DogBone_384

Don’t forget @Glenn, @A-Jay, and @WRB.

I have a drift sock for such things. It slows me down nicely.

I lost a Veritas casting rod with a 1st gen Concept C off my kayak. I went in after it but couldn't catch it. I marked it and went back later with goggles and my FD issue flashlight. The pond is so stained visibility is almost NIL. It was a $300 combo. I almost lost my Kistler KLX w/ Tatula SV TW off my boat, but luckily, my wife was 'right-place-right-time' and caught it. Another 'almost' was this past March. I turned to change setups on my kayak and snagged one I didn't want while swapping. It went into the drink and I went in after it, in 40 degree water. I got the rig, got back on my kayak, pedaled to shore, changed clothes and went back at it. I keep a change of clothes in my truck during winter and ALWAYS wear my PFD.

You'll have plenty of time to fish when you're in your late 50's and retired.... keep at it. I drove over 'the bridge' to Sandwich yesterday. I found some healthy salad and caught one SMB with a 3" Easy Shiner on a drop shot and a yellow perch on a 2.85" dirty perch Beast Coast SloFlow. Both were a little over a pound. I hooked onto something good in the same area, but it got off. I didn't mark much and nobody wanted a treble hook bait. I also saw an otter doing otter things around the south bank. It came within 20 - 30' of my truck while I packed up to go home. Water temps were 43.x, air pressure was 30.2, and the weather was warm and bluebird, especially for the week before Christmas. Overall it was a decent year. I came close, but didn't get anything over five pounds. My big LMB was 4_8 and big SMB was 3_10. I might have to coat-tail @Mr. Aquarium next year. He's pretty good at finding bigger fish.

USPS says my package made it to its destination! Merry Fishmas!

I do most of my own maintenance. Every couple years I send my most used baitcasters to @Delaware Valley Tackle for a full tear down.

Politicians don't fish, do they....🤐

Today’s winning bait was a 4” Senko, sitting still.

Open it, don’t tell us, and thank the sender Christmas day to make it look like you waited!

I threw my waders and one ML spinning rod in my car and drove down to my favorite little kettle in Plymouth. I was lucky enough to find them in short order. I found 5 SMB between 1.5 & 1.75 pounds, with pretty good bellies. There were also beaucoup frye in salad tight to shore. I started with a green Ned, switched to a Rapala jerkbait, then to a 4" Goby colored Senko. The Senko, sitting still, is what they wanted. The bite lasted no more than 20 minutes, then shut off. Today's fish still had a little fight in them, with a couple of them 'just getting out of the water. I'm planning on getting out again tomorrow. Where? That'll be a game time decision.

Do you like to change things up and ‘see what this does’? Is consistency more important? What reel feels best in your hands? I’ve tried almost every major brand reel and can say every brand has a lot to offer above $200. After a lot of mixing & matching I use different brand reels for different situations/conditions. My favorite jerkbait reel is an Abu Garcia, Diawa Tatula SV TW my #1 crankbait reel, and a Curado DC is my most used jig reel. Everything, however, is subjective, sort of the Mustang/Camaro for best pony car argument. Best of luck picking out your reels.

I rotate 3 rods for jerkbaits. 6'9" Kistler KLX, M/MF. Lightest of the 3, nearly identical action to Expride. Most comfortable handle. Made in Texas. 6'10" Shimano Expride A, M/MF. Caught it on sale. Good rod, Handle is OK. No hook holder. Made in China. Retail price is $100+ higher than KLX. 6'8" Kistler Magnesium 2, LMH/MF. Light-medium-heavy has great tip and more backbone for X2 deep jerkbaits. Made in Texas. Best of luck finding your favorite jerkbait rod.

I've left my boat outside, plugged in all winter since I bought it in 2020 and haven't had a problem. I have two Diehard deep cycle and a 'regular' Diehard.

Is you reel still under warranty? If so, get it repaired or swapped out for another. I own Diawa, Shimano, Abu, and Pfleuger reels and have not experienced any bail issues except ME not flipping the bail to cast once in a while. Good luck resolving your problem.

Wallpaper is still sold?

... whatever my wife wants to listen to...

This ^^^^. Secondly, I live in Massachusetts and the nearest mom & pop tackle store with a decent selection is an hour and a half from me.

WOW and a committee meeting wasn't called ... you're definitely NOT from Massachusetts!

I got an email today from Douglas Outdoors, a rod manufacturer in NY, announcing their Christmas sale, "Starting on Tuesday December 10 Buy 1 Rod @ 30% off, 2 or more @ 40% off". I bought three of the ERA series rods and am impressed for their $99 price point. Very nice workmanship and surprisingly sensitive for an 'affordable' rod. Their website doesn't show this sale. I assume you have to get on their email list.

My Expride is an A and has no hook holder. I have a Douglass Outdoors crankbait rod whose hook hanger is at the butt. Is IS a PIA. You grab the front treble hook of any bait if you don’t use hook covers.

The KLX and Helium are similar in weight. KLX's are mod/fast and Heliums are F or XF. You might also consider their jerkbait specific rod. It's 6'10", a light-medium-heavy action, and the Helium's KC9 blank. I've got a couple LMH rods and really like their softer tip and MH-like backbone, which would be better for extra deep jerkbaits. It also has the same 8" handle length. Good luck with your choice.

I drove through Braintree, Holbrook, and Hanover doing errands today. All the ponds I drove by were locked up.

I'm guilty. I watch too much Tactical Bassin' videos and bought one because it's supposed to be the perfect jerkbait rod. My primary jerkbait rod a Kistler 6'9" KLX M/MF. Both have nearly the same action. The KLX is a shade lighter and, to me, a slightly shorter and more comfortable grip. Both are great jerkbait rods. The Kistler is $100 cheaper than the Shimano when you catch it on sale. The KLX is also made in Texas and the Shimano was made in China.

I have an electric percolator from the '60s. To this day it makes the best coffee, period. I'm too cheap to pay $4+ for a cup of black coffee at Starbucks, and Dunkin' Donuts is hot brown water so I use a Keurig most of the time. Luckily I found San Fransisco FOG CHASER. It's a good strong coffee that averages 55 cents a cup. And YES, black is the only way to drink coffee.

I'm making this post to remember the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and brought the US into World War II and all those who gave their lives as a result. I watched and listened to my local news for most of the morning and didn't see or hear a whiff about it. It seems that it's mostly forgotten. I won't forget it. 🇺🇸