Swamp Girl

I give myself a Red Bull IV to get out the door.

Well, congrats on that! Huge achievement. I've participated in two home renos in the past. They sure suck the sap outta ya!

I was the queen of four and five-pounders in 2024. I just wasn't catching the six-pounders I caught in 2023, but to be frank, I really can't say for sure that I wasn't catching six-pounders this year because I wasn't weighing fish this year. I did catch some that were long: And I caught some that were thick: But I assumed that they were five-pounders. Maybe one or two reached six. I'll never know. I also caught my first seven or eight-pounder this year. I didn't weigh her, but she was unlike any bass I've ever caught and I have weighed high six-pounders. However, I caught one four-pounder per session many times and even two to three four-pounders per session quite a few times. So, it was a good year. Quantity-wise, it was a great year with a 70-bass session and a 75-bass session and many 40/50/60-bass sessions, comprised of many 2.5 to 3.5-pounders. But, again, I was the queen of four-pounders. Like this:

I don't know what you suggested, which is why I asked for the stroke's name. If you'd provided it, I would have Googled it, watched some videos, and maybe learned it. "the proper angle" and "a little twist at the end" didn't work for me as an explanation. I asked for your canoe's make and model to shine some light on how you rolled it. I've seen C1s rolled with full hull flotation bags, but nothing rolled like the canoes most people paddle. So, I'm guessing you paddled a short whitewater C1 with big time rocker. Even then, rolling it without flotation bags and hundreds of pounds of water in it would be Herculean and remaining upright in whitewater with water to the gunnels would require balance surpassing an Olympic gymnast's.

The NEXT is really set up for a kayak paddle with its foot braces and I own a couple kayak paddles, but I don't like dealing with their length in a canoe while fishing. I know they make those side-mounting clips that let you store the paddle out of the way, but the inlet where I dock my canoes is so narrow that I'm already scraping bushes on both sides. So, I'll likely stick with a canoe paddle, even though I'm comfy paddling with a kayak paddle, having kayaked thousands of miles. @Way2slow: Does your magical mystery stroke have a name? Does anyone know it other than you? What make and model canoe were you rolling?

@Way2slow: Keith, this isn't the first time I've been asked if I J-stroke. My answer always disappoints: "No." I can, but I choose to switch sides for efficiency and speed. A J-stroke turns your paddle into a rudder and a rudder creates drag. Drag is not my friend because I have miles to paddle before I sleep over water lovely, dark, and deep. Plus, while your paddle is ruddering, you're not paddling. Again, miles to go. No one can barrel roll a canoe. It can't be done. You need a closed boat with a deck. Here's my new boat. It's open: Now you could roll a C1 with hull-filling flotation bags, but at that point, it's a pretty much a kayak, a long ways from my NEXT canoe:

Stupid fishermen. Tennessee is for thee, not they.

You've got a streak going, Russ. That's solid bass in three, straight trips, right?

@Fishingmickey: Thanks, Mick! I drove past China Lake yesterday and thought of you. There's a little pond just down the road from China Lake called Beech Pond, right off 3, and I've long wanted to fish it. There's a parking lot and then a little hike down a path.

Newest canoe and my fourth current canoe. Here are my four: A Bell Rockstar, which is aptly named. It's solo, Kevlar, thin, tippy, and fast. It's the canoe I use when car topping and carrying a canoe through the woods or wheeling it over a meadow. An Old Town Charles River: tandem, heavy, and stable. Kept at my pond. The NEXT canoe, which is half kayak/half canoe. Also to be kept at my pond. A long, heavy canoe behind my shed. Don't know the maker nor model because it's too heavy for me to lift. A gift. Yeah, I have a fleet.

Me too. I paddle miles every fishing trip and I don't want paddle even more because I'm zig-zagging everywhere. "Smaller lakes that aren't accessible to larger rigs" are my bliss: See those top three bass? I had to drag my canoe a couple times over water that was too skinny to float even my canoe to reach them.

Again and again, Pat dispenses 24K advice. I'm also a fast reeler, rod tip-upper, long caster, and I too park my canoe on the weeds so it'll stick to that spot.

Thank you. I have some, but have yet to use them. Ever. I really should because I fish grass a lot and it often intimidates me.

What does it feel like when a bass hits a Silver Minnow?

I winced I wrote the above because many paddlers have only paddled one or two canoes and as I read those reviews, I understood that they were speaking from inexperience. This is true of many reviews, regardless of what is being reviewed. A boat that tracks well will be harder to turn. A boat that turns easily won't track well. You get one or the other. It's like sportscars and trucks. You can build a nimble, quick vehicle (sportscar) or a vehicle that carries and pulls a lot (truck), but you can't build vehicle that does all that equally well.

I like the looks of the Old Town NEXT. It's a little lighter and longer than most Fishin' kayaks and I like its carrying capacity. I haven't paddled it yet, but it gets good reviews for both tracking and turning.

Interesting, King. I know nothing about any of the above, so when a pro like you talks, I listen.

Nah, I stick with my original assessment.

Okay, I've thought of something I want to learn this winter. I bought a new solo canoe and it's kind of kayak-y, so I want to research my options for tricking it out and how to attach those modifications. I'll base it at my pond property and it'll sit in the water from April to November, so it can be heavy, allowing multiple modifications. I'll start with attaching a couple tracks on a thwart for rod holders for trolling when I'm paddling to a casting area. It'll be great to not troll with a fishing rod pinned under my thigh and braced by a knee.

Gosh, it looks rough out there. You are quite a man.

Bob, I know you tried a fluke, but I've had some luck skittering a fluke over grass, retrieving it so fast that you might think a bass wouldn't have a chance to hit it.

Nope, G, too cold and windy for a test paddle. Here's a gift for you! It's worth a shot:

@Bird: I also like the color orange. In case I tip, I'll be easier to spot.

I wish nothing but the best for the butt-in-skis. By best, I hope they hook a beast beyond their imagining, like this: Hey, I also have a brain the size of a pea, which is likely why I'm pretty good at finding bass.

Sad, but I believe it's true. I wonder what they'd think of me in my scuffed canoe.