DogBone_384

100% correct. I fish the Cape from September to April. Don’t be. Cape Cod grows big panfish.

Got out locally for a short trip. Took a goose-egg. Water temps were 84.x That's 4.

Got out locally this afternoon for a quick trip. Took a goose-egg, but this trip was more to see if I fixed the leak in my kayak. I believe I did. Water temps were 84.x.

I've been sending @Delaware Valley Tackle my reels for better than ten years now. Always a great job.

Yes. If you have a TM, I say go fishing. Anything with a TM has to be registered in MA. It's no big deal to get it done. I doubt anyone will notice.

Kistler Magnesium TS.

I've always used Lowrance. I find their GUI easy to use. A friend has Garmin on his boat. Garmin screens are much better than any Lowrance I own. @Fishing Rhino has Hummingbird on his Nitro, which I now pilot for him when we go out. I find the Hummingbird's menus difficult to maneuver through.

Happy hatch-day!

I had some yesterday.

Hello, and welcome Steve.

That's a tough one. I own beaucoup reels that could make the list. I'd have to say my 7.3:1 1st generation 13 Fishing Concept C. This 13's been a workhorse and just plain old rips.

No. Kistler's Helium line is as high end as I'll get.

15 pounds .... for me, that's 7 or 8 bass. So YES, I could land a 15 pounder.

It's tough to stick with one bait when the fish aren't active, keeping the attitude of 'this isn't working, switch to something else'. Yesterday was tough because the guy I talked to while leaving said his 6# came on a bladed jig. Using one bait forces me to change my retrieve and pay close attention. The fish wanted the jig moving yesterday. All three hit it hard and had plenty of fight in them.

I do it while pedaling across ponds to my starting point. It works well.

I continued with my one lure challenge today, hitting 3 ponds close to home. #1 was a first timer. It was 4' deep at max and coffee/chocolate milk colored. Needless to say I goose-egged. I also didn't stay longer than I needed to. I did OK at #2, with two Larries, one 2_12 and the other one 2_0. I hooked onto a decent bass at #3, but it didn't make the kayak. I called today a win until I got to the ramp at #3 and asked the guy coming off at the same time "DID YOU WIN?" .... He told me he did and that his best 5 was over 21 pounds. He had pictures to prove it. I know there are good fish at #3, but that bag was beyond belief for eastern MA. Congratulations to him! Water temps at all three ponds was 80.x - 81.x. I think I'm putting my side scan transducer on my kayak for tomorrow and heading back to 'door #3'.

Hit 3 ponds with my one jig today. I thought I did OK, with a few quality bass, right until I asked a guy coming off pond #3 with me, HOW'd YOU DO? His top 5 was over 21 pounds. He had pictures to prove it. I'm in SE Massachusetts. A top 5 over 20 is a grand slam kind of day around here. 8 more trips with my one jig... I'm getting out tomorrow.

Mono or copoly. 10/12# for baitcasters. 8# for spinning.

Yes. @Fishing Rhino recommended productive 'starter' baits when I got back into fishing around 2012. @Saltysmalljaws got me into Vision 110's a few years ago when I got the jerkbait 'bug'. The only thing @Mr. Aquarium convinced me to buy was a beer - FOR HIM.

Is this a Ford, Chevy, Dodge question or what .... I use Kistler rods most of the time. I have no comment but have two questions: Do you prefer moderate or moderate/fast action for topwater? How important is the rod's 'feel' to you?

MAN ..... another year Ponkapoag, in Canton, didn't make it .... bummer.

Sounds normal to me... I often do the same, including buying baits 'just to see if they work'. Consider it trial and error. If your memory is good, or if you keep a detailed log, switching baits builds your this-works-when database.

I'm a Kistler fan. I'd pick a 7' or 7'3" MH/F or HMH/F. Helium, Z-Bone, or Abrams, his newest line that uses blanks manufactured in TX. I own Heliums in both MH/F and HMH/F. The HMH has heavy backbone and a really nice tip. It's my preferred rod for thick cover. They're hand made in TX and Trey's customer service is exceptional. They just repaired an older KLX for me and the only way you can tell is one guide is shinier than the rest of them. After Kistler, I'd recommend Douglas' X-Matrix rods. I bought their 7'4" MH/F at a fishing show this year and am impressed. It's very stout for a MH rod, but the tip is awesome. I use it for heavy cover and 1/2+ oz jigs. It's not made in the US, and is a little heavier than the Kistler rods I own. Good luck picking out a rod.

This ^^^^^^^^

Yes. @Fishing Rhino taught me a lot when I got back into fishing in 2013. I try to fish with @Saltysmalljaws and @Mr. Aquarium at least once or twice a year. I bumped into @Don51 once in Plymouth. I believe I bumped into @BigEyedF11sh once at a Plymouth pond that has ZERO fish in it.