JoePhish

Rage, Paca, Flappin' Hog

Grew up playing on a frozen pond or in the warmer months, in the street, pretending I was Billy Smith, Mike Bossy or Bryan Trottier. Ah, the Glory Days. Since organized youth hockey wasn't that mainstream on LI back then I put my hockey gear in the back of the garage and went on to play other sports. Years later, when I was in my 30's, I picked it back up again to play in-line hockey. I'm a goalie and my knees are shot now, so I don't play any more. I gave away all my gear before I moved to Florida. Figured there wouldn't be much beach hockey going on.

Soda

Trophy Scum Frog for my hollow body preference. Heavy enough so I can cast it far. Soft enough for a great hookset. Plus I love how it's butt sits down in the water. If we're talking soft plastic frogs I prefer the Producto Buzz Tail Frog.

I was doing that yesterday evening; using a Producto Buzz Tail Frog (Green Pumkin Shad) on a 4/0 ewg hook with a 1/4 pegged bullet. Fished it through the tulles and pads.

I use both these baits (and in that color especially). They're almost exactly identical. Biggest difference I've found though is that the RI is firmer whereas the NetBait is softer and more flexible. I don't know if I prefer one to the other. I've done well with both. Also, someone mentioned Gander Mt's line of beavers. They're like a hybrid between NetBait's Paca Chunk and B-Bug, having the body of the Bug and the claws of a Paca. They're pretty durable too. (Plus they come with a free hook.) Truth be told, I haven't really met a beaver I didn't like

The phrase "where you at". Fat women in bikinis, half shirts or spandex. People that don't clean up their dog's crap. That guy in the left hand lane on I-95 in the pickup truck with a bed full of furniture who is only driving 50 mph. People on Facebook who use a profile pic that's at least 5 years old but try to pawn it off as their current self.

If your in-laws are disgusted with eating a rabbit because it's cute, well, my traditional Easter meal is Leg of Lamb. I have friends that roast whole lamb on a spit in their yards for Easter. A lot of people will rate a lamb higher on the cuteness factor scale. I've served Rabbit Cacciatore to people who didn't know it was rabbit and they asked for seconds. I only told them it was Cacciatore. Didn't mention the rabbit part of it until we were drinking coffee. Additionally, rabbits aren't rodents. They're closer to a horse than they are a rat.

Welcome, from a former Long Islander.

Depends on the circumstance. On topwater it's hands down the Bite. However, I usually am fishing a different technique. So, I'm not getting off on the tap, tap, tap. In almost every other circumstance it's the fight, unless I catch the fish 2 feet in front of me. It's always been about the fight for me. When I was younger I would always use a lighter combo and line than what was the norm so that the fight would be sporting and entertaining. I stopped doing that when I realized there were too many fish swimming around with my hooks in their mouth. However, now, it's still about the fight.

Obviously there are 2 schools of thought here. So, maybe this question is for those who subscribe to the match the hatch theory. I've read/seen/heard of matching the hatch for baitfish, insects, frogs, and lizards. However, do any of you match the hatch for birds? Right now there are groups of ducklings popping up (and instantly dwindling) and soon there will be Moorhens and Coots as well. Do any of you know of any lost cost baits that imitate these hatchlings?

I'm a fan of the Fat Ika as well as the Hydra. I'll join the list of people who pull these out as a slump buster. The Hydra seems to have a slower rate if fall. The balled ends tend to tangle though.

Dwight, love the Lott Brothers cap. ..and nice fish...

This is right out of my playbook. Love it. ..and thanks for the Smokin' Rooster tip, even though it wasn't you. Also, earlier in the year, when things weren't as warmed up, I was using a 1/16 Bitsy Bug w/ a Paca chunk trailer. Loved the subtle action. It fluttered down real softly.

Swimsenko in the Blue Pearl/ Silver Fleck (031) is the white bait I use the most. Sometimes hit it with a Chartreuse Spike-It marker. Fish it all sorts of ways. Get a lot of reaction bites with it. Couldn't find them this year but a year or two ago I found some Gander Mt 3" beavers in a white/red fleck color and used them as a trailer on swim jigs and spinnerbaits. Also, don't overlook baits that are part white like some shad or baby bass color patterns. Not too long ago I was catching diddly squat with a Watermelon/gold&black Senko. Switched to the Strike King version of the bait in a baby bass color, which is almost the same but with a white bottom, and started slaying them.

5Lbs 8oz on a Black Chatterfrog with a black Swinsenko trailer on one of my increasingly overfished condo ponds. (I consider it public because there is always someone fishing at any given hour.) It's not a monster by Florida standards because I'm stuck fishing off the shore. Get my butt in a boat and I'll be posting bigger fish. I just wanted an official entry 5.5/17.25x100=31.88

Chatter (sha-doo-be)

This is my favorite bait. Couldn't picture myself fishing without them. My retrieves with them vary from slow fishing it on the bottom to ripping it to provoke a reaction strike but lately I've been dragging them over lilypads. Most of the time I fish them weightless, sometimes in a stiff wind I'll peg a light bullet to it. I also use it (or a shorter used version) as trailers on my jigs, Chatterfrogs and Redfish Magic spinnerbait. Yesterday I tried the bigger 6" Senko. Caught fish on them but wished there were more than 5 in a pack. Anyhow, anything that man puts his name on catches fish.

Got to love backyard bass. Welcome!

My spinning combo is an extension of myself. I can make any cast with it in any condition. Grew up using spinning gear for surf, jetty and pier salt water fishing. Never thought of it as sissy gear when I was reeling in Stripers and big Bluefish off LI shores. So, when choosing freshwater gear I naturally gravitated towards spinning combos. About 5 or 6 years ago I bought my first and only freshwater baitcasting combo. I use it painstakingly with some success. I hardly backlash but I'm sure I'm sacrificing distance by doing so. Some days I only bring and use that combo, forcing myself to make due without my spinning gear security blanket. Still, it's not the same. I don't feel as connected to my bait. I think the reverse roles my hands have using a baitbaster may have something to do with it. So, now I want to get a baitcasted with a lefthanded crank as that should feel more natural to me. I'm adamant at learning to be good with a baitcaster because I know that even though I'm zenlike and one with my spinning gear, there are certain fishing situations that are better handled with a baitcaster than spinning.

Wish the Anaconda and Thumper were available in some kind of black. I use the 8" Producto Tournament Worm, 10" Berkley Power Worm and 10" & 12" Culprit Worms all in black or dark colors.

Little Black Beaver, t-rigged Swimsenko, T-rigged w/ 1/16 oz or weightless. Chatter (sha do bee)

I sometimes break out the Rebel Bumble Bug. Caught Smallies and Picks in Maine with it as well as Largemouth in Florida. Last month I was getting a few decent ones on a 1/16 oz. Bitsy Bug with a Tiny Paca Chunk

Good choice with the variety of beer you chose. I'm a big fan of Chimay Tripel. Will your's be high in alcohol content like most Belgian Strong Ales? Let us know how it turns out. I may end up giving it a whirl myself. Some of my friends are bugging me to brew my own beer since I have an extensive culinary background and a firm grasp on flavors. Good luck with the brew.

"Wicked Game" There was a rumor that he had to go "relieve" himself during that video shoot.