king fisher

So I assume it would be wise for me to cancel my ice fishing gear order, and stop looking for cheap flights from Mexico to Massachusetts.

When I was young I lifted weights, ran, put 3 all you can eat buffets out of business, and never got over 185 pounds. At 6'1" I was naturaly tall and thin, but could bench press 335 lbs, and run like the wind. When I was 25 I moved to Alaska, and wasn't able to lift weights because nothing was ever flown out to a camp in an airplane that wasn't an absolute necessity. My boss used to say anyone that wanted exercise could work harder. Working in a hunting and fishing camp in Alaska there was never a lack of heavy work to do. Packing heavy loads up mountains, chopping wood, or rowing boats, staying in shape was a part of life. One time I had a hunter who looked like a professional football player. He lifted weights every day, and was strong as a horse. He was in good shape so I let him shoot a brown bear further away from a place to land a cub than a normally would have. It was a big bear, and I was going to have to pack a wet 100 pound bear hide across a swamp and up a steep mountain. My hunter looked at me and said there is no way a tall skinny guy like you can hike that hide up that mountain where we had a spike camp, and a landing strip. I asked if he was volunteering to do the job, and he said he would. He made it a quarter of the way up, and said it was impossible. I told him to give me the pack with the hide. He would have to carry all our gear, and try and keep up, I wanted to get back to camp in time to fly the hide to main camp. He made it to the spike camp an hour after me, exhausted and in disbelief. He just couldn't believe I could haul that hide across a swamp and up a mountain. The outdoor life was the best physical trainer I could have ever had. For many years, I abused my body, thinking I was indestructible. Later in life I would travel in the off season. One winter I was in Santa Barbara hangliding. A few of us pilots were getting ready to drive up to the launch in the mountains. One of the pilots told me he was the one that had pioneered the launch. He was a small skinny man that was 80 years old. I looked at him and said you are my hero. I want to be just like you when I'm 80 what's your secret. He said don't ever let up. That was exactly what I thought, so I was convinced anyone who gets broken down when they are old didn't keep active enough. The more pain the more gain, push it to the limit and then a little further. I was dead wrong. That old man may have had the secret of life for him, but it wasn't for everyone. A few years after that I had a heart valve fail, and was barely able to finish a backpack hunt on Kodiak Island. After open heart surgery, my wings were clipped but I was certain with some training I would soar again. I did work hard and recovered enough to do my job, but I was never the same. I finally quite guiding hunters and spent most of my time captaining a boat in Mexico. I was still active, and stayed in good shape. I surfed, went for long paddles on my paddleboard, and packed a glider up a mountain to fly as often as I could. I was active at work washing polishing, and what I called boat yoga, which was twisting in to tight places while doing mechanical maintenance. After a few more years I needed surgery on my right shoulder. I Damaged it partly from bench pressing too much weight for my bodies'' frame when I was young, shooting very heavy weight bows, and finished it off trying to load a large propane tank into an airplane without help. Now I'm 62 in fair physical condition and overweight. I am young in my mind and heart, and feel I should still be able to scamper up mountains with heavy loads on my back. My problem is I have destroyed my skeletal structure. My back is a wreck, and will have to have it operated on someday. Light exercise and Ibuprofen get me through the day, but I am never pain free. Both knees are shot, one has been operated on, and the other one will need a surgery someday. My right shoulder hurts, but the surgery made it usable. My left shoulder is in bad shape, but again I'm trying to avoid surgery. My right elbow hurts, to the point I can't turn wrenches or hammer nails, for more than a short time. I have arthritis in my hands and hips. When you exercise you strengthen your muscles, but how long your joints last are a combination of genetics, accidents, and abuse. I no longer glide or surf. I fish which I will do no matter how much pain I'm in. This past year I have taken up metal detecting so I do get good walks in on the beach every day while satisfying my hunting instinct. My hips get sore walking on the beach, and my elbow is in pain from swinging the detector, but finding some treasure keeps me going despite the pain, just like my fishing, priorities. While walking on the beach, I watch surfers that are way older than me, and wonder how they do it. I'm lucky I can hire most of the heavy work done at my job, and the young guys are always willing to pull on a big tuna. I still stay somewhat limber doing mechanical work, or like I call it boat yoga. I have read all the posts about what people do to try and stay young, and I do believe what works for one person does not work for another. I encourage others to remember that when giving advice on health issues. You may be fit and strong because of your lifestyle, but that does not mean it will work for others. That old man I met hang gliding may still be up in the air, but I wouldn't even be able to lift a glider to launch it. My advice is stay as active as you can, and keep fishing. Sitting on the bank watching a bobber was fun when I was a kid, and I expect it to be fun when I get to the point I can't peddle my kayak anymore.

A strong offensive line, and a number 1 defense won Tom Brady a seventh Super Bowl ring. He got his fifth Super Bowl ring because Pete Carole wasn't smart enough to hand the ball of to the Beast. Bill Belichick got him the rest of his Super Bowl rings, so as far as I'm concerned he can go stretch himself into the Hall of fame, but I'm just glad he doesn't bass fish.

Fishing was good, catching was so so. It was the first year since 2019 I didn't land a bass over 10 pounds. Biggest was 9.9 pounds. I landed 2 nine pounders on back to back casts, and had a 39 pound 5 bag. 3 times I had to cut weekend trips short. Two, due to mechanical failures with my pedal drive, and one because of an emergency at home. Thankfully, the emergency at home ended up basically being a false alarm, but the mechanical issues have cost me one last try for a DD before the end of the year. All and all it's been a good year. I'm still casting so I can't complain.

Let me guess, you caught it at lake Menderchuck

I was thinking that might have been what you were referring to when you said your guide was old school. I personally have mixed feelings about live scope, but if I were a guide where others were using it, I would be on the live scope train at the first station. In both guiding and tournament fishing, if you can't keep up you will get left behind. Livescope will never be banned in Mexico. Either embrace the technology or watch others get the DD bass and the big tips. I don't know if I would like to have a guide point out the big bass on livescope, but after hooking a big bass I'm sure I would warm up to the idea. I know a lodge owner in Mexico that doesn't want to spend the money on the technology, and doesn't think his guides would bother to learn how to use it. I reminded him he didn't own the only lodge on the lake, and if he didn't want to be first, he surely would be last.

I'm glad you had a great trip. Everyone thinks you catch 10 pound bass on every cast in Mexico. The truth is, trophy bass are hard to catch anywhere. There are lots of big bass in Mexico, but sometimes they just don't want to bite. If you keep going back, you will have that special day where it seems way to easy. From the pictures it looks like water has already come down some from full pool. Did anyone have luck with deep cranks? I have water lower and clearer in my local lake for this time of year, and have started to catch bass deeper than usual.

If you really have to fish this particular lake, you may have to do a significant amount of leg work. Try and find out everything you can about the lake, and the owner, including past history of the lake. A previous owner may have information on the fishing, and might be able to introduce you to the owner. Before meeting the owner try and find out as much as you can without making the owner, or anyone else uncomfortable with you inquiries. You don't want them to hear someone is asking a bunch of questions, but you do want to find out as much as you can about the owner and their friends. You may find that they have relatives, that play football with your kid, or you both have a common interest in antique cars. Whatever the connection, is it will be worthwhile information. Once you have done your research, it is time to meet. I wouldn't bring up the fishing at the lake right away. Talk about your shared interests, then work your way to the main goal. Make sure you dress and talk like the owner. If they wear overalls, don't show up in a suite, or if they don't wear casual clothes then neither should you. Do not mention politics or religion, unless they do, and then you better be one hundred percent on their side of the fence. My Momma always said a little white lie won't hurt if it can help catch you a giant bass. Once you get permission, your work is not done. I have seen many times when an owner said he gave permission to a nice young man and after that man never even had time to stop and have a drink. He didn't even say high when he saw him at the hardware store. They are giving you permission, because they feel you are one of them, act like it. You can never be too busy to spend time with a friend that owns a lake. Don't be a stranger after you cast the first line. Christmas cards, and gifts, are always welcome as making sure to say happy birthday. Do not bring friends to the lake unless the owner gives permission. I wouldn't even ask for permission to bring friends. If they happen to bring up the subject, then mention you wouldn't mind having a fishing buddy come along. The biggest complaint I have heard from landowners is. I didn't mind letting the one man fish my pond, but then he had 10 friends that wanted to fish. The one fellow seems nice enough, but I don't trust his friends. If they have a relative who like to fish, offer to take them fishing, and make sure they catch the most and biggest fish. This can take time, and be more work than it is worth, but you may end up finding a new friend, and a great place to go fishing. You must do your research, do not just walk up and knock on the door. As any trial lawyer will tell you, be prepared, and never ask a question, you don't already know the answer too. The way to find out the answers to the questions, is do a little research.

Dead stick a ticket to Mexico. Topwater in the morning all winter long. Last time I went bass fishing a couple weeks ago, the surface temp. was 68 degrees at dawn, and 74 degrees by noon. I only had to slow down for lunch.

Not a boat where I live, especially one that can be used on the ocean, as well as lakes. I paid $3000.00 for my kayak and it was brand new. Another $500 for accessories, including a Garmin fish finder. I looked for a boat, and didn't find anything decent for under $10,000.00 and calling a ten grand boat decent would be a stretch. In the states a good used aluminum boat and 15 hp. motor can be had for $5000.00, but there still might be a significant cost to get electronics, trolling motor and batteries. Everyone always points out how much money someone has invested in their kayaks, but most of the added on items are also expensive to put on a boat. If you compare just the boat and motor price, to a bare bones kayak, the kayak is far cheaper. I would love to have a boat, and when I can afford one I will buy one. Until then I will have to somehow get by with my kayak. By far the biggest disadvantage with a kayak for me is not being able to take friends fishing with me. You better like fishing solo, if you want to kayak fish.

A few reasons. 1- I don't have the money to buy a boat. 2- I don't have the money to buy a pickup to tow a boat. 3- I don't have a place to store a boat. 4- I can launch my kayak in the surf at the beach 5- I can fish places that are difficult to get to with a boat. 6-

I have success with black and blue, straight black, and black chart. spinnerbaits. Most of the time when I am fishing these colors I am either crawling them along the bottom, more like a jig, or fishing them on the surface. The middle of the water column I generally use lighter colors. This also goes along other popular baits and methods. It is popular to use black as a topwater bait, even in the middle of the day, and black and blue jigs are in almost every box. Do I change the color of my spinnerbait every time I change my retrieve depth? Of course not. I catch many bass on a black spinnerbait that I am bring back off the bottom, or one I let sink while mostly fishing on top. If I plan on buzzing the spinnerbait it will most likely be a dark color, as well as If I'm mostly be fishing mid column I will use a light color. Crankbaits I start with chartreuse and black and switch to more natural colors if that doesn't work. Purple with a black back is a real sleeper color for me. The first one I bought was a Model A in the color selector pattern, and I have been fishing that color combination long after the color selector craze was gone.

My dog would grab them both at the same time and consider the string a bonus.

Size of brain, intelligence, and instinct are related, but are also very different. A bass while having a small brain and not intelligent only needs to trust it's instincts to learn what is edible, how to hunt, catch what is edible, and what is dangerous. A bass puts a rock in it's mouth and instinctively knows that it is not food, he doesn't know why, doesn't ponder on what the rock is made of, or if other animals eat them, but he knows not to try and eat any more rocks. A shadow from a bird flying overhead instinctively indicates danger to the bass. He doesn't' have the intelligence to determine what kind of bird, where it came from, or if it migrates or not, but he instinctively knows to dive deep, and find cover. People have incredible instinctive ability, but don't solely rely on instinct. A person who has never seen fire before will instinctively pull their hand away from an open flame before getting badly burned. However a person's intelligence may kick in and overwhelm the instinctive response. This person may look around and try and determine why the fire is hot, they may move their hand as close to the fire as possible to see if they get burned, they may even be stupid enough to get burned again. They may think of ways to utilize the heat of the fire, they will eventually find a way to make a fire. All of this takes intelligence, but an animal with a much smaller brain, will only use the their instinct to stay the heck away from the fire. People are so accustomed to using their intelligence, they forget that survival is primarily based on instinct. Yes a bass has a small brain, and very little intelligence, but they don't let intelligence get in the way of their instinct. They don't have to be smart to find, catch, and eat their prey, while at the same time avoiding danger. They can't articulate why something doesn't look natural, and should be left alone, or even feared, but they instinctively know not to put it in their mouth. Why they have evolved thousands of years of instinct to stay away from my lure, but crush my friends is something I have spent hours of superior intelligence contemplating. My friend who relies much more on instinct just tells me I don't hold my mouth right and I need to wiggle my worm, with more rhythm. Maybe intelligence is overrated for both the bass and the fisherman. I doubt a bass with a pea size brain, ever gets skunked while fishing, but I often go home without catching dinner, and I have a larger brain. I like black and blue moving baits, and so do bass. The bass don't know why, and I don't care the reason, but I recommend throwing a black and blue crankbait, the next time your buddy ties on a shad colored one.

With zero fishing pressure, the lake may be overpopulated with dinks. Thinking of that possibility may let you sleep better at night.

Buy it all in every color. You know you want too.

I have had good luck with black and blue spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, and crankbaits.

On the way to the lake I fill my cooler up with ice.

Could you send me a certificate authenticating the size of the catch, along with a statement naming me as the angler that landed the bass? I'm only joking, I prefer to catch my own bass. Do not throw it away. If you don't find a friend or family member who wants it, I'm sure a local tackle shop would love to display your mount. I gave a mount of a 700 plus pound blue marlin to a restaurant awhile back, and they were very glad to get it.

That was a very beautiful poetic description, for I'm screwed until spring. Enjoy the scenery, I'm going to catch some bass.

Storm Arishi Cover Pop

I fish the Rapala DT series when the water gets cold in the middle of winter on my local lake. It gets tough when the surface temperature dips down to 64 degrees in the morning. I sure do miss ice fishing.

The number one reason is the Bait Monkey.

Even when I'm Old ,tired, broken down, and broke. As long as I am breathing, I will find a way to fish.