DogBone_384

I’m on the coast, just south of Boston. We got 2-3” this year. I used a good ‘ole fashioned snow shovel.

I try to split my budget between reel & rod. I bought BPS Carbonlite & Abu Garica Veritas when I got back into fishing in '14. I've since moved on to Kistler, and get significant discounts when I signed up for his emails. For example, Abu's Veritas Tournament is now $199, made in ???. With VIP pricing, I can get Kistler's Helium rods, made in USA, for $200. Not too high dollar, and not bargain bin. I did the same with reels. Good luck with your choice.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I drove by Houghton's Pond and Blue Hills Reservoir OTW home from Bass Pro this morning and we're just about iced out there. Houghton's was 75% covered and Blue Hills was 50-60%. I'm not very optimistic with the COLD weather we're getting over the next couple days. Hopefully Cape Cod stays open.... CONGRATULATIONS! to @Mr. Aquarium for an awesome first trip out!

The Bait Monkey forced me to BPS today to pick up a couple more utility boxes. I usually only buy Plano because they're USA made. To my surprise, BPS branded utiity boxes are also USA made: they say Plano Manufacturing on them. I picked up what I needed, plus one bag of 10" worms. BPS also went back to 10% military discount. All in all a good trip. I'm a big Kistler fan, and also ordered one of Trey's limited edition 20th Anniversary LTA Helium rods. Not like I need ANOTHER 7' MH rod.... but .... All this, just in time to drive by three ponds OTW home that were iced, or nearly iced over....

I’ve got the Expride. I like it almost as much as my 6’9” KLX (M/MF) for jerkbaits. I find the Kistler more comfortable in my hand. It’s made in TX and was over $100 cheaper than the Expride.

Any popular brand name kayak that’s at least 11’ long and 34-36” wide should be very stable. Like anything, you get what you pay for.

Sounds like a Ford vs. Dodge vs. GM to me ... I have a FeelFree Lure 11.5 and it's absolutely stand up steady.

What kind of action are you looking for? I have a few ML rods: Abu Garcia Veracity 6'10" ML/F (Veritas Tourney is today's version @ $179). Runs a little heavy compared to my other ML rods. It's stiffer than my Kistler, Diawa, and Fenwick. It's very sensitive and it's stiffness makes a great Ned/finesse soft bait rod. I throw small jerkbaits with it too. Kistler KLX (7' ML/MF) & Helium (7' ML/F): Both are very light and have excellent sensitivity. I use the KLX for dropshot and Helium for Ned/small finesse. Their actions are very similar, with the KLX bending a little further down the blank, and are a softer at the tip than my Abu. They're made in Texas. Overall my favorite ML rods. You get better pricing when you sign up for Kistler's emails. Fenwick Elite Bass 6'10" ML/XF: It's very light but doesn't feel like my other XF rods. It doesn't feel very strong by the handle. I've used it for dropshot, but not often. It's not my favorite. All these rods should be in your price range. I'd suggest the Abu then Helium based on what you're looking for. Best of luck picking out a ML rod.

Did GM make you work on the trucks as you designed them?

Don’t blame you. It’s 100 yds for me.

I have my regular South Shore / Cape Cod rotation. I might try to get out to central / western MA. Maybe a week long trip with my boat to NH? We'll see. I should do more striper fishing since I live on a peninsula and can launch my kayak 100 yards from my house.

My wife's fishing license w/ salt endorsement was $51.92.

You have to move closer to the Cape…. I’m 45 minutes from ‘the bridge’ and haven’t been iced out in the last 4 years. It’s worth the drive. What a trip - @Mr. Aquarium and I think alike….

Took the Ranger for it's first '24 outing. Threw the normal winter assortment: jig, 3" paddle tail, T-rigged Swim-Senko, jerkbaits, blade bait, and lipless. I got one hit. That one hit counted. A 3.88 pound, 19 3/4", Larry found its way to my boat deck. The baby bluegill LV500, dragged S L O W L Y down a slope in about 20' of water. I didn't feel any type of hit, the line just got heavy. Water temps were 40.x - 41.x, it was partly cloudy, and westerly winds slowly increased as the day went on. Air pressure was 29.8. So far 2024 is starting off pretty good. Good luck to everyone else getting out there.

January .... check....

Checked off January with three nice smallies out of my favorite Plymouth kettle. They were between 2 - 2 1/2 pounds and had that 'winter wallow' 43 degree water will do to ya. My Lowrance showed them stuck to the bottom in 10 - 12'. I threw the normal assortment: blade bait, lipless, jerkbait, DT10, and various Keitechs. All they wanted was a 2.5" dark green tube dragged about as S L O W L Y as I could. The weather was pretty blue-bird, near calm. Air pressure was 30. A good first trip for '24.

I thought we already had one called BassResource.com!

I've succeeded the last four years. Plymouth/Cape Cod, MA haven't frozen me out. I'm headed out today. Good luck in '24.

I have a five pound claw anchor and Yak Attack anchor trolleys on both sides of my kayaks. Trolleys on each side let me best position my kayak depending on the shore line and wind direction. I also use a drift sock for times when I want to drift down a shoreline. Be patient, fishing from a kayak is 100X better than being stuck on shore.

I say that EVERY YEAR!

That's what I used before I discovered Kistler. They're a a great value for $119.

Happy New Year to everyone in BassResource Nation!

Funny to run into this thread. I just bought my MA sporting license which covers hunting & fishing. With archery stamp & salt water fishing thrown in, ejected $91 from my account….

I think @Saltysmalljaws has his jerkbait hooks in you now … feels good, doesn’t it? Congrats on a nice close to ‘23. I’ll be in your neck of the woods Tuesday in search of my first ‘24 bass. Happy New Year!

7'10" ??? What size crankbaits are you throwing? I use Kistler rods, which weigh in around 3 1/2 - 4 ounces. The three I use the most are a 7'3" KLX MH/MF, a 7'3" Feel 'N Reel (graphite/glass, M/MF), and a 6'9" KLX M/MF (spinning). The biggest crankbaits I throw are 3/4 - 7/8 oz, which my KLX handles perfectly. Kistler rods are made in Texas. If they don't have what you want, they'll build you what you want. If you have any questions, call or email them. Someone will get back to you. I called them to pay a bill and Trey answered the phone. Best of luck searching for a new crankbait rod.