Oregon Native

Testing something real quick. Nice fish I caught on a chatterbait yesterday.

I might add only one thing...especially since you are fishing from the bank...maybe two. Number one....walk the bank like you are hunting. I find cloths that blend and quiet foot steps get you closer to the big ones. Try fishing more parallel with the bank....you maybe doing this in the spring but if not....it works. It's pretty hard to beat a Texas rigged worm or floating worm and last not least the infamous senko!!!

Mostly it's just a slow down thing. Jerks .... jigs....ned....A-rig. Catch fish on these all year but they can excel when you reel them low and slow in 40 degree water.

Actually have two stories. Didn't start on Norris until about ten due to friend having doc appt. Anyway we were the first ones and ONLY ones at the ramp. Was awesome on that part. Fished the 33 area and while we were there a cold/rainy front came in but still was a pretty day. Believe we got two keeps....one nice smallie and some short fish. Had quite a few bites but were short striking it even though they felt heavy on line. Lots of bait on top when the wind wasn't blowing. Yesterday picked up my boat from Ultra (nice guys) and they had asked if I wanted to test drive or them.....I told them would be there around ten. Well...stopped by store and picked up a couple more chatters and took one rod and a life jacket. Ya have to fish too.....right. Anyway...boat seems to just purrrrr so pulled into the bank around little river and in about an hour had four bites and landed two. One about three.....whoooohooooo. Missed first one as I think I was over reactive. Using braid....debating whether to keep braid or use mono. I like Glenns article but .... gosh...I am fast on the trigger.

Very nice.....

Awesome...some day I may get a dog again...would hopefully be a golden. Will see. Was on the water yesterday....amazing when the temps in the 40's...mid 30's ....a little rain how you have the water all to yourself. Never saw a boat all day....fishing was tough...but did get some. Tight Lines

Yup...it's winter

Lifted.....may you have a speedy recovery.

Let me be the first to send my sadness's to those up north. I just had a thought.....I wonder if it's those guys/gals that drive up our tackle prices in the winter!!

As I have mentioned a couple times....the ol Nitrile gloves and a set of fingerless over top is amazing. Also a couple hand warmers in pocket help too. I do it all. If your catching too many you may tear em but they're cheap.

Oh....My....Gosh....ouch. Kinda like going down the lake without the rods strapped and out goes an expensive outfit!!! Sorry for your loss...... I knowwwwwwwwwwwww Tks Friend and I are fishing Norris today.....band aid.

All good info above....winter I like 8 braid with six or eight pound leader. Seems to get down in the 30/40 foot zone for me a little better.

Agree with Bluebasser86

Have two...an Assassin and ...ops...forgot...but its the 9:3:1. Like them both a lot...use the Assassin the most. Asking for a couple more for Christmas from my honey.

Two spinning set ups have eight pound braid and two set ups have ten pound braid. Use the lighter ones mostly in the winter for small baits and the ten pound gets a twelve pound leader and used a lot in spring and summer. Go down to six pound on the eight braid. Just what I do and it works well. Still love the baitcasters but spinning like mentioned above can be easier on the body. The big thing for me is a light and balanced outfit that just seems to be an extension of the arm. Hate that big reel feeling in the hand.

Well.... was anxious to hit the water yesterday. It was cold, rainy and overcast and the water was just a bit off color and 54 degrees. This spells happiness for the little lake close to my house. Got to the ramp...no one.....whooohooo. Got the rain gear on...weatherman said maybe a little rain in morning...yup...they were right. I had on tennis shoes with heavy socks...I was a bit concerned...but after raingear on and launched it quit...just got a little colder and more windy. Idled boat out to the buoy and put the pedal down...got up to 40 and motor just didn't want to go anymore faster....sadness. Thought about going slower down to where I wanted to start but after second thoughts I thought I better stay close. So....pulled into bank and set trolling motor on pretty quick... (its a 36v) and covered bank. Started off slow....so went into this little cove/arm and while fishing the front noticed chasers way in back....(smiles) Head back and thought this would be a good time to try the new chatter baits....I bout a couple of the Z-man Elite's. One bluegill and one shad. Tried the bluegill first with a fluke trailer just to the right of where the fish were chasing while I got closer. Boom....muskie hit it almost at the boat...cool....kinda. Got over to the fish and made the first cast and caught a nice one about three pounds...I'm thinking maybe these store bought are better than homemade. No more bites...fish still chasing. So...put on the white one with a white fluke....bite...bite...bite..bite. Landed all the short fish and missed a couple dandy's. Was a weird bite...almost like grass and then the grass would come towards ya!! Took off the trailer and the same result. There were a lot of fish here so was fun to test....I failed...bait failed...who knows. So anyway....tried a couple more spots and got a couple and headed bank to ramp..(was kind of dwelling on boat) Went into little cove by ramp....tried chatter bait by some weeds/tree ....saw bait move sideways...missed. Cast again...chatter stuck in tree...gave little pull...(serious) pinkkkkk....chantter sinks to bottom and I think...bye bye seven bucks and headed in. Well thanks for listening...was a good/bad day. Once again I'm cleaning the boat out and taking it in....Tight Lines P.S. Did notice though that the store bought seems to snag a bit less.....

Yup...two or three times a year it's walk around and burn branches or trim and burn branches. Good exercise and I too am glad I can do it. It's always good for a nice nap afterwards!! I keep a small woodpile by the burn pile to have dry wood ready for burning the green or wet stuff.

Probably depends on what your job is going to be and how far you want to drive. Also...do you fish for everything or is your aim salt or fresh or Bass's or Slime rocket variety's?? Lot's and lots of options....

Have a small heater in garage to cut the cold a bit...but then I'm fortunate to at least fish once or twice a week.

Lake Powell I thought was super clear when I fished out west.

Thank you all....

Live in the country....surrounded by leaves. Try to mow em or blow em when we have a sunny cold day and the wind isn't blowing. Wind always blows the wrong direction....amazing. Now it's time for gutters....at least on the front. Mama won't let me do the back of the house....kind of fearful!!

Pain....hmmmmm.....must be still alive and fishin.......whooooohooooooo

Sounds like your very cautious....which is good...if you can wait a year make payments to a special acct for your boat and see where you end up. At least the payments will be lower. I've had a boat for over 45 years of one type or another and have tried to get rid of one when times were a little tight. My wife of 45 plus years would have nothing to do with selling the boat. She says you use it ... you love it and look at the fun you've had with the kids and now the grand kids. Tomorrow is a gift not to be taken for granted.....good luck.

Awesome....I know that area...hardly ever fish up there though. Good Job Tight Lines