shorefisher

Last Saturday I was at my favorite pond on my canoe and the bite was very tough. After 5 hours of fishing everything everywhere I only had caught a single 4 pounder on a salty stick right along a tule edge. I'm fairly stubborn though and decided to stay late and throw my black 3/8oz Cavitron buzzbait after dark. It gets dark here at 7:20 now. I threw it for about 20 mins with no luck but just waited as it was still getting darker and my eyes (and the fishes') were adjusting. After throwing and retrieving along the exact same line for 3-4 times I got my first blowup and my first nighttime fish. I kept going while slowly moving around the pond and casting as parallel as possible to the shore or weedline. I found it very important to cast the same line 3 or 4 times, sometimes it took the repetition for the fish to home in on the bait or possibly anger the fish enough into striking. I've never experienced fishing that was so heart pounding. I'd go 5 minutes without anything but the whir of my reel and the squealing burble of the cavitron then all of a sudden WHAM a 4 pounder would hit it like a freight train and while I'm no nighttime expert it seemed that the fish fought much much harder than during the day. Want to get a real wake me up? I had a fish blowup on my bait when it was about 2 feet away from the boat. It scared the crap out of me. One more unforgettable scene was I had turned the boat in a cove and started casting out towards the middle and pulling the bait past this old stump sticking out there. The light from the city 20 miles away was being reflected off the low clouds onto the water. After 2 casts I see a head slowly appear next to the bait and attack it like a shark or the Loch Ness Monster or something. I've never seen or heard of a bass doing that before. Anyways get a 3/8 oz buzzbait in color black and get out there and work every inch you can. You will have success. -Shore

None of those but I'm thinking that someone will get it, it shouldn't be too obscure.

Sorry for the delay, I couldn't find the thread. :-? Here's a cool one: -Shore

Because RW said so that's why!

I've progressed quite a bit this year thanks to these forums as well as the articles here on BR. After not fishing for years, something bit me this year and I jumped in with both feet. I've fished every time I can get away with it, 5+ times most weeks. Couple hours after work and all day on the weekends. I've developed a heck of a tan. 8-) I bought and learned a baitcaster, now I love it and can't wait to buy more. My first was a Quantum Energy PT and it really is a nice reel. I "discovered" the senko. My Lord the dang things catch fish. Maybe next year I will try to not rely on them so heavily but I'm working on +200 fish in less than 3 months so... I've developed a strong and lasting relationship with the baitmonkey with many hundreds spent in the last few months... but to be honest, I didn't have any of the stuff I "needed" so we'll see how foolish it continues after I get a good representation of the different baits. One thing I do know is that a Stella is in my future along with a Calcutta TE and maybe some other high end low profiles... for now I'll be content with my Symetre, my Energy PT and a Curado or Citica or two. I still have not caught a single fish on a spinnerbait or a jig and plastic even though I try every time I go. My buddy whom I got into fishing this summer as well wonders why I bother with anything else than a pack of 4/0 EWG hooks and a pack of watermelonseed salty sticks/senkos/dingers. He's kinda cheap, but the monkey has already been seductively whispering to him... My affection has grown for buzzbaits after listening to advice here and purchasing a squeaky creaky black 3/8oz cavitron. Whether the bass are hungry or just maddened by the thing, the rush you get when they explode under it is addicting. -Shore

solid 4 pounder

That is great to hear. Its cool how sometimes things work out.

Incredible thread. Thanks

I bought a new OKUMA guide select casting rod model GS-C-7111XH. I'm new to the swimbait scene but the deal was quite good so I couldn't resist. Specs: Action: XH Length: 7'11" Line Wt: 15-40 Lure Wt: 2-10 oz. Foregrip: 3-1/2" Reargrip: 3-3/4" Guides: 10+Tip Fuji New Concept w/Alconite My questions are: Is this rod so heavy it's impractical? Would it be a good fit for musky? It's designed for the biggest swimbaits and normally I would have gotten the one designed for 1-6 oz. lures but like I said I couldn't resist the deal. : I'm just wondering if anyone has used a rod like this and what their opinions are. -Shore

LOL dammit avid...but you're right it makes me look like i ain't edumacated

It was 80 degrees Sunday with the best topwater bite I've ever seen. I put everything else away but my poppers, spooks, and buzzbaits and had a great time. Then a cold front came in that night and it's been low 60's ever since. I fished both Mon. (1 dink) and then Tues. evening and I couldn't even get a single bite. First time skunked at my favorite pond. You can smell the fall coming. I'm hoping by the weekend that the fish have adjusted and the bite picks up again.

I've been using a Megabass Popmax in GG Bass color 1/2oz and it casts like a rocket on my baitcast. I've been killing them with this bait. 3 of the 20 fish I caught yesterday (on a killer topwater bite) I caught just by casting and waiting. 10-20 seconds after it landed the fish just exploded underneath it. It's been the only popper that's done that for me in open water. I'm not talking about the instant strike you sometimes get by dropping one close to a floating log for example. But once I get to some of the smaller poppers I'm not good enough on the caster and have to switch to a spinning reel.

Ito Natural

"He's a great american fisherman, he'll fish most anywhere..." & "Whoa, son!" lol, you tell 'em micro. -shore

Right now Lipper Tools has an great deal on their Lipper catch and release tool. I wonder if a mistake was made at the website, they are normally $99 and they have them right now for $35. http://www.evolutionproductsinc.com/landingtool.php TackleTour did a review. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewlippertoolslipper.html BR user Rich K let me know and I bought one and thought maybe some of you might be interested. Thanks again Rich. -Shore

Fixed that for ya muddy

I'm gonna say Bill Dance by far. The guy just kinda makes ya feel good. The funny thing is I've never seen him catch all that big of a fish but he's just plain fun to watch. Favorite quotes: "He's got that thing all up in his face." "See ya lil buddy." You can watch all your favorite shows for free at MyOutdoorTV http://www.myoutdoortv.com/main-homepages/fishing-homepage.html -Shore

While fishing weightless plastics I've never so much as gotten a bite when using braid (#30 fireline in smoke color, #12 diameter). The water I fish is stained/clearish with 2-3ft visibility. The second I change over to my spinning setup with #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra-Soft mono/fluoro I'll be pulling in fish left and right. I don't know what it is but maybe the fish are line shy round these parts. I really enjoy the braid but I've given up on using it for anything but frog fishing mats and pads.

My lord that fish is beautiful Paul! She looks a bit angry in the pic. I agree with the rest, that looks like a double digit fish. It's weird how difficult it is to measure by sight. Also of all the guys on here I'd like a day fishing with you.

Before buying a Bogagrip check out the Lipper. Review: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewlippertoolslipper.html It's the one I am going to buy.

good ole photoshop...or one of those taxidermy "artists"

Heddon Vamp?

As far as light beers go, i'm kinda partial to Labatt's blue light. Otherwise: Guinness Sierra Nevada Magic Hat #9 are my go to players.

good luck and break a leg! -shore

If you have a Dick's near you I would recommend one of their "Field & Stream" graphite rods for $39. I had a 6'6" MH Fast and it was pretty good for worming.