing but 10" - 14" Bass.

Congrate's on your new rig.

Craig

[JUST]

I got a few cranking a DD. Keep at it Man.