DogBone_384

Send it to Mike @ DVT for a tuning and whatever upgrades he might suggest. He's done great work on nearly all of my reels, Lews included.

Told the boss, er... WIFE, I'm only working one job for September. So today I packed up the kayak and headed to Little Pond in Plymouth for a dawn launch. Got two bass, between a 1 & 1.5 #, right off the bat and zilch-o until 11:00 when I packed it up and headed home. Had some lunch and did laundry until 2:00 when I decided to hit Ponkapog Pond because all my gear was conveniently still in my truck. Traffic was tough, taking an hour to get from Quincy to Ponkie, but it paid off. Caught 4 bass: just under 1 #, 2.29, 3.5, and what I'm calling a personal best of 3.81 # (I never used a scale before this season). I caught the little one on a purple t-rigged Culprit and the three bigger ones on 4" Senkos.

Perhaps I'll try some topwater baits when next I visit Ponkapog. I've got Friday off, so I can fish. Tough thing is deciding where to go....

I use toothpicks, and if I'm fishing from shore I'll find a grass root or alike. The monkey's got be buying too many expensive rods, reels, and 'miracle' baits to add bobber stops anyhow...

Did you call Granby PD to see if anyone turned it in? Also, you might reach more MA members in the Eastern MA fishing reports thread: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/102228-eastern-ma-fishing-reports/ Best of luck finding your bag/wallet.

Got back to Ponkapog around sunrise this morning just in time to see three deer watering. Good to see they still have their Summer coats, I have time to get the rust off my bow. I Started on the west side and worked east, roughly in the middle of the pond. Used 5" Senko, chartreuse spinner bait, and my trusty t-rigged chili-pepper Culprit for the most part. Played with a new Rapala popper for a few, but not for long. I caught a really nice pickerel, probably a couple pounds, but he bit through the braid as I reached for my fish-gripper. My chili-pepper netted me two bass just over a pound each. Struck out with Senkos. By 11:30-ish I got tired of 'weeding' and packed it up. I don't feel bad though, because the Osprey that was fishing 'with' me struck out too. It was something to see, it dove for fish 8 - 10 times.

I generally use 4" Senkos but have been using the 5" lately to shrink my inventory. I have better luck with 4". Add: got to BHR for an hour or so at supper time. Lost a couple on bad hooksets because I rushed and had too short a hook on a 5" Senko. Landed one about 1.5 # on a green/red-flake Berkley double tail grub on a 1/4 oz BPS mushroom jig head.

Got out to Ponkapog for a while today. Got unloaded and down to the water and didn't I leave my paddle at home... A first . Back home I went to get my paddle. Back, WITH paddle, I started by the East lili pads with a Live Target mouse. I managed a 1.5 # bass in short order. Moved over by the rocks and found some holes in the hydrilla and caught three more between a 1.0 & 1.5 #, with one more just under 3 #. All on various 5" Senkos. I lost a good one from a blown knot, but rereading your post it might have been a pickerel biting through my braid. Other than that, there were no signs of pickerels anywhere else. I'm going back Tuesday (Monday too, if possible) to explore further.

Thanks for the tips... I've got a Live Target mouse that should be fun. I'm bringing my kayak for sure on Monday.

Had half a day off so to Houghton's Pond I went with my waders and a 9'6" ML spinning rig (It's really cool to throw a 1/8 lure roughly 50 yards) to try out some new light tackle I picked up at Kittery Trading post recently. Caught only two small bass and a small pickerel, but using lighter tackle made them feel bigger than they were. Got bored and hungry so down the street to Dunkies to grab a snack and ice coffee. While eating, it dawned on me I was near Ponkapog pond, a place I never fished. I found my way to Ponkapog and tossed a 5" Senko into the MANY weeds, and just a couple casts later a little bass decided he could eat that 5" Senko. I moved over and tossed that Senko next to some lily pads and caught another bass, around a pound. Ok, not bad for a first trip.... Putting a fresh Senko on, I caught a really ticked off bass, about 2 pounds, near where I caught the second one. I think #3 was ticked because I might have hit him on the head with that Senko, from the way he hit it as soon as it landed in the water. I met a local resident walking the dirt path that circles the pond on my way out who was nice enough to point me in the direction of the car-top boat ramp. Looks like I know where I'll be on Monday, and maybe Tuesday, if I don't scare up some extra work. Ponkapog looks like a very interesting place to learn. I plan on using topwater lures to start, it looks very shallow. Have a great weekend everyone...

Welcome to the forum. You'll find great people and a wealth of knowledge and experience here that's shared willingly.

I've accidentally caught rainbow trout while fishing for bass... If you have a ML or L spinning rod I'd bet you can toss trout lures just fine.

I keep an Ardito in my truck for those 'ooohhh loookie, water...' moments. It's not as sensitive as my *** or Abu Villain, but handles about everything I've used it for quite well. Seanzky's right, it feels like a 1 piece rod. It's typical Diawa fit/finish/quality: well worth it.

Will do. Might get out for a little while in the morning before work.

They only made enough for employees; they're going to stash them for 15 years and resell them on an auction site for a lot of money... That, or they're just out of stock, delayed in shipping, or a combination of thereof. I worked for Alpine Electronics of America for a number of years and ran into product delivery delays occasionally. Consumers weren't always happy, but there was always a good reason for it. I'd sit tight for a bit, or drop Pflueger an email asking about that model's status. Edit: NationalProStaff.com has it listed as a '16 model.

Anyone use a Carolina rig around here with any success? Looking to give it a whirl next couple times out... Which is hopefully SOON!

I own a pile of Rapala DTs, X-Raps, etc., etc., and have never had any bills break. I don't use them a ton either.

I noticed the delete option is gone too.

I feel for you Br1an. Best you can do is take Grampa's advice and move on. We just had our Jeep broken into in NH, 100 yards from the Lincoln Police station. Someone unzipped a window and took a rod and tackle bag. The bag had 2 T3 Ballistics in it. Stinks, but being angry about it stinks more, so I brush it off and keep truckin'. Don't take bad mojo with you to the lake... Won't catch squat. Save up some dough & get another rod when you can. If you're in a jam for a baitcast rig, I might have something in the garage you could use until you save enough money to replace your St. Coix.

Did you use it as bait? I hear they make great topwater lures.

Agreed, even if the Sox are in last place....

They cast very well too. I own Both A & Cs. They feel very similar to my Cores with the release bar sitting lower on the body.

Massrob & FinCulture about sum it up for my Summer. Didn't fish as much this year as last. Caught bigger fish and fewer numbers. Found my bite starting much later, likely because of the late winter. Looking for a good Fall season.

X2.

Snow blower gets fresh oil, Seafoam in all gas tanks, cover and battery-tend motorcycle, sight shotgun for deer season, keep fishing until water temps get too low.... Maybe head to NH in search of some Smallies or a PB. Get ready for ski season too... I don't have a stove/fireplace, and furnace is ready to go. Sounds like a plan.