DogBone_384

While looking for new spots to try out I discovered our "great" Commonwealth updated many of the survey maps and reports for waters around the state. Here's the link: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-pond-maps-list-view ...though some maps aren't, quoting the state regarding Blueberry Pond in Brewster: "Blueberry Pond is a natural great pond which under the Colonial Ordinances of 1641-1647 allows an angler to pass over unimproved lands on foot. Lands under the control of the town of Brewster are located along North Pond Drive and the Cape Cod Rail Trail borders unimproved land along the northern side of the pond..."

Spent the late afternoon at Ponkie yesterday. Grabbed a handfull of LMB and pickerel, a typical outing here. My two biggest LMB were 1-7 and 1-4. A bluegill Yozuri square bill and black/blue t-rigged Chigger-craw were the ticket. Water temps were 67-.x when I arrived and 69.x when I left.

I started for Wampatuck State Park to see what was what. Upon entering the park I passed a sign saying compground closed, gates locked at 3:30, so that was that. I headed south and randomly picked Stetson Pond in Pembroke. I fished it once before with a friend’s son. I hit the water between 3:30 - 4:00 and stayed until dark. I forgot my battery but found a map and started around the place trying to stay around the 10’ line. I managed three LMB, all around a pound and a half, in some grass beds I found off a point near the launch. Nobody was interested in soft baits today. All three fish chomped on a bluegill Yozuri square bill. There was a local guy fishing there and said it was slow lately. I’ll get out somewhere tomorrow. I’ll remember my battery too.

I mix it up depending on what soft bait I’m tossing and what water it’s landing in. I use Kistler, ***, and Abu Garcia rods almost exclusively. For weedy ponds I use a MH/F rod with the baitcaster I’m in the mood to use, which is either Diawa, Shimano, or ***. As far as line, I prefer Power Pro Super Slick #30 with a fluoro leader. The same applies when I use spinning gear, except I own only Pflueger reels.

Sorry, he’s on his own. My Fire Department work schedule allows me sufficient time to work a second job, do housework and fish.... My wife works full time. I look pretty good in a French Maid outfit too....

Fishing Rhino and I fished Wequequot yesterday from 0530 to 1430-ish. We both did well until around 1030 or so when the bite pretty well shut off. My biggest LMB was 4-2 and Tom’s was 4-4. Water temps were 68.x - 70.x. I stopped by Hedges on the way home in search of some ‘easy’ smallies. I launched around 1530-1600 and covered the whole place TWICE. I landed a single SMB, about a pound, on a wacky Senko, over by the birch tree that fell in the water a while back. At least I didn’t get shut out. Water temps were 68.x Today’s adventure started at Ponkie around coffee break time with glass smooth water and overcast skies. Pickerel hit anything shiny. I grabbed a handfull of small picks and LMB on a Rapala pencil bait and T-rigged Yum Swim Dinger. One LMB weighed in at 2-4. Water temps were 64.x. After heading home and doing laundry/housework I saw it was too nice to stay home so off to Sunset Lake in Braintree since it was the closest pond that I wouldn’t get bogged down in rush hour traffic travelling to. Got there about 1700 and stayed until dark. Managed one 1-12 LMB, which is good because Braintree treated the pond in ‘16 and killed off most of the weeds. There’s still JACK NOTHING for weeds. My bass liked the same Swim Dinger the Ponkie bass ate. Water temp was 65.x - 66.x.

I'll start with a sweatshirt and jeans or Carharts with BPS boots and add layers as it gets colder. Once November hits I'll use my Milwaukee headed jacket and keep a couple extra batteries with me. I get 4 hours out of one battery. I stick to smaller waters as it gets colder and always keep a change of clothes in my truck in case I get wet.

Got out a few days ago to Wequaquet lake with Fishing Rhino, launching around 5:30 AM before the rowing club showed up and took the only spot big enough for Tom's Silverado & trailer. It was cloudy in the AM and the wind picked up quickly. We did OK, each picking up a dozen or so mix of LMB and picks. We couldn't find the big bass, but well, bass are bass. I nabbed a 3+ pound pick late in the trip with a swim Senko 'playing dead' on the bottom. I tried an assortment of lures and wacky Senkos and T-rigged swim Senkos were the ticket. Water temps were in the high 60's, just touching 70 as we packed it in for the day. I'm planning on getting down to Plymouth at least a couple days this week. Good luck to everyone else that gets out too!

I can't say I'll get out this weekend, but next week for sure..... best of luck to everyone who gets out there this weekend!

I did a case study on Walmart for my MBA. I don’t shop there, free entertainment or not, period.

Me too ....

I mix it up. Most of my reels are $200 and up and and they’re paired with Abu Garcia Veritas, Ike, and a couple of Villains. When not using Abus, I’m fishing Kistlers. I use Abus more than Kistlers because they work well and feel good in my hand. I’ll use my Kistlers when I want to treat myself, I guess.

You’ll be fine without a bed extender. Put the kayak in diagonally and it’ll stick out a little less. Good luck with your choice.

I’d start with a thorough cleaning and bearing upgrade. If it’s not something you’ll do yourself, contact Mike @ Delaware Valley Tackle. He’s a site sponsor. Mike’s tuned up a lot of my reels. He does great work. Send him your reel, he’ll steer you in the right direction.

I use Yak-Gear trolleys on each side of my Lure with a 5 pound claw on 40’ of line. I can choose which side based on which way the wind blows and what part of a pond I’m fishing.

It’s illegal in Mass to use lead weight under 1 oz. That’s why I use Tungsten.

Hit Ponkie around 2:00 this afternoon and stayed until dark. The weather was perfect for topwater so that's what I stuck with most of the trip. I don't know where the large Larries were, but I nabbed a few little ones and a pile of various sized pickerel. The highlight of the afternoon was the bluegill colored Rapala Skitter Walk I found just after launching. It was the one a I lost when an assumed pickerel that bit through my line kept earlier this year. It's the second lost lure I've recovered this year. The first was a yellow perch blade bait I lost at Hedges over the winter. Who'd have thunked!?!?!?! I also went back to shore when a quick thunderstorm passed through, and while waiting two rainbows came out. It's not often you see the base of a rainbow, let alone two next to each other. I couldn't find either pot of gold .... Water temps were 72.x and the Canadian Geese are showing up in numbers.... looks like the Fall transition is here. All I have to do now is find the big bass!

I'm not making any predictions until after the World Series.... ... and maybe the Stanley Cup .... ....

I'll break one every other year or so. Two were Abu's which Abu Garcia replaced under warranty. The others are always my fault, i.e. closing my tailgate on one, or catching another with a power window. It's inevitable.

AMEN to that !!!

Bummer... RIP Bandit....

... never leave home without a knife, gun, multi-tool, or combination of the three ....

Fishing Rhino and I launched at Mashpee Wakeby at dawn. We left a little after 9:00 with little to show and tried Wequaquet down the road. We left there about 1:30 pm with not much more to show than MW. Tom and I caught a few little bass on wacky rigged worms. I nabbed two picks on a jig. Wequaquet was VERY windy. Water temps were high 70s to low 80s between the two. Today's performance was right in line with the success I had yesterday in Rochester. Needless to say the state record's still intact.....

Did a recon trip to Mary's Pond in Rochester. Hit the water about 9:30 and witnessed a guy weighing a 4 1/2 pound LMB on shore. OK, I thought, this place has potential. I worked the perimeter, tossing a Whopper Plopper, wacky rigged Yum Dinger, and a green jig with Menace trailer. I ended up with a pile of small bass, mostly on the Dinger, weighed in ounces, not pounds. One little guy hit the WP, thinking he could swallow a bait half his size. All but one fish was caught in 10-12' of water, near drops. An Osprey make an unsuccessful dive near me, which was VERY cool to see. Water temps were 82.x

I have a couple of 2014 PQ casting rods and like them very much. The bait monkey forced me to buy other brands so they don’t get much use anymore. They’re great first baitcast rods. As far as the reel, all three are good choices. I own all the popular brands and find Diawa and *** excellent feel and quality. My advice is to go to BPS and handle the combos yourself. How they feel in your hand is most important. Because it’s your first BC setup, spool it with 12# mono and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE... There are tutorial videos in this forum and online. Best of luck with your choice. Hope it gets you a PB.