DogBone_384

I fished Snake and Buck’s Pond yesterday. I caught 1 pick, 1 SMB, and one fat YP at Snake. All three were caught on a 1/4 oz Damiki blade bait. Winds were tough most of the morning. I didn’t really mark much. Buck’s coughed up four small LMB. Three came on a green pumpkin/chartreuse Ned and the fourth on a perch jerkbait whose mfg. I don’t remember. Water temps at both ponds was 50.x - 51.x and air pressure was 29.6. I achieved my goal of catching fish in open water every month of the year, but overall, I’ll give 2020 a C-. I broke 3 pounds in May, and had one over 2 1/2 in August, but overall couldn’t break 2 pounds the rest of the year. My first Summer owning a bass boat didn’t turn out to be as much fun as I thought. Like everything, it’ll just take time and patience (!?!?!?!?) to get out of my comfort zone (kayak/small waters), learn the new electronics and how to efficiently fish big waters. A big thanks to SaltySmallJaws and Mr. Aquarium for their help this year. I can’t say I’m done for ‘20, but if it is, JANUARY isn’t far away.

Funny you say this. Years ago I was in Nashville for a consumer electronics show and it snowed 2-3”. Nashville was shut down, but those of us from the NE were the only ones out and about. As long as I can get open water, I’m in!

Happy Thanksgiving Derek! I broke out the waders for the first time in forever and went to Hedges. I was there just a short time and got called into work. Luckily a small SMB ate a green pumpkin/chartreuse Ned I let sit on a drop off. The little fella still had some fight in it... There were plenty of bait fish in the dead grass along the shore. It AIN’T over yet!

I got an email from Tackle Supply Depot. They’re having a 15% off almost everything. Good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving to the membership and their families! Thanks to Glenn for such a family oriented forum.

Bummer. They won't let me on with my Ranger... Hope you did well there this year.

Hind-sight is always 20/20, but would I have done anything differently in 2020? That's a tough one. If I had to decide today, I would not have bought my Ranger this Summer and have stuck with kayak fishing in smaller waters. Compared to '18 & '19, my September 'till now is almost embarrassing. Since it's just about Thanksgiving, I'm parking the Ranger until Spring and reevaluating it. My goal for '21 is to sell off inventory and go back to basics.

Wasn't the Quabbin closed this year? Was that just rentals?

I fished a lake on Cape Cod yesterday. It didn't go well for me, but two guys fishing from shore at the launch landed 3 SMB, all around 4 pounds, in the time it took me to walk back to my truck and back down the ramp. Water temps were 55.x. I'm parking the boat for the season and sticking to small waters with my kayak until it freezes.

Tried Mash/Wake this morning. Day started bad and spiraled downward from there. Packed it up less than 2 hours in. Two guys were fishing from shore as I pulled up. One caught a 3-9 SMB as I walked up to my truck. He and his cousin doubled SMB about as big as the first one as I backed down the launch. Water temps were 55.x Congrats to Mr. Aquarium on a good trip.

My #1 jig/worm rod is their KLX 7' MH/F. I own Magnesiums to Heliums. They're made here and just 'feel right' to me.

Kistler's having another sale: https://kistlerrods.com/pages/deals Kistler's getting into reels too... ?

Live bait’s not fishing... it’s waiting... ?

I forgot to add that aluminum paddles will get cold. Something to consider if you live in a cold climate.

Don't kid yourself... that's $10 towards other fishing gear!

Yes he was...

You want a stiff, and as light as your budget allows, paddle. I started with a BPS brand and upgraded to a Cannon fiberglass when I bought my first Lure 11.5. The stiffer the paddle, the less energy is lost while paddling, making for a better overall experience.

This. I prefer KLX's myself, but of the dozen or so Kistlers I own, there's not one I can complain about. Check Kistler’s site. Their sale might still be active.

It still is. A coworker lives close by and does very well there. I pulled up some dead vegetation, but not much.

Fished Lower Chandler pond for the first time. Decent little pond. It's shallow, has a lot of points, docks, and downed timber. Four LMB, one pound each, made it to the kayak. One came on a Yoga Pants Ned and the other three on a weightless green/red flake Zoom Super Fluke. All baits were still when inhaled. Chatterbaits, jerkbaits, flat cranks, and square bills of various colors couldn't buy a strike. Water temps were 55.x, winds were about 10 mph from the West, and air pressure was 30.2. Looks like it's time to S L O W down. If I'm lucky, I'll get after some SMB tomorrow.

?!?!?!?!?!????!??

Negative on the trout. I’m still on the honeymoon with the Ranger bass boat I bought in June.

Congrats on your re-entry and wecome to the family!

My sentiments EXACTLY... I work 24 hour shifts and am used to being up at all hours anyway. 11 years and counting!

I fished Wequaquet this past Sunday and Monday. Water temps were 58.x - 60.x, air pressure was 30.4/3, respectively. Almost Summer time 'bluebird' conditions. A stingy bite is an understatement. I managed a few 'swim bait' sized LMB and a handful of pretty good pickerels. Ned and jerkbaits did the trick. 'Boss-lady' caught a nice 2+ pound pickerel, a PB for her, on a LV-500. She calls the LV her 'fishy', and is about the only bait she'll throw. It's not over YET. I'm on track to catch fish in open water every month of the year again. A coworker's killing it (as is Mr. Aquarium!) around SE Mass fishing small waters with his kayaks, so I'll likely park the Ranger and hit the road with my kayak for the rest of the year. Best of luck to the membership who's still getting out there!