DogBone_384

That's more than I paid for my first house....

Tell that to the bass.

I stayed away from soft plastics as much as I could this year and focused on treble hooks.

I fished jerk and crank baits a lot more this year with some pretty good results. My best performing treble hook lure was a perch Stunna 112+1, which netted me a good handful of smallies over four pounds, which is very good for my ability.

Made my last trip (!?!?!?!?!) for 2023 today, launching in Sandwich around noon-o'clock and fished until dusk. I threw the kitchen sink: jerkbait, lipless, blade, jig, Ned, and a couple different Keitechs. My Lowrance's screen was blank everywhere except for 25-30' where I managed a solitary white perch on a 2.8" Keitech. Water temps were hanging in there at 44.x. It was overcast with some drizzle and just a breeze from the SW. Air pressure was 29.6, a big drop from 2 days ago. Happy New Year and good luck to the rest of you if you're getting out...

That's why you're Mr. Aquarium!

I bought one from Austin Kayak, made in the USA, but they're gone now. I've used it on my trolleys too. I fished my favorite deep pond in Plymouth today. Caught a tank of a pickerel (4-1) with a Walleye colored jointed Rapala Shad Rap deep in short order. I spent the rest of the day throwing a blade bait, Ned, Senko, paddle tail swimbaits, and lipless cranks, but that was all I could get. I marked fish on the bottom, deep, in 30+', but couldn't get any takers. There were two other plastic boats there today, which is a lot, and I talked to one guy as I was leaving. He caught 5 LMB, 2 SMB, and a pick. We fished in similar areas with similar baits. I guess it was his day and not mine. Water temps were 45.x. It was overcast and calm. Air pressure was 30.1. The trip's highlights were the bald eagle and loon I saw. I know I shouldn't bawk at a four pound pickerel, but I hoped for some good bass. Another day.

The pond I fished yesterday was fogged in by late afternoon too. I used my Lowrance's map to get to my last couple spots. My truck is inferno orange, so it's pretty visible. Lastly, how'd you do? We're still doing pretty good in eastern MA.

Even though I have a pedal drive kayak, I sometimes use a 7 pound claw anchor or a drift sock when I want to work windy areas. I fished in Sandwich this afternoon and came up with a bunch of yellow perch, three of which were over a pound. A blade bait and 2.8" Keitech on an under-spin did the trick. Water temps were 44.x and air pressure was 30.2. It was overcast and near calm. I'm gonna get out somewhere tomorrow too. Haven't decided boat or kayak yet, but it'll be in smallmouth country (Plymouth/Cape Cod). Good luck @MassYak85

Merry Christmas to all & your families!

I don't use one brand of mono. I used Suffix Advance mono this year because it was on sale. It worked well for me. I use mono as a leader because it doesn't dull sensitivity enough for me to notice. It's also cheap compared to fluorocarbon line and serves as a shock absorber if I'm throwing treble hooks.

I use diluted Simple Green on the rods & Magic Eraser on cork handles. And WD-40 fixes EVERYTHING!

Women are tougher than men, bottom line. I also make sure boss-lady gets coffee in bed every day (I'm up before her) and that we go to Disney before tax season every year ... AND fresh flowers once in a while during the winter when our garden's dead. Lastly: 'shut up, show up, and pay up' works too.

I got out 132 times this season, and I'm probably not done yet. I target smallmouth bass most of the time, but take what I can get. I fish freshwater 90% of the time even though I live on a peninsula, 1/2 a block from the ocean where I can launch my kayak.

25 years, poor lady...

Blade bait, jerkbait, and small Keitechs.

Congratulations! Enjoy it.

NP inviting yourself. The more the merrier! And no matter where in MA you are, it's east of NY, so anything goes.

Yesterday's weather was too nice to sit home. I had the choice of taking my '68 GS400 convertible for a ride or go fishing ... I threw the kayak in my truck and drove to Sandwich. I caught a pile of yellow perch straight away in about 20' with a Holo Flash Gill flavored Damiki blade bait. One yellow perch, and one white perch were just a shade under 2 pounds each. Likely a PB for both. Later in the afternoon I nabbed a 3 pound Larry by dragging a Tennessee Shad 4" paddle tail Yamamoto Zako along the bottom in 10'. Everyone had FAT bellies... they're feeding up big for winter. Not a bad day. It was overcast with winds 12-15 mph from the east. Water temps were 44.x and air pressure was 30.3.

I'll take anything when bass aren't playing nice. I fish one pond where yellow perch rival a lot of the smallies I catch and a couple other ponds that have 3 & 4 pound chain pickerel.

If you ever vacation in the NE, I live near Cape Cod and always have room on by Ranger. While not quite the waters @A-Jay fishes, I've caught 5, high-4, and high-3 pound smallies this Summer/fall.

I caught a number of bass very close to five pounds this season, so breaking that mark is top of the list for 2024. Beyond that, leaving my confidence baits home and focusing on those I consider my weaknesses, are my goals.

I hope not to have a dog in this park again this year. Cape Cod is an hour from me and hasn't frozen over the last few years. Best of luck to the membership that gets locked out by ice.

Did you try a different browser?

It ain’t over yet … like @Mr. Aquarium said, come down & fish with us if you can fit it in your schedule. I’ve been trying this for a few years. I’m thinking of camping in Nickerson State Park. There are five good ponds right there.