IgotWood

I keep them in ziploc bags. They seem to store just fine.

I started fishing for them this summer. So much fun! I mostly fish frogs for them in a 7’ heavy with a 200 size reel. For swimbaits and chatterbaits I use a med or med/hvy. They don’t ever seem to be picky where I fish. If I put my bait within 30’ of a snake and it’s hungry, it will chase down my bait and strike. If he follows but doesn’t eat, throw at him a few more times. It’s like dangling a string in front of a cat; they can’t resist.

I was fishing pb&j and after a while I stopped getting bit so I went to black blue and started getting bites again. Didn’t change weight though. Will keep that in mind next time for sure.

I thought panfish too for a bit, but the bites were occurring right up against structure. I had two trailers come back missing a claw, if that makes any difference. Oh, and was fishing 3/8oz.

That’s funny. The rig looks pretty much identical. I would switch back to the hook you were having luck with. Once the bait is torn, bite off about a half inch of the head and re-rig it. Shouldn’t make any difference. Unfortunately, this is the price you have to pay to fish soft plastics.

I got into a really good jig bite yesterday. I seemed to get a bite on just about every target I pitched my jig at. But for some reason, I had a very tough time hooking up. As soon as my jig settled on the bottom, I’d feel a tap. I set the hook immediately, and missed. After several misses, I tried waiting until I felt another tap or the line to get tight, but it never happened. I’d set the hook, and still, swing and miss. Caught one small fish, and hooked a horse which spit the hook about halfway to the kayak. The same thing was was happening to my buddy who was following behind me with a Senko. What gives???

Thank you Hawkeye! I am still weighing the options. CellBlok seems convenient because of its portability.

This is generally a slow time for me. My lake doesn’t normally pick up again until mid October. However, the couple most recent outings have been lots of fun for me. I’ve been experimenting and learning a few baits which I normally neglect, and I am being rewarded quite well. Try switching it up. Try something new to you. If you don’t catch, at least you will learn a little bit about that particular bait.

Man I love a ribbon tail late in the summer when the lake is choked with weeds and the fish are super lazy. Very light, 1/8oz or 1/4oz and fish it slooooow. I like to fish it in open water around weeds, and along drop-offs. I mostly fish a 7.5” Yum, or a 10” Culprit. The Rage ReCon worm has a place in my bag too. I’m not sure why they aren’t as popular as some of the other fitness baits out there, but I’m not complaining either. Maybe they work so well for me because everyone else is swinging a Senko around.

I made one out of a 8’ garden stake and a bungee cord. I tie it off to my anchor trolley. Probably to most used accessory I have. It’s good in up to 6’ of water.

What are two accessories you had bought/built sooner?? For me... 1. A high quality paddle w/ fiberglass blades. 2. Scupper cart

It’s a k for sure. It’s not that it is a less quality reel. I know the Curado’s longtime reputation as being a dependable work horse. It’s simpky a comfort thing. I like the feel of the Lews in my hand a little better. And I have an easier time tuning the Lews for some reason. I’ll be using the Curado a good big tomorrow, so maybe it will help change my mind.

I own four Lews ProG Speed Spools, and I am very happy with them. This spring I decided to buy a Curado 200K that a friend had talked me into. Its a fantastic reel, but it takes a bit of work to get the reel dialed in and I feel like I’m gonna break it in my hand when I set the hook or fight a fish. The dials are super sensitive too. I dunno, I like the Lews better. I’ll be selling the Shimano soon, I’m sure.

I have never gotten a wind knot before. Not with any braid. I use SS8 exclusively for every application.

Growing up in a very wealthy coastline area, I always carried a copy of the state regulations in my truck with me. The "mean high tide mark" is free and open to the public for whatever activity they choose. I don't encourage anyone to engage in an argument, but I do believe it is important to TRY to politely explain to a homeowner, and even show them in writing that you are right and they are wrong. You'd be surprised at how many people simply do not know the law, or how to interpret it. Some will read it, some won't. I had a waterfront homeowner call the police on me several times. Only once did they show up, but when they did, I asked them to call a game warden to the scene. Conservation Officers are your friend in these situations. The CO could not come to scene but he did talk to the police officer over the phone, and the police explained the law to the homeowner. He never bothered me again, and ironically, his $2M home was on the market that fall.

I feel like the ribbon tail is way overlooked. Yeah, it’s a bait that been around forever, but man, it works! I have saved a lot of trips with it. And I’ve had my fishing buddies pulling their hair out many times with it. And it’s such an easy bait to fish.

What a weird day yesterday. High, dirty water, 90 degrees. We thought they would be on jigs and way up on the banks. Instead we found the opposite. It was was one of those days for me. When you’re on, you’re on. I had my buddy talking to himself yesterday. He stuck with the jig and had a couple bites. I switched to a ribbon tail with a 1/4oz weight. The fish seemed to be staged off the banks in 6’-8’ in the grass, which is weird for this lake. Had a few fish 2-4lbs, but my buddy couldn’t buy a fish all day. Man the ribbon tail has saved a lot of bad trips for me, and today was no exception. I really upset him when a school of shad came to the surface in about 11’. Just for laughs I threw a chatter bait at the school and I hung a 4lber. Learned a a good lesson. When the bank bite is garbage, move out.

I know this is a cliche answer, but I would be fishing a Senko around the edges of those random clumps of weeds. Or a big 10”-12” ribbon tail worm with a very light bullet weight; 1/8oz or 1/4oz.

I bought a NuCanoe Flint this past winter and I vowed that I would not put electronics on it. Welp, changed my mind. It’s a little sketchy being out in the marshes at night. I know my way around very well, but it is very easy to get turned around wandering through the canals in the dark. I am considering the YakAttack Cell Block, and a RAM Mount transducer arm, unless anyone has another suggestion.

In the summer on my lake, the fish really like the steady retrieve of a whopper plopper or a popper with a steady cadence. In the fall, they seem only interested in irratic baits like a spook, or a fluke just under the surface.

I prefer wacky on a hi-viz braid. It’s so much easier to detect a strike because you can see it in the line. Believe me, the fish don’t mind the braid either.

When I worm the grass on my lake, I typically fish very light; 1/8oz-1/4oz bullet unpegged. This allows the bait to fall into the weeeds but not get buried. Fish slow. If it’s choked with weeds, then the water is probably as warm as it will be all year and the fish are likely to be lazy. On windy days, I’ll rig a poison style shaky head 1/4oz-3/8oz. Yup, still hang some grass, but that’s the price you pay. That jigbhead posted above above looks like it’s defintiely worth a try. I’ll be ordering a few this week.

Same here bud! Tendinitis, and arthritis for me. Start exercising your hand NOW, before it becomes a chronic issue! It will go away, or at least become less bothersome if you religiously do some stretches. Just google hand and finger stretches. They are all pretty standard. And you must continue to do the exercises even after the problem subsides.

If you’re going to be in Richmond, you’d be better off fishing the James. It’s loaded with big smallies and catfish, and there is plenty of shore access, as well as wading opportunities. Suffolk is a very long drive and the access is very limited.