DogBone_384

I've not gone down the swimbait rabbit hole yet (2026?). The family of Vision 110's is the most expensive bait I've purchased.

I went looking for @Mr. Aquarium 's open water. I found some, but it wasn't his spot. I spent an hour hitting the accessible areas, but came up empty. I drove around to other South Shore ponds. They were locked up. Think moving water for anything open around here. @TheSwearingAngler - you're a south shore boy, I'll bet you can figure out where to go.

I make no such promises to myself or my wife. This year's New England Fishing Expo was VERY expensive. I wish I had that much discipline!

I'm putting an APB out on @Mr. Aquarium . He found open water south of Boston! I'll let him report later, but I had to at least let the membership know the season's here.

Yes, it happens. Take a break, reset, and get back at it when it feels right again. It applies to most hobbies.

I use a grappling anchor with trolleys on both sides of my kayaks. I also have a drift sock. I also pedal to keep in place. I take my boat if it's going to be really windy.

He is "The Mustache".

I have a P30 and P30SK. I’m a wheel gun enthusiast but I figured a couple of 9mm’s would be good to have.

We're still locked out up here in New England but we're getting some warmer weather. Soon enough, soon enough. NO! NOT SOON ENOUGH! ☹️

First, get used to operating a boat if it's new to you. I'd focus on this for at least the first few trips. As far as getting used to fishing from a boat and building confidence, it's time on the water, time on the water, and more time on the water. Keep your gear simple and don't overthink it. Start with what you're already confident with. Good luck with your new adventure.

I just read the Mashpee ramp's closed until late May for construction/improvement. Details to follow.

03 March and today's high was 20-ish degrees. Yep, it's still winter around Boston. It's supposed to be above freezing and rainy this week. It's been a long winter here. I hope Cape Cod opens up soon. I'll be in Dennis Port in three weeks.

I own all three lines. My ERA comments are above. I own three LRS rods: one casting (LRS-795F) and two spinning (LRS-704F, LRS-724XF). The LRS casting rod is a swimbait rod that's rated 2 - 7 oz. to compliment my Dobyns Fury (FR795 SB). I've not fished it yet but to me it's got a nicer tip than the Dobyns and, was show priced @ 20% off. The 704F is listed as fast, but compared to my other 7' M/F rods, it's much softer in the mid section and doesn't have the backbone I want to set a hook on a soft plastic bait. I use it as a crankbait rod, for which it excels. It feels a lot like older Abu Veritas Winch rods I owned. It might make a good wacky Senko rod, but I have Kistlers that serve that puropose much better. The 724XF turned out to be my drop shot rod. It has good backbone for a medium rod, and the tip is just whippy enough to telegraph what the bait's doing. Being 7'2", I can spool the Ballistic spinning reel that sits under it with a 1/4 oz. drop shot weight. My first X-Matrix (DXS-745F) rod is my heavy jig rod. It a 'heavy' medium heavy but has what I'd call a perfect tip for 1/2 & 3/4 oz jigs and fishing some of the salad I have up here. It's comparable to my Kistler Helium heavy/medium-heavy rod but has a little more backbone. The second X-Matrix (DXS-7104F) is a 7'10" M/F spinning rod I got 'sold' by the Douglas rep at this year's New England Expo. It was 60% off, so I figured I'd try it. Sean pitched it as a drop shot rod, but at 7'10", and handling it a bit when I got home, I'm not quite sure what I'll use it for. Once we're thawed out here in New England, I might use it to cover water with finesse swimbaits and other small plastics. Overall, the Douglas rods I own are very well built. Kistler gets the advantage for overall quality. The ERA line is well worth their $99 retail. The LRS line is a little soft tipped for my taste. But for $229 - 269, with a limited lifetime warranty, I'd say they're comparable with most other manufacturers in their price points. The X-Matrix line is a nice step up over the ERA and LRS lines, and has an action more comparable to the Kistlers I own. I get special pricing through Kistler because I signed up for his emails, have bought quite a few rods over the years, and because Kistler KLX and Heliums are made here in the US, I'll pick them over the $300+ X-Matrix line. Like any other fishing rod, I'll always recommend handling them if possible. I believe how a rod feels in one's hands is very subjective. Sort of the Ford & Chevy thing ....

Firstly, welcome to BassResource. You'll like it here. I bought a couple Douglas Outdoors ERA series rods on a friend's recommendation. They fish well above their $99 price point. They're very light, have cork handles, and fit a 'universal' rod application. I fish mostly Kistler rods but own Diawa, Shimano, Abu, Loomis, etc.. @Eric 26 is also spot on with 13 Fishing's offerings. I have a couple 1st gen Omens that were $99 at the time. They're very light and have a little stiffer action than my Abus or Douglas rods. I recommend getting your hands on whatever you're interested in before you buy. Douglas' rods have a little softer action than the other brands I own. Best of luck picking out your new rod.

I'd pick something pretty soft. I switch between a 7' Tatula (ML/R), 6'9" G. Loomis (GL2 811 SBR), and Douglas 7' M/M (ERA C704M). The Loomis gets the most use. Douglas' ERA series fishes well above its $99 price point.

The Custom Pro casts like a dream and is light as a feather. Lews' braking system seems to have more adjustment than the SLX. Otherwise, they're both fantastic reels. Going by price point alone, I'd pick the Shimano every day, unless you can get the Lews on sale. $300 is a little steep for me.

I use a Bubba scale on my boat. I had a couple Rapalas but they aren’t very water resistant. I keep a Kastking with my kayak which has been reliable and very water resistant,

I use an FG knot for my bait casters and my spinning rigs that don't have Super Slick braid on them. Super Slick is the only line I can't get an FG knot to stick. I use a double-uni for that application.

I'm getting so itchy to go fishing my cats offered me their flea medicine. @Saltysmalljaws - keep doing your ice out dance down the Cape!

I treat my boat/kayak/fishing gear like my cars and tools. I use them as designed and take good care of them. I drive a '17 Tundra, a '68 GS400 convertible, and a '07 BMW K1200S motorcycle. Most of my tools are Snap-On.

You guys have open water down there?

Welcome to BassResource.

Welcome to BassResource.

AMEN to that. My kayak stays in my truck most of the year.

You'll fit right in then!