DogBone_384

These ^^^^ and the good OLD fashioned Binsky. Cape Cod smallies prefer the Damiki in gold/black w/orange stripe on the bottom. I'll modify them with heavier hooks 'as needed'. @Saltysmalljaws should chime in. He's Cape Cod's #1 blade bait assassin.

Haven’t done that … yet…

I’ll bet you’ve NEVER forgotten your mustache! The list of things I’ve forgotten over the years might shut Glenn’s server down. I’m sure many things other members have forgotten too, such as: The boat’s drain plug. PFD. Kayak paddle. Charge batteries. Specific rod/reel, or baits. Rain gear. etc, etc.

Yes, I sure did. I might have done better with a bourbon or two in me, but not before noon. I got my Fishmas package, thank you very much. It'll be a while before I put it to use, but first thing when it thaws. Thanks again, and Merry Christmas to the whole BassResource membership.

Well, it looks like my 2025 season is over (FINALLY). I caught one five, two fours, some threes, and fished NH and VT more. I also upgraded my bow unit to an Elite FS12 and added Live Target 1. I also spent more time focusing on jigs, taking twelve trips with only jigs. I skunked 8 of the 12. I succeeded in catching fish in MA in open water every month this year, but still call the year a bust. I couldn't put together any consistency, even though I fished waters I'm very familiar with. I got a lot of help from the membership and ReelNorthernBass, but still couldn't break out of what I call 'third grade fishing'. The only goal I'm setting for '26 is to make fishing more fun again and not fish alone 99% of the time. Feel free to share your '25, and Merry Christmas everyone.

Good to know.

Lowrance uses their own dedicated network and NMEA2000. Units with a yellow connector can be networked together using their hub. I use the NMEA2000 to share waypoints between my dash & bow. Check Lowrance’s support pages & install manuals for wiring diagrams.

I have a Lowrance Elite Ti2 9 on my dash and an Elite FS12 on the bow. The 9’s 3-1 transducer is on the transom & the 12’s is on my Ghost’s nose cone. They’re connected by a NMEA 2000 network, so they share waypoints and ONLY 2D sonar. The network also shows engine data on my 9. That’s one thing to consider if you don’t connect a transducer to your dash unit. I run Active Target on the FS12. I don’t need AT at the dash. I don’t have any compatibility issues. Good luck picking out your second unit.

Boy, it sure is winter, isn’t it….

I have a bass boat and fishing kayak. There are more waters where I live that I can’t launch my boat at that I can my kayak. The membership’s presented many other reasons. No need to repeat them.

I fish Cape Cod waters in the winter. They are generally featureless, deep kettles. I find my best fish at the bottom(ish) of steep drops,and bowls, that are next to shore or shallow flats.

I have my best luck in the winter months with blade baits, both hopping and dead sticking after a hop. Second best are small baits like Neds or jigs, worked as slow as my patience allows. I always have a jerkbait tied on too.

We’ll have to remedy that. @Fishing Rhino was generous with the back seat of his Nitro. I’ll just have to return the favor with my little Ranger.

Kestrel. It’s good for its price point. Casting distance is very good but it’s not nearly as smooth/refined as Shimano or Diawa.

I wouldn’t call it that at all anymore. I just drove by it the other day. Blue Hills Res up the street used to have good bass. I fish it once or twice a year just because, and haven’t seen any signs of life in a few years.

I bought a Tatula BFS rod and Kastking reel to give it a whirl. I've only used it a few times. It casts Neds on a 1/10 oz head nicely. For now, it's cool, but won't take over jigs or jerkbaits for me.

Awesome, congratulations!

I caught them there 45, or so, years ago ….

I took the long way around doing errands today. Houghton's has some open water by the beach. Sunset lake is locked up. Blue Hills res is open. St. Moritz is locked up (that's the little puddle behind Shea rink.)

👀

So far SE Mass & Cape Cod are still open.

WE'LL BE RIGHT OVER! (the ENTIRE membership)

My wife and I can finally travel some, so we do that. My other hobbies are my '68 GS400 convertible and BMW K1200S motorcycle. My cardiologist recommends I no longer ride because I'm on blood thinners now, but I'm not ready to give it up. I've barely ridden it in the last few years, and it's time to change that. Here's the bike.

I live just south of Boston. Waters here have only frozen over enough for ice fishing once in the last six years. They sometimes freeze over enough to keep lures bouncing, but not enough to be safe. Plymouth and Cape Cod usually don't freeze over. Cape Cod water temps get to the high 30's in January to early March.

I would use a light-medium-heavy Kistler Helium for what you describe. It has a lighter tip that would give you added casting distance and sensitivity with medium heavy backbone. I have both spinning & casting models. They’re very universal for me.