DogBone_384

I just got an email from Kistler saying $100 off Z-Bone, KLX, and others through Sunday. The ad showed Magnesium 2’s for $150!

Sorry to hear. I hope that when you replaced the radio for the second time it was an Alpine! I've worked on almost every manufacturer out there, including Porsche, Ferrari, and old Jags (with Lucas' electrical systems). I've always known Toyota and Honda as the most bulletproof cars/trucks out there, my own vehicles included. Maybe you got one made on a Friday afternoon ....

Have you done all the PM on the drivetrain, and/or ever done a compression check? If 'YES' is your answer to both, and the compression is good, I'd drive it no questions asked. 250K+ isn't much for modern drivetrains these days if they're properly maintained. I can't help you with towing between 3/4 and 1/2 ton trucks. My Tundras towed a couple trailers and bass boats flawlessly. My current Tundra's towing capacity is just over 9,000 pounds. If you buy a new truck, I'll only say that I've owned Toyota trucks for the last 20 years and in over half a million miles, total, I've NEVER repaired one. Best of luck with your trucks. BEST motor ... evah!

Today's forecast was too nice to stay in and paint my daughter's room, who's away at college: Hedges called, and I launched at 1030 and just fifteen minutes into the trip a 2.86 pound (ANGLR app doesn't do ounces) SMB took my Damiki blade bait off the bottom. It had great colors, a healthy gut, and enough fight to get airborne a couple times. Forty-five minutes later I felt a 'tick' and pulled in a 1.43 pound SMB, also on the Damiki. Today's big SMB is the biggest I've pulled out of Hedges. Water temperatures were 39.x, wind was on-off from the west at about 10 mph, and the air temperature was in the low-mid 40's. So far, 2020's been pretty dang'd good! After a couple errands OTW home I got Kat's room primed and ready for paint... tomorrow's project. ADD: I drove by Ponkapog and Blue Hills Reservoir (BHR) while out doing my errands. Ponkie was iced over and BHR was skimmed and is likely going to open up by week's end.

Congrats on 500+ in one year ... I think that's roughly my 5 year total ...

Boss lady and I drove to the show this morning. It was packed like a NYC subway. A few decent booths, but not worth the hour's drive for me. As far as a meet & greet, Fishing Rhino and I tried to get one together a few times. All but once it was just the two of us. I won't give up, however. I like the idea of somewhere like a state park where we can fish and cook out as a group. I'll be down the Cape for a week in March, and then a road trip to Pickwick in late April. May would be a great month, especially on Cape Cod. Nickerson State Park comes to mind, with Cliff, Little Cliff, and Flax ponds stacked on top of each other. There's still a few months to figure it out. ADD: all the waters we drove by OTW there and back were solid.

I do, but I'm heading to the show for a bit. I'm wearing a B's sweatshirt and Kistler hat.

With the threat of open water south of here .... might be a game time decision ?!?!?!

Cape or mainland?

I'm planning on going to the show tomorrow morning. You can't miss my truck. It's an orange Tundra with a BassResource bumper sticker on the back. I'll wear a Kistler hat. I don't look anything like my avatar....

I hope that doesn't happen here in MA. If DSG stops selling fishing gear I'll be stuck with Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas, both of which don't have great selections and are 45 minutes, or more, away from me. One local DSG was closing out their .40 S&W bulk ammo last week when I was there. Hopefully that's not a sign of things to come. There aren't any good mom & pop fishing stores near me.

I drove by Ponkapog yesterday. It's 80% iced over and looks very sketchy. If time allows I'm reconning Plymouth and maybe the Cape to see what's what down there.

My home LMB pond is about 10 miles from home. My home SMB pond is 40.

I’m just getting ice in the Boston area. Ponkapog Pond in Canton, was 80% frozen over when I drove by it yesterday. Ponkie is a shallow, weedy pond, so I hope the deep kettles in Plymouth & Cape Cod stay open. It’s forecasted to be in the mid 40’s later this week. I landed a 4.82 LMB in my kayak on 14 Jan. I hope we’re in for a short countdown.

I tried too... didn’t work.

The monkey just bit me HARD.... I surfed over to Abu's website and they're having a FLASH SALE on this reel with code MGXFLASH .... I just got both sizes for $120 each.

I'll catch trout in cold water months while still targeting bass. I also catch pickerel in a lot of waters around me while bass fishing. Lastly, there's a SMB pond about an hour from me that coughs up 1 to 1 1/4 pound yellow perch regularly. Overall, I welcome any species to my kayak, especially when bass don't cooperate.

I broke a rod with my tailgate. Abu was great. I sent them pictures of the break and model. They sold me a replacement for not much more than shipping.

Sure was! Great colors and pretty healthy pull for 40 degree water too. I was using 6 pound line and had the drag set pretty light. It's second biggest bass I've ever caught. I took Evan to Sunset Lake in Braintree in search of trout (anything really, but Evan had trout on his mind). We launched around 10:00 with bright sunshine, a light wind from the west, and water temps at 42.x. Air pressure was 30.1. Evan struck out and I grabbed a 1 1/2 pound pickerel on a Damiki blade bait. Had one decent hit on a black/blue chatterbait. I marked most fish in 16-20' in the bowl that's 50' off the parking lot off Franklin st. So far so good for 2020. I'm 3 for 3 with good sized fish. January's in the bag. Let's hope for warm weather and open water for February.

Feelfree’s Overdrive is loud. The gears are steel. I keep them greased, which quiets then some. I don’t believe the noise prevents me from catching fish. FeelFree’s seat has height and seat back adjustments and is ALL DAY comfortable. I just started my third season with mine.

LMB, just over 5 pounds. SMB, just under 5 pounds.

Welcome to the forum! Northern CT ... hhhhmmm ... Yankees or Mets?

I took a ride to Plymouth today, looking for smallmouth, deviating from my regular 'go to' pond and launching at Great South after lunch and staying until dark. I forgot my fishing sunglasses and stopped about 50 yards from Little South's pump house and pondered whether or not I'd need them, and, should I grab one more rod. As I stopped, I randomly cast a musky flavored Rapala jointed Shad Rap (I think it looks like a smallie, but that's me..) back towards the pump house where it drops right off to about 15'. Reel ... pause ... reel ... reel ... pause ... thump ... slack ... thump was the sequence that rewarded me with a 22" 4.82 pound Larry. I heck of a first LMB for 2020, especially in a pond I've never done well with. I stayed in the area for a bit then paddled to Great South, without my sunglasses. Great South was a bust. A blade bait, various treble hook baits, and a 3" Keitech on a 1/8 oz underspin proved useless. I didn't mark much and covered a good chunk of the place, working deep and shallow. The weather was just right: mostly overcast, just a breeze from the south, water temps hovering between 40.x and 41.x. Air pressure was 30.3. 2020's starting off pretty good. Mr. Aquarium is setting the bar high for all of us! Tomorrow's forecast calls for fishing. A friend's son, Evan, is home from college and wants to go trout fishing tomorrow. We'll find a pond that has trout and bass for sure. Add: I'm not working next Saturday. I'm up for a ride to the fishing show. It sounds like a great chance to meet other members!

I bought my first FeelFree Lure 11.5 in 2014. I liked it so much I bought their Overdrive (pedal) version in April 2018. FeelFree’s seat is all-day comfortable and the kayak itself is rock stable. Both kayaks have a small wheel in the keel that makes transporting it short distances easy. After fishing their pedal drive for two seasons, I’ll say it’s of great quality and very well built. The overdrive unit is fully serviceable with a propeller shear pin and grease ports around the body. Normal pedaling gets me just under 4 mph. FeelFree has two options for dealing with shallow, weedy, ponds. The first is the Overdrive unit lifts up to a resting position. The second is the unit is removable and a plastic ‘pod’ (optional) goes in its place. I transport it in my truck’s bed most of the time. I remove the seat, overdrive, and accessories when I need bed space and put the kayak on my ladder rack. I paid $2,100 for the Overdrive Lure with an installed rudder. FeelFree’s customer service is responsive & top notch. I’m very satisfied with both Lures and FeelFree as a company. Best of luck picking your pedal drive kayak!

Awesome start to the year Mike! Weather looks warm again later this week. I might head to the Cape and try my luck there.