DogBone_384

Keep me in the loop. I'll bring my Overdrive Lure - you can give it a go. It's so different from paddling it's almost weird. I have to check the calendar though ... see if 'the boss' has anything on the books for us.

Let me know when you head down.

Pedaled over to Great South at 0600 this morning in search of redemtion for my 0/6 streak. Caught one SMB on a Yozuri pencil and another shortly thereafter on a green/red Menace. Nothing for the next three and a half hours until a third SMB liked the black/blue jig I hit him with. All three were 1 1/2 - 2 pounds, chubby, and full of fight. I promised a friend I’d work on his Harley so I beat feet around noon-ish. Water temps were 66.x - 67.x. I saw some fry in the shallows, and a big eel, plain as day, sitting on the bottom in 8’ of water. Some frying pan bluegill and a few turtles took quite the interest in my overdrive unit hanging under my kayak. Lastly, a loon let me get within 30’ of it early. Something really cool to see that doesn’t happen much. All the loon I’ve seen at the Quabbin always keep a good distance from the boat. Not a great day for SMB, but the added attractions made up for it. I hope those of you that hit the Quabbin today ‘crushed it’.

Yes, that canoe sure looks familiar!

I might be wrong about Sheeps. I’d love to find a way into Jenkins. I reconned it this Spring but couldn’t find a way in: sounds like we have to dig deeper. I won’t fish the Cape until after Labor Day. With gas prices and side-work up, it’s best I stay local. My two local ponds are Ponkapog and Wampatuck State Park. Plymouth is as south as I’ll go, and one or two trips to the Quabbin will be my big trips.

Hedges (Plymouth) - posted YES but haven’t seen it enforced in 2 years I’ve fished it. Seymour - YES. Sheep’s - YES. Jenkin’s - posted as private association access only. Buck’s - YES. Also, call local PD and ask when in doubt. They’ve always been helpful to me. Follow this thread: The local membership keeps it up to date. Best of luck!

Absolutely, but I liked my SpiderWire fishing backpack so much I wore it out, lasting four years of heavy use. Its best feature was the integrated rod holder on the side.... If you're on a tight budget, the membership's got it right: go to your local thrift store or Army/Navy shop, get a pack pack, and load it up with Plano 3700 boxes.

Here's my new Lure 11.5 Overdrive. I sold my '14 Ascend 128T and splurged.

Congratulations on the boss-lady’s success. The few times my boss, err, wife, fishes with ne she too outfishes me. It’s simple: she doesn’t overthink it.

We have two Lure 11.5’s here. Our first was in ‘14. I sold my ‘14 Ascend 128T to get the new Overdrive unit. The first trip pedaling was good, and will take a few trips to modify my fishing style. FeelFree’s seat is so comfortable, my wife, errr, boss, naps in it sitting up. If you didn’t spring for the rudder, do it. As stable as the Lure is, it’s like paddling a bathtub without one.

Send it to Mike at Delaware Valley Tackle.... he’ll take good care of you and it’ll be a painless upgrade.

I took my new Lure 11.5 Overdrive out for its maiden pedal tonight, launching at Great South around 1700 hours. I left around dusk, tossing a bluegill jig, chrome Zara Spook Jr., and T-rigged Zoom U-Tail worm. I started at the two flats all the way across from the launch and worked back to the “known producing” flat that’s right of the canal. If it weren’t for the fat frying pan looking pumpkinseed (or bluegill, not sure), I’d be 0/6 here this year. This place sure has my number. Maybe I’ll give a drop-shot a try, I’ve only tried it a few times. Water temps were 65.x - 66.x. I fished Little South for a few minutes on the way back to my truck. A small Sally liked my bluegill jig but shook me free on the way to the kayak. Even though I didn’t catch squat, I sure woke up a set of muscles with the new pedal kayak. In short, it’s faster than paddling, is a little more difficult to steer with the hand control rudder. I might give a local pond a try in the morning. I’d love to keep at Great South, to get revenge, but it’s $20+ for a round tripper. There’s better fishing in Plymouth, but I’ve got to weigh the ROI with a truck that gets the same gas mileage as the ‘72 Skylark convertible I had in college....

It’s a non-issue in MA. Lead under 1 oz. is illegal.

Find the third oak tree on the left....

I fish in the rain but not if there’s any threat of lightning.

What he said...

T-Rigged Zoom U-tail and 4” Senko on a 1/8 oz. Keitech.

I’ve lost two rigs in five years, each in the $300 range. It’s a drag, I feel for you. On the other hand, it’s a perfect excuse to upgrade when TW has their Memorial Day sale....

Took a short trip to Ponkie after my work was done today. Launched around 1800 and stayed until 1930. Caught one dink pickerel on a Rapala jerkbait and a 1-1.5 pound LMB on a Menace, which was a far cry from the 61 pickerel and one bluegill three kids in a canoe said they caught as they were leaving.... Water temps were 67.x - 68.x and the weeds are growing quickly. Ponkie’ll be t-rigged-only shortly.

The Monkey, his brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, and 5th grade teacher got to me this week.... They ganged up on me forcing me to sell my Ascend 128T and buy a Lure 11.5 with the overdrive ...

Added to list...

Did some marathon fishing down the Cape last week. Fished Sheeps on Tuesday afternoon. Water temps were in the low 60’s. Couldn’t find much other than one 1-9 SMB and a 3-4 LMB. Weather was blue-bird like until later in the afternoon when the temperature dropped like a stone. I started Wednesday off at Hinckleys. Wasted 4 hours there to get one yellow perch. Water temps were in the 63.x - 64.x. The ‘light bulb’ went on late: THE HERRING ARE RUNNING. THere’s so much food there the bass don’t need anything I offered. I moved over to West Reservoir in Harwich on the recommendation of a local I met during my last trip down there. Four hours later I packed up with two yellow perch and one dink bass on a perch colored Yozuri jerkbait. It’s shallow, only 5’ deep at the deepest. Water temps were 66.x - 68.x, with blue-bird conditions. I stumbled across Fresh Pond in Harwich and gave it a go. It’s pretty shallow with black-coffee like water. The Lowrance didn’t mark much, and I didn’t stay long. Water temps were 69.x - 70.x. From Fresh stopped by Seymour for no more than a few minutes because Herring were everywhere. A local fisherman told me to try Buck’s Pond in Brewster. I launched there around 7:00PM and two casts into it I landed a 2-13 SMB and a 2-2 LMB on a bluegill colored jig with Menace trailer. One more LMB, 2-12, made it to the kayak before dark. The weather had turned cold and misty. I’m glad it did. Water temps at Bucks was 63.x - 64.x. As I checked out of the condo Thursday AM, another local suggested Slough Pond in Brewster. I launched there around 7:00 AM and landed 3 LMB, 2-7, a dink, and 2-1, respectively, all on the jig I used Wednesday. I stayed until 10:00AM then headed back to the world. Slough is dark stained like Fresh Pond and has a 20’ hole north of the launch, but the bass were shallow. They were much darker colored than the bass I caught at other ponds. Water temps were in the low/mid 60’s.

Jen, you might stay away from Hinckley’s and Seymour while you’re here. I fished both today and couldn’t buy a hit. The herring are running now and both waters are overrun with herring. The bass have plenty to eat and don’t need our offerings. I had some good luck at Buck’s pond. I didn’t launch until about 7:00 this evening, but got two LMB and one SMB, all between 2 1/2 and 3 pounds on a bluegill flavored jig. There’s a public beach area off Buck’s Pond Road. It’s posted as needing a town sticker but I called Harwich PD and they said no problem before Memorial Day. Best of luck.

Good looking fish! Congrats!

J, try emailing the photo to yourself and upload it to the forum from your computer. Congrats on a good trip to the Quabbin.