DogBone_384

Mine's got to be a Core 100MG sitting on top of an 7'1" M/M Abu Garcia Villian. Just under $530.

I think it's a great way to rationalize my lack of success over the last couple of weeks which I've been out much more than I normally can.

I'd say for someone on a tight budget that doesn't have a BPS, Cabelas, etc. near them who wants to get into bait casting it'd be more than fine. I started with a M/F Ugly Stick & BPS Tourney Special for not much more dough. My favorite setup is, at the moment, my 7' M/M Abu Veritas & Shimano Core, showing that an inexpensive set can lead to much bigger & better things ...

Does the New England Aquarium count?

I've spent enough money over the past couple seasons, but I understand your dilemma, and will likely end up buying more stuff I 'need' - and like my previous post says - read this forum until I get 'that look' Until then there's still time to fish ... Best of luck building rods -

I'm in New England so I ski when I can, work two jobs, and read Bassresource - unless I get 'that look' from my wife.

A Gerber multi tool (their 600 series & up are still made in USA) a pair of Cabelas' pliers, Snap-On wire cutters, and a Streamlight (also made in USA) flashlight. I also have a red plastic gut hoot remover, but I've never used it (I don't catch that many fish?!?!?!)

I've never used square bills, so I've got to ask: rattle, or no rattle?

Firstly, not big enough is my gut answer. Since I'm just outside Boston, MA and work two jobs, by time fishing is limited. One pound or so is the average, once in a while I'll catch one over two.

I usually don't listen to music while I fish. Today, however, was different. Howard Stern interviewed Neil Young today, so I HAD to tune into that one.

Dropped my daughter @ school & beat feet to Billington Sea in Plymouth. 5 hours on the Eastern side proved fruitless, not so much as a bite. Worked depths between 5 & 12' throwing bass & perch flavored Rapalas as well a chartreuse chatter bait. Played with different retrieves, but nada. Moved over to Little Pond, about a 1/4 mile away, where I had a decent Summer with soft baits. Again with the Rapalas, but switched the chartreuse chatter bait to a darker color. Two more hours of practice, but no takers. My first Fall with the kayak seems to be an ongoing learning experience....

Got over to BHR after the Pat's game today. Caught two bass, about a pound or so, so not bad. The first on my 'ususal' T-rigged gourd green Zoom, and the second one bit into a yellow perch flavored Rapala. My chartreuse chatter bait didn't do much for me tonight but cruise the bottom.

If you have a BPS, Cabela's, or Gander Mtn., near you, take a ride to the store and handle the rods in your price range yourself. Whichever one 'feels' best to you is likely the best one for your needs. Specs can get you in the ball park of what you want, but overall I'd say rod performance is very subjective. Good luck with your purchase!

Had no work booked so I got out to Whitman's Pond on Thursday, early afternoon. The wind was blowing hard enough that my 3.5# anchor wasn't doing squat. I did my best for a couple hours, and without a strike, paddled my way back to the boat ramp and packed it in. I drove to Billington Sea Friday morning because I've been told it's good fishing. Found the boat ramp in Morton Park and hit the water around 8:30. Since it was my first time there, I, from a distance, shadowed two guys on their bass boat. Without so much as a strike, I packed it in around 2:00. The two guys in the bass boat didn't seem to be catching anything either. Though a total loss, fish wise, I made a bunch of mental notes about the place and plan on getting back there again. Both days I used chartreuse and shad colored spinner baits, perch and bass 'flavored' Rapalas, and as a last resort, T-Rigged & Wacky rigged Senkos. When talking to my neighbor who fishes a lot more than I do, he said he'd had a tough couple of days but added his belief of 'wind from the East, fish bite least' - who knows. These two days, plus my previous trip to Wampatuck shared clear skies, air and water temperatures in the low 60s. The one thing I noticed in Wampatuck and Billington Sea was that the water was pretty stained/stirred up, which might have factored into lack of bites. This is my first Fall fishing from a kayak, so I'll just chalk my being skunked all week as just a learning experience.....

I thought North Shore, but wasn't sure. I'm in Hough's Neck, Quincy. Boston looks reversed from down here....

If your A-Plan is the same as my city's pension plan where you get less per month when you retire but those benefits carry until your wife's death in the event that you go first, then yes, that would limit my choice, but I have 16 years left before I retire.... But then-again, I keep vehicles until they need to be replaced. No less than 10 years for cars/trucks, and I still have the '95 Suzuki sport bike I bought new and won't stop riding until it quits.

X2

X2 - we gave 2 cats that 'pay their rent' almost daily by hunting in the marsh across the street. Some days they'll leave 3 or 4 mice dead on our patio, with the occasional garden snake, or bird. Have never had a mouse in the house, or the shed.

I can't say for sure that 4" catch bigger bass in the waters I fish, but I know I catch more bass with 4" Senkos than 5".

Where's 'after work' and which side of Boston is that in your profile photo?

I don't believe the newest Tundras are 3/4 ton, ands I know my '06 isn't, but I've overloaded it with stone, tools, everything else time & time again without any problems.

Toyota: my wife & I owned three Toyota trucks since 1999, giving us a combined 26 years and 400+ K miles without anything more than gas, oil, tires, and brakes. The 3rd one, a 2006 Tundra is just getting started with 118K on it.

X2

I've tried it unweighted a few times, just to see the difference.

I stumbled upon this post today because I had some time off this week and launched my Kayak in three different ponds that are known to be good fishing holes. One in Hingham, Weymouth, and Plymouth, MA. The weather was sunny, 60ish with corresponding water temperatures. I was on the water from roughly 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM each day and struck out all three days - not so much as a strike. While talking to my neighbor, who's an avid fisherman, about my crushing defeat, he told me he'd had no luck the past couple of days too, which is where I got this saying from. I'm by far a great fisherman, but it is rare that I get skunked as badly as this week, and hear supporting stories from a guy who's a much better and more experienced angler than myself, lends some credibility to the windy tale.