DogBone_384

Now THAT'S a Personal Best! Congratulations! Oh yea, take her fishing!

That sounds like fun. I'm planning on selling my 128T kayak (in favor of a Hobie, perhaps), but if nobody buys it I might just figure how to get a trolling motor on it.

Yes, I believe that's the house you're describing. It's a small boat house with a larger one, matching it, just behind. It drops off very quickly there. It takes me roughly 45 minutes to paddle back to the ramp from there too.

Before I hit the water I check my spinning reel handles for tightness, check the drag, and visually inspect all reels to make sure they're up to snuff. I once lost a side cover to a *** because I didn't lock it down after adjusting it. I don't sweat getting reels wet. They're built for it. I'll rinse them off with tap water if I fish salt water, then blow them dry with compressed air. After fishing, I wipe them down with a dry towel. I clean and maintain my spinning reels myself. My baitcasters, when new, go to Mike @ Delaware Valley Tackle for a thorough factory de-mucking, supertune, and any upgrade deemed a good value. After that, I disassemble and clean them myself. All my reels are stored and transported with neoprene covers.

Took the day off and drove down to Great Herring Pond around 0800, hitting the water just after 0900. There were three bass boats there, all working 20-30' off the shores that drop off quickly. I kept it pretty simple: a DT-10 Rapala dressed in Smallie, a 1/8 oz jig head with a 3.5" swim Senko, and a Rapala lipless perch. The DT10 smallie quickly produced a yellow perch, much bigger than what I catch around Boston, by the point, left of the boat ramp. I drifted across the pond and worked to the farthest cove where I caught a couple nice smallies last time I was here. I spoke to a guy on a nice bass boat who lives on the pond and said he'd been catching perch and pickerel, but no bass. He was using a drop shot rig while I was near him. I paddled over to the drop off by the red beach house where I caught my smallies. By this time the wind was strong enough that it was futile to try keeping my kayak still (read: off the beach) so after a half hour or so I made my way back to where I started. After blowing up the biggest bird's next of my life, I switched out to another reel and got back to it, left of the launch. After A LOT more casting practice, I caught my second perch with the jigged swim Senko. I managed one more just before dusk. I'd hoped to catch at couple more bass, but I'll take the perch instead of a GOOSE-EGG. After two trips to Great Herring, I'd have to say it's better on a bass boat than a Kayak. It's a LOT of water to cover and very windy. I sure won't have to do arms tomorrow in the gym. ADD: Water temperature was 49.x all day.

Whooopsie... They still make great gear ....

My cousin came back to MA when he retired from the Marines. He ended up in SC. He loves it down there.

Sounds like a BBQ at a pond that has picnic area with other members too ?!?!?!?!

I'll chime in here regarding the ML Crankin' stick. I bought one in '13 and retired it after only a few trips out with it. It felt too 'whippy' for my taste. It now lives in a rod shipping tube in my shed.

Those perch are bigger than many of the LMB I catch. One more reason not to stay where I am when I retire ! Great looking catches!

There's a replica running around my city.

Total bummer. RIP Rosco.

My 6' 10" ML is a 14 - 1 fishing OBCA610ML, rated for 1/8 - 3/8 oz. I agree with your Tatula assessment, it's more M than ML, but still a piece of artwork for $150. EDIT: Don't know quite what's happening. My rods' manufacturer is being edited out. I've never had this happen when posting my opinion about fishing gear.

I have a Pixy 68R, 6' 10" *** ML, and 7' Tatula ML. I've thrown only small Rapalas & weightless 5" worms with it. Both toss them well, but the *** goes farther and feels a little better with it. I bought the Pixy on eB**, new, for S H O R T cash.... There's my 2 cents. Best of luck with your choice.

Have a great warm season! I'm getting out somewhere Friday, perhaps Great Herring or Long Pond. Best of luck this winter! I'm going to try to go until my baits bounce off the ice.... Happy Thanksgiving & thanks for your help with Great Herring.

I'm very sorry about your son. My brother died at age 26. It was tough on my parents. Prayer & good memories ease the sadness.

Geeze, I forgot those......

Layers are key to staying warm. A good thermal under layer is most important. outer layers that block wind. mittens, or glove/mitten combinations (that's what I use hunting). good wool socks. waterproof boots. Cold feet can ruin your day. did I say layers? Really, just dress the way you did when you were a kid when you went out to play in the winter (if you did such) When I kayak fish this time of year I also keep a full change of clothes in my truck in case I get really wet. My wife uses disposable hot packs in her gloves/mittens. During hunting season I'll carry a Zippo hand warmer too. EDIT: Don't feel like a moron. I was figuring out what I was going to bring with me on Friday when I play hooky from work and go fishing. It's in the 30s here now, but is going to 40-60 Friday... My head was thinking clothing.

Gobble gobble!

...and feels good in your hands...

Congratulations on your jig success! As far as your "nothing of massive size", come on up north and live on 2-3 pounders for a while . Have a great Thanksgiving.

My brother never showed any signs of trouble either. Great post the week before Thanksgiving.

Thanks a million. It's printed & laminated. Since you did it @ work, does your boss fish?

This kind of stuff keeps we northerners (Yanks) busy while we're not fishing... Keep it coming!

One more for the nightly prayer list. It's getting too long these days