Josh Smith

JBower, Have I seen you around the gun boards? Your handle is very familiar. You might check out the "Unofficial Hoosier Thread" down below. Josh

Bass legally kept should never be condemned. I generally release bass in public waters, but that is here and now, not the '70s or '80s. (I was born in '77 and don't recall a time of catch and keep.) However, my wife and I caught and kept several of the largest bass we caught in a private pond. Only a couple others fish that pond and we need to keep it healthy. There are a few small bass that need room to grow in there. This will be the first time in like 30 years I've eaten bass. I personally believe that several waters today are suffering the "catch and release all bass" strategies from early in the understanding of that science. Some bass must be culled from any healthy water to keep the population healthy. Josh

My wife and I went to the private pond yesterday. Winds from the east, nothing special on the solunar tables, high blue skies, and I still caught eight or 10, the majority being 14" to 15". April only caught three fish, two bass and a large bluegill. I was teaching her frog fishing, though, and she missed a few. She did do very well after I coached her. She does need a faster reel, however. I have a complete report in Fishing Reports. I tried to post pics here as well, but I can't seem to do so from my phone. The Fishing Reports thread was started last night from my computer. Josh

I like to challenge myself by fishing public waters, figuring out what others haven't been able to figure out. However, sometimes I just want to catch bass without a lot of work. That's when I turn to private ponds. This one belongs to my wife April's aunt and uncle. I did quite a bit of fishing in it as a teenager, having been best friends with my wife's brother all those years. April scored first: Nice bluegills in there... My first bass of the day: Strangely, I don't recall what I caught it on. Another: Frog bass. Third bass: Another frog bass. Fourth bass: My first jerkbait bass in years! After this fourth bass, I'd seen April not hook up again, so I went to helping her hook up. She got on-the-water training, I guess, about bass and their habits. It worked: April's first frog bass! I went on to catch four or six more, and April caught a couple more. I left off during that time to run the trolling motor, an old Minn Kota transom-mount with a handle. That was fun, too, and rewarding when my coaching saw April hook up with another frog bass. I tried a jig, and caught absolutely nothing on it. I found that really interesting as jigs are my go-to lures. Only one or two other people fish this pond, but none fish it regularly. This results in almost zero pressure on bass. I caught a total of eight or 10, and April caught two but missed several more (she's learning!) One was actually in the boat but flopped off, hit the deck and bounced out. I guess we could count that for a third one. Wind was from the east, we had bluebird skies, the moon wasn't full or new, and a cold front just went through a few days ago. Not ideal conditions, but the bass didn't know that! Most bass were 14"-15", decent sized for Northern Indiana. I couldn't tell what they'd been eating for sure; their teeth were not worn down, so nothing hard. We were to keep what we caught as these critters need managed, and the owner knows how to manage ponds. April got to learn how to fillet fish, too! It was a fun time, and we're planning to do it again. More of those larger bass need to come out, and I need to figure out whether there are still larger ones in there. (There were when I was a kid.) Meantime, April wants to start helping me in my boat repairs. She's caught the fishing bug, and wants to get our fishing boat out on the water as soon as we can! Regards, Josh

I'm offended that I didn't get to see the post. You caused me confusion born of curiosity. I demand an apology or I shall see you on the Field of Honor, Suh!

Detroit Hiker, Do you ever make it to Indiana? This is something I'd be glad to teach. Regards, Josh

2000ish Blazer. Pretty bulletproof. Josh

Reference I finally got time to hike out to this pond today. I took a rod with a frog tied -- my son was with me and the primary purpose of the trip was a short hike, and to teach him something about tracking, maybe a couple other things. I introduced him to cattails, too; a good food source. I tried a few casts and caught this little critter: Not huge by any means, 10" to 12". Scrappy though. I'll have to go back out there when I have more time. Being a holiday weekend, all the usual places were crammed full. This place, however, had some kids fishing, maybe 10, 12, 14 -- someplace in there -- and they obviously hiked in. They caught a few, but I didn't nose too close to see what. They were respecting the distance between us, I did the same, and they were catching and releasing to boot. If it's only a group of young teens and me on a holiday weekend, I might have a new favorite fishing hole if there's anything of size in there. I have other ponds and small lakes to explore, but I'm curious about this one now. It's obviously not pressured much and deep enough so that it doesn't freeze solid. Should be interesting. Regards, Josh P.S. That's the first pic of yours truly I've put up on here, and one of the few on the internet. I hate cameras. J.S.

I've often wondered if fishing from the boat ramp is really that good. When I'm bank fishing I've tried it with some success, but I have much greater success when I hike back into the woods some where the cover of thicker in the water. Just from that point of view, I don't get it. A couple casts of the ramp on the way to your better spot I understand, but not setting up on the ramp. Anyone know if there's an advantage I'm overlooking? Josh

Thank you, gents. I'll post back when I decide! Regards, Josh

You're using a spinning reel? Josh

Don't go trying to use the flipping switch. Just freespool as when you're casting. Josh

How far are to talking? I regularly cast to 40-50 yards when fish are spooky. Frogs, Spooks, squarebill crankbaits, jigs, etc, are all used for this. Josh

I've tried other baitcasters and keep coming back to the round Ambassadeurs. Even the 3600 EON I have isn't bad even though it has a plastic frame. Josh

Mostly backups to lures that I do use. Josh

Tell, if asked. Do not volunteer the info. Josh

Hello, Like most of you, I really like polarized sunglasses for bass fishing. I wore glasses as a teenager. After my appointment in 1995, I decided glasses were not compatible with my lifestyle and just adapted. Recently I re-thought things and went in for a checkup and new glasses. What do you folks who wear glasses do for sunglasses on the water? I am thinking about getting a pair of prescription sunglasses but don't know where to start looking. What do you suggest? Thank you, Josh

If you approach me to talk to me and I seem rude, it's not intentional. I don't mind talking. I'm just concentrating, too, so don't take it personally. Not many here try telling me what to use when they see I'm bass fishing. When I tell them I don't know a lot about catfishing, I get an education. Most fishermen here have a high mutual respect cross-species and are willing to both teach and learn. There are the dicks, but they generally come out at night and avoid the rest of us. We see their leavings in the morning and spread the word. Josh

It's a frog rod now. Josh

Sounds like lost washers. Josh

Daiwa "Bill Dance" pistol grip 5'6" MH/F "spinnerbait rod" with an Ambassadeur 5000 non-c modified with fast 4.7:1 gears. Line was probably 14lb Trilene as that's what I always used. Josh

******* kids and 20-somethings like to go to the top of Hanging Rock and throw rocks down onto people fishing below. Last time this happened I snapped pics and posted them on FB. Talked to the sheriff's department and next time will be making some idiots into felons. How stupid do you have to be to throw rocks? Especially in a state where most outdoorsmen carry guns? Josh

I was thinking about this thread after Sunday when The Boy and I went fishing. A major cold front had just come through and I was fishing heavy cover with the setup I prefer for those conditions, a MH/F hybrid rod with a modified 5500c3 reel loaded with 65lb Power Pro. A bass latched onto my jig and the fight was on. That critter was pulling HARD -- enough that I was getting excited. Though my drag was locked down, I was half expecting the bass to start peeling a little. I had a bit of trouble controlling it when it ran for weed cover. When I landed it, I found it was only 12" to 13" long. A very healthy fish, but not nearly as big as it fought. It was more like a 16" river smallie. Had I been trying to fight it in with 6lb or even 8lb line and a locked drag, there is a very good chance the line would have broken. It was pulling that hard. Josh

The shame was in not getting back up and back on the board. Josh

I'll be 39 in November. Though I let myself gain weight, I'm losing it. Aside from some mild arthritis -- probably due to all the martial arts I used to practice -- I seem to be in decent shape. I was 6'2", 210lbs at my peak, and I intend to get that back. To be honest, I don't feel ask that different from my peak condition save for extra weight causing some one pain when hiking or climbing or running up stairs. At what age does one really begin to feel different? Family history dictates I'll be middle aged at age 45. Josh