DogBone_384

I'm half a block from the ocean but have water view .... my taxes are $700+ per month. Congratulations! So when are we all coming over to have a 'barn raising'?

The picks can wait.

I drove by Ponkapoag & Blue Hills reservoir while doing errands. Ponkie was WIDE open and BHR had some ice along the Western bank, but was 80% open otherwise.

Nearly every time I fish a certain lake on Cape Cod. @Mr. Aquarium and @Saltysmalljawsknow exactly where I'm talking about. A couple days later I fish another water, catch a couple decent fish, and am interested again. In all seriousness though, yes, I lose interest in fishing. It's usually the late winter transition when it's the least fun for me. I regain my interest when the water temps get close to 50 degrees.

Sleep !?!?!?! I've always worked more than one job and am a Firefighter ... I'll sleep when I'm dead.... One of my cats wakes me up @ 0430 every morning .... unless I'm already up.

Drove over 'the bridge' to Sandwich in search of bass. I may as well have left my Lowrance off - I had 'clear screen' while shallow, deep, and everything in between. My blade bait, jig, small Keitech, swim Senko, and Tactical DD crank proved useless. Late in the afternoon I managed two picks, 3.64 and 2.24 respectively, while dragging an American Shad LV500 up a hill in about 20'. Water temps were 37.9, air pressure was 29.8. It was overcast and winds were about 10 mph from the west. @ne_dan - a 4.6# bass came out of the water?!?!?!? And you were in Massachusetts !?!?!?!?. Congrats!

@Mr. Aquarium and I tried to take advantage of yesterday's good weather. All the waters we drove buy were skimmed over until I got to south Plymouth, almost to the Sagamore Bridge.... Mike met me at the ramp and we did our best until the cold and 12mph wind froze us to the bone... Our few marks were stuck to the bottom in 20-25'. We threw the 'normal' winter assortment. There were two other boats fishing too. Water temps were 27.x - 38.x and air pressure was 29.7. Needless to say we came up empty. It was 15 degrees warmer than Plymouth when I got home... welcome to New England!

I dress in layers and always wear my PFD. I keep a change of clothes in my truck and fish smaller waters. As far as going in, I went in last March to grab one of my rods that slipped from my hands while switching it for another. Water temps were about 40 degrees. It wasn't a problem. I swam myself and kayak a short distance to the shallows, hopped back in and pedaled back to my truck to warm up and dry off. As far as conforming to this chart, no, I don't. I'm not going to buy a dry suit for the few times a winter I fish. It is the same information we're taught in my Fire Department. All our apparatus have cold water rescue equipment.

I have a few Abu Veritas two piece rods I bought almost 10 years ago that I still use once in a while. I've never had a problem.

I checked off February this afternoon with a nice 2_4 SMB, on a gold tail-spin at my favorite Plymouth kettle hole. I also threw a T-rigged swim Senko, black/blue jig, V110jr+1, small & large Keitech, and a Damiki blade bait. Water temps were 38.x. It was cloudy, with little wind, and an air pressure of 29.8.

I’d like to say I’m gonna fish jigs (bladed & regular) more this year, for which I have little confidence in. I say it every year but don’t follow through with it. As long as I stay away from YouTube, I’ll do it.

I have a 54 aH Lithium battery in a Pelican box with a quick-disconnect that's kept in the hull storage. I use GXL automotive wire from the battery to my USB ports and Lowrance. I don't have any lights. The harness is wrapped in the same cloth tape European cars use to wrap theirs. The harness is secured to the hull with 3M cable tie mounts. I pedal FeelFree kayaks and haven't sprung for their electric motor option.... yet.

I try to fish like @Fishing Rhino, @Saltysmalljaws, and @Mr. Aquarium, but never seem to figure out how to get beyond my current ability.

I've tried it a couple times with a Rapala Jigging Rap, but not a 'regular' jig. I've only gone ice fishing a few times and am still waiting for my first catch. I went to Sandwich with the Ranger again today, hoping to make up for yesterday.... NOPE. Even though the forecast said high 30s - low 40s, the wind and cloud cover was enough to freeze me out in less than two hours. My layers and Milwaukee heated jacket just didn't do it. My hands were numb after an hour and my gloves turned out useless. I marked a few fish on bottom in the 25 - 30' range where there was some leftover grass. Water temps were 37.7 today. Air pressure was 30.2.

I think I saw Bill Dance video showing this. I tried it once, but didn't work. This is best I could do:

Took the Ranger 'over the bridge' yesterday and fished in Sandwich. I could never get any groove going, didn't mark much more than some perch and the odd blip on the bottom, and lost interest after just a couple hours. My first goose-egg this year. Water temps were 37 degrees.

I've switched most of my rods to Kistler over the last few years. My go to rods are Heliums in MH/F and HMH/F. They're light, very sensitive, and made in Texas. To me, they just feel right in my hand, but because there are a number of great rods in your budget, I'd suggest handling as many rods you're interested in as possible. Best of luck picking out your next jig rod.

It's sitting at the Post Office, right along with Sears' Christmas Catalog ...

Got my email ... going to resist as long as I can ... especially since I really don't need anything.

Can any of you NH boys tell me what water temps are in the 1st/2nd week of May up there? I want to fish Squam lake around that time. Thanks for your help.

Can any of you NH boys tell me what water temps are in the 1st/2nd week of May up there? I want to fish Squam lake around that time. Thanks for your help.

Can any of you NH boys tell me what water temps are in the 1st/2nd week of May up there? I want to fish Squam lake around that time. Thanks for your help.

I'll go fishing in temperatures in the mid 20's, as long as it's not too windy. I've broken skim ice to get my kayak to open water. I have a Milwaulkee heated jacket that helps with the cold. As far as cold weather baits. Small soft plastics worked as S L O W L Y as you can stand. Blade baits/lipless crankbaits. Jerkbaits with long pauses between twiches. You can play with cadence to find out what the fish want. Crankbaits with a tight wobble. Play stop & go with it and vary your retrieve speed.

My #1 for '23 was my 6'9" Kistler KLX with a 7.9:1 Abu Revo-MGX on top, with a perch Berkeley Stunna 112+1 tied on with #10 fluorocarbon on it. Spooled up, my jerk bait rig weighs in at 10.7 oz.