DogBone_384

X2 - I started with a BPS Pro-Qualifier and slowly (& repeatedly!) upgraded when I found year end deals, sales, etc... All my reels do the same job, but the couple Shimano Cores and Diawa Zillions I own have a 'feel' to them akin to driving to work in a BMW. I can't say I'll ever buy an ultra high end reel, say, $400+, but I enjoy my $200 - 300 reels immensely.

I don't feel so bad now ....

I have Diawa's Ardito (7', M/F) travel rod I mount a 7.1:1 T3 Ballistic to. It's typical Diawa build quality and as sensitive as I need. Good luck picking a travel rod. Oh yeah, it fits behind my '06 4-dr Tundra's back seat nicely.

I'm in MA and fish the southeast part of the state. I've not caught any bass the last three times out, just picks, perch, trout, and one salmon. I'm hoping to get out once or twice more this week, but we'll see.

Launched at Long Pond late, the wife wanted to go out to breakfast as I was packing up, but you know what they say, " happy wife, happy life." Long Pond was picturesque: just a breeze from the West, a cloud here or there and surface temps 54.x.... I had high hopes for catching something today, especially when an old timer fishing at the ramp pulled in a nice rainbow as I unloaded. I kept it simple with a perch lipless Rapala, a blue/brown jig with just a flash of pink/yellow, and a 1/8 oz Mepps spinner. After 3 hours of nothing I lost interest (Though I'd say I wasn't the only one suffering, with Swamp Hawgs not having a great weekend - a rarity for him?), packed up and drove home to do laundry and rake the yard. To make some lemonade out of today's goose egg, I found some submerged trees and rock piles I hope to capitalize on next season. I hope to get out again this year, but if I don't, I had a good year with two personal bests and time on the water with other BR members.

X2 - I own both and prefer a 30 on M/MH rods and 25 on my L/ML rods.

J45 - I've got day shifts off this week. Great Herring sounds like a possibility. ADD: How's Saudy look Tom? Might be a late season option .... Heading to Long Pond in Plymouth this morning... with any luck I'll bring home dinner...

Don't have an answer ... haven't caught mine yet ?.

No kidding..... It's a lot of fun and challenging to figure out what they're looking for based on 1,000+ variables. Good for you!

I've fished with JG233, Fishing Rhino, and Janderson45. It great opportunity to learn, and sure is better than fishing solo.

Ditto on the Pickerel liking my Rapala Rattle Trap at Halfway with Janderson45. It was good to meet and fish with another member. I scouted/fished Big Sandy in Plymouth yesterday, just to see if I could coax any large/small mouth out of hiding. Water temps were 54.x compared to Halfway's 51.x. I didn't catch any bass, but some nice Rainbows liked my Mepps spinner and jointed Rapala crankbait flavored in small mouth. I had get to work, so I left at 3:00 and dropped the Rainbow off at my in-laws. Tuesday's weather looks fishable. If I'm not working, I'll be somewhere.... Plymouth perhaps?

Mike, you just plain ole catch a lot of bass - everywhere!

Too bad Tom. This might be the last trip of the year. I'm game for Halfway. I've never been there. I have a wheel cart for my kayak. What's the best launch point? Looking at the map I'm guessing by the boggs.

I've never fished Halfway, so I'd be game.

To Fishing Rhino, Janderson45, and anyone not working Tuesday that wants to get out, I'll suggest Long Pond, Great Herring, or the Nip., around 9:00. I can fish until about 3:00 pm then have to get to work. Long Pond has trout, salmon, Larries, and smallies... gives up a good shot at success. I'm just south of Boston and can get to all easily.

Looking at the dark spots on the rocks past the big island I'd say the Nip is down more than 2'. When I passed it on the right yesterday I had to raise my trolling motor all the way up and measured it at a paddle blade deep. Tom, I'd leave the Nitro at home and recon with your canoe. I'm off Tuesday day and the foecast says 60....

Janderson45's late season success got me curious about 'the Nip' so I diverted from my original plan and gave it a whirl. It sure is a BIG, SHALLOW place. It was very windy and appeared significantly lower than normal from the dark lines on rocks I saw. Surface temps were 54.X. I cruised past the big island to see what was to see. I turned back about 100 yards from the farthest shore from the launch because it was so shallow and worked the 3-3.5' areas around the big island where my Lowrance marked skads of fish. I started with a little gold Yozuri square bill I did well with at one of Fishing Rhino's haunts and a Perch flavored Shadow Rap. The Rapala didn't pan out so I switched between my go-to Zoom U-Tail and a white/chartreuse spinner bait. The Yozuri got me a bass, roughly a pound or so on the NW side of the island. I continued, without luck for the rest of the afternoon. I tied on a Mepps spinner to see if I could coax ANYTHING out of hiding. No such luck, but I didn't get SHUT OUT. It looks like a good place to fish. Perhaps I'll give it another shot in the Spring. Hopefully we'll get a lot of rain/snow this winter and water levels will come back up.

I got out to Houghton's Pond and later Blue Hills Reservoir, beating the bank for a bit. Not so much as a whiff at either spot. Houghton's is still way down. One blue gill and a small bass cruised my leg at Houghton's too - I had my waders on. It's going to be cooler tomorrow but I think I'm packing the kayak in the AM and heading south to Plymouth. Haven't decided Long Pond or Great Herring yet.. that'll be an AM decision.

I've fished the Cape only a few times. I'm just south of Boston so it's a hike for me, especially during Summer. I worked on the giant house on Long Pond's western shore, not far from the launch, which is where I got the trout bug. Fishing Rhino turned me onto Great Herring, where I got my 4-3 Smallie PB. I drive a gray 4-dr Tundra w/FF plates and will be on an Ascend 128T. Unless I get called into work I should be there at least one day. Good luck.

Looks like were getting good weather this week. I'm off days the whole week: I'm targeting Long Pond and maybe Great Herring in Plymouth... Good luck to everyone else that gets out this week!

X2 - '16 seems to be a great year for personal bests.

Don't type FLY ROD too loudly .... I fear my next addiction coming on! ?

I catch more bass with 4" Senkos. Yellow Perch around me like 3" green pumpkin.

I too am not done yet. Last year I fished into November and the weather looks like it's holding for me. I'm planning on closing out the season on Long Pond in Plymouth. It's got bass, trout, and salmon, so my odds for success are good. Fishing Rhino and I got out last Wednesday to one of his local haunts. We both did well. Tom worked soft baits and I caught most of my fish on a little yellow/orange Yo-Zuri shallow running square bill. Tom landed big fish at 2-14. Water temps were mid-lower 60s.

X2