the reel ess

This ain't my PB, but it looks bigger. The other, I admit I should have handled it better. But I did release both.

Old school pistol grip rod and round reel. I just sold my last two pistol grips at a yard sale for $2. Caught a lot of bass on those. I would have a worm on one and a crankbait on the other.

Is the Fireline Crystal more or less visible in water? What about above water?

Downsizing one appendage at a time.

I don't believe our stripers in SC actually go from freshwater to salt like they do in the northeast. I think they basically stay in freshwater and make the run from brackish to a tailrace (Wateree R being one) to spawn. I don't see any reports of them being caught offshore. This is one of the very few places with enough flow for successful spawning. In recent years, a strict seasonal size and number limit has been imposed due to low catch rates in the Santee-Cooper lakes.Basically, the season when you can catch them, you can't keep them. But even if you catch one during the keeping season the size limit is restrictive. Still, they're a ton of fun to catch when they're present in good numbers.

That's awesome! I want to catch some stripers from the yak someday. I'm landlocked, butwe have them in a nearby river. I've caught one dink (on a Rebel craw crankbait, no less).

It's not the hook's problem. Any hooks do this except for circle hooks. Fish won't drop this lure as they move away. Sometimes they won't move away. They'll just chomp it and try to swallow. If you use the circle hooks, let us know how it goes.

I've done this with C-rigs. Does anyone use a glass bead between the bullet weight and hook on their T-rig? Do you feel it helps any? Maybe something that can give that little edge in tough conditions? This occurred to me when I started using 1/8 oz. tungsten weights because they are so small they don't "fit" the worm in a streamline manner like a lead 3/16" weight does.

nm

I have consulted an orthopedic about it. He says it's the muscle getting irritated by being moved over the same bone all day, 5 days a week. He said if you've ever cleaned a squirrel and seen that "sheen" coating on the muscle, that is what's irritated. He says the exercises like paddling a kayak and casting are good for it. If I did other activities enough I'd break up the irritated spot. But pretty much any exercise involving that muscle leaves it sore. So does a professional massage. The wife just had knee surgery and I'll be her nurse for 3-4 weeks. So fishing or washing cars won't be an issue. But I work from home so there's still that.

I have a sore shoulder from sitting with my arm forward and hand on a mouse 8 hrs/day min. Casting inflames it as does washing a car. It will be sore the next day after casting and retrieving a lot. I try to use some techniques that don't require power fishing all day. Lobbing a wacky rig under overhanging trees helps. Pitching from a casting deck helps the shoulder but hurts the wrist. Casting a light t-rig and slowly hopping it back is a good compromise.

You're absolutely correct. And I wouldn't disparage anyone for eating them. I considered it, but I had enough in the fridge and freezer. Our bigger lakes have yellow perch. When I was a kid I didn't know what they were when we would catch them on minnows crappie fishing. We just called them "those little green fish". I guess they spend most of their lives in deeper water because it's hot here about 8 months. I can't speak on the red worms. But I can tell you from searching info on the subject, experts say there is no freshwater fish parasite that will harm humans as long as the fish is cooked well. I did see a worm in a local pond last time I kayak fished there (last Sunday). It looked like the aquatic version of an inch worm. It was on my foot when I got out and I felt it. But it wasn't attached, so I just killed it.

T-Rigged Zoom Super Speed Craw, black/sapphire Stick Worm, wacky rigged. Torpedo-I had a day so good on this lure I had to adjust the blade twice. Rat L Trap-continually from last fall I got a bite on a Johnson Silver Minnow...I want to keep experimenting with that Frogs

If you could see the size of their brains, you'd think they don't think. They are almost all instinct. But they can learn.

Only bass.

I used some Gulp Mullet for flounder that I felt would really take a bass. They smelled like a can of sardines. They were good enough to fool flounder.

I'm not opposed to the idea of the Bassyak kit. It's certainly cheaper. But it does seem like it would make for more work unloading, preparing and loading and add weight. Also, in my state you have to register a watercraft with an electric motor if you use it in public waters. I do still do that sometimes. I'd still have my current 'yak, so that's still an option later. It also seems like I would lose the benefit of the exercise, as this is about the only exercise I get anymore. I didn't realize Hobie Mirage drive was not capable of reverse. I've always wondered how that worked. I can't tell you how many times I've set the hook on a bass and been dragged right into the spot I caught it in. If there more fish there you ruined it.

I read of a pro who said to bend them out. How far did you go? Just until the point was off the body?

I have caught fish on shad and baby bass. But consider what a fish would see from directly below. They won't really know or care what color it is. Especially if the belly is white.

Small curly tail grub, inline spinner, Beetle Spin.

I might use a popping one if in open water. But then I'd probably just use a popper or Torpedo and get more bites. Our local public lake has stained water, thus the grass doesn't grow more than about 2' deep. That severely limits the frog to late May/early June. I've tried it in open water, but the fish just don't seem to buy it. Not even the toads.

If you think they're fragile T-rigged, try wacky rigging them. I have settled on Big Bite and that's where I'll stay until someone proves otherwise. Since no one else I know uses these, that probably won't happen. But I will try shorter ones to get a bite.

Who has which? How do they compare in price? Which is easiest to navigate while fishing? This will probably be my next boat purchase. I'm thinking of selling my fish/ski.

Ha! I remember throwing these on a Zebco 33. If you got a kink in cheap line, which was all my dad would buy me, the thing would just keep sailing off into the sunset.

Mann's L'il George. I just looked in my box and I still have one. I used to catch schoolies in spring on it. Bass, whites and small stripers would school up together at times. This would catch them all.