teh_skeeze

I do need to get some spinner/buzzbaits. I wasn't sure if they were a summer lure, but the more I read, the more the answer is "use them dummy". I have 2 Boo-Yah pad crashers. No luck on them yet. Admittedly, I suck at walking the frog.

Lake Musconetcong

First world problems. In her mind, you are destroying her way of life. She has an expectation that there won't be strangers wandering around the neighborhood. The man who you say granted you permission didn't really grant you permission. He just showed apathy towards the situation because he's probably a busy man and has better things to worry about. Next time just go with your friend who lives in the complex. You are now a guest.

Some people have way too much time on their hands. When I was 19 I almost caught a criminal record for jumping a fence to play baseball. The only thing that saved me was the judge telling the cop "If jumping a fence to play baseball is a crime, then you are looking at a judge who is a criminal". At the same rate, I can understand why someone doesn't want people who aren't a part of the community fishing what is supposed to be a private pond. Slippery slope and all that.

The whole lake is slop. It's basically a featureless 4' deep weedbed. There are some open spots where you can run a crank or jerk bait for a couple of yards, but if you don't come with weedless rigs, you are just wasting your time.

I guess it didn't happen then. You got me, I'll come clean now. The picture is photoshopped.

Very nice! If I were a little kid, I would eat them.

My inflatable came in insanely fast. I ordered it late Wednesday night and it was at UPS on Friday morning. I skipped my usual 3 hour bank fishing outing so I could set it up and learn the process. Got up at 5am on Saturday and was out on the water by 6:15. Not much happened over the first few hours, then it got a little too interesting. We were fishing by the only island in the lake. I was pitching a 4" pumpkin w/ black and green flake senko with my med-light St. Croix Premier and Shimano Sahara setup (cost me about $210 last year). I was working some lily pads thinking to myself that I'm going to go to the other setup with a weedless spoon. I feel some weight on the line, set the hook, and the drag starts screaming. This is a huge fish, except not because I remembered that I was using a med light setup. Still It was a decent sized LMB (3 lbs. 5 oz). When I get it on the boat I see it hooked it in the throat. Sometime during trying to get the hook out, unsucessfully, I knocked the rod and reel overboard. My thumb was getting tired trying to get the hook out, so I let my girlfriend have a go at it. She almost has the hook out when she fatigues and drops the fish in the water. No big deal, I'll just grab the rod.....Where's my rod? Where the [expletive] is my rod? You gotta be [long winded expletive ridden rant]. I smoke a cigarette to calm myself as much as someone can calm from just losing a $210 setup and more than likely killing a nice fish. I ask the girlfriend for my other rod and as I turn to make my cast, I see the handle of the rod on the bottom of the lake (thank god this lake maxes out at 5 ft.). I try to reach down for it while in the boat and my arm is about 6 inches short. Try to use the oar and while I could get the rod off the bottom, I can't get a hold of it. My girlfriend, the sweetheart that she is, jumps into the lake in her underwear (I would have done it, but I was freeballing some jeans, didn't want to end up on Megan's List), grabs the rod, and the fish is still attached. I quickly get the hook out and release the fish. It swam off slow, but looked healthy. Certainly healthier than if it was stuck to a rod and reel with a hook in it's throat. She's now soaking wet and cold since it's breezy. I row us to the other side of the island and we drifted back to where we launched. During the drift I caught little guy. Probably 1.5-2 lbs. that didn't put up a fight until he saw the boat. He tries to fight like hell, but I tell him he had his chance and blew it. I quickly get the hook out and get him back into the water. I also saw 3 bass hanging together that looked to be in the 4 lb range, and one solitary bass that looked to be well over 5 lbs. It's good to know they are out there, now I just need to catch them. All in all it was a good day. Can't wait to get back out there soon. Here's the 3 lb. fish.

Welcome fellow Jerseyite. Get that boat. I had my first trip in mine yesterday. It's a whole different level when you actually get out on the water.

Welcome fellow Jerseyite!

As the title says, I'm looking to purchase an inflatable boat, preferably one that I can attach a small motor. I have been looking at a package for the Sea Eagle 9. It's a bit high in terms of how much I'm willing to spend, but everything I have read about them has been positive. If it's something that will last me years, the money is well spent. However, I don't want to rush into a major purchase. I come seeking the great wealth of knowledge of Bass Resource to get opinions on the Sea Eagle and other inflatables. I'm setting a budget of $1k for boat, engine, and accessories.

When I was 17, my friend and I found a small pond along the railroad tracks and we had the idea to try and stock it. A couple of weeks later, I caught a 3.5 lb smallie, and put it on the stringer to take to the pond. Just before I go to make my next cast I feel a sharp pain in my right shoulder blade. Turns out my friend had just hooked me in the back. I had to let the fish go, and walked the 2 miles home with a hook and worm in my back. My dad had to push it through the other side and cut it to get it out.

I don't fish for bass in rivers, but I do fish for trout often. As with anything, it depends. If a spot looks promising, but I'm unsure, I will throw something a dozen or two times before switching up my lure. You'd be amazed at how something so simple as changing up can make a pool that seems lifeless become productive. If I know that a pool is holding fish, I will fish it for an hour before moving on.

Tied my personal best today. Didn't want to start a new thread as it's only 3 lbs. 8 oz.