MassYak85

So cochituate is WIIIIDE open (minus some of the shallower coves) if anyone is looking to do some open water fishing in central mass. I guess I shouldn't be surprised given how deep it is but it's so weird to drive 20 minutes and see open water after leaving an area with fish-able ice. Next week's temps look VERY cold. I imagine every lake in the state will lock up. And the lakes that already have some ice will be plenty safe. I also drove by Foss reservoir (sudbury flows into it), it looks like it's down about 8 feet, I'm guessing they stopped letting anything out of the sudbury, it's pretty crazy. It's a shame you can't (legally) get on it, I saw some killer structure exposed. It looked like there was an old rock wall leading from the deeper channel right into the exposed shallows.

Hahaha, that's awesome you were on open water, I was actually out on the ice for a little while today, only managed a slime dart though before an officer asked us to leave because they were getting too many calls about "people out on unsafe ice". You'd think people would have better things to do than call the police over other people enjoying themselves but hey, who am I to judge. Ice was safe in the area we were fishing, we wouldn't have been out there if it wasn't. At least the officer was really nice. It always amazes me how in our small little state, you could be open water fishing or ice fishing just an hour apart. It seems I have an interesting choice to make then on Friday before the storm hits, ice fish or open water fish? Speaking of ice... @Mr. Aquarium You are "famous" my friend, spotted on Facebook.

I'd say go for the 110 to start. If I had to choose between the 90 and 130 I'd go 130 all day.

They don't let you buy gift cards with gift cards I believe.

I'm planning on hitting the ice somewhere tomorrow, might have to drive around a little but I've heard of people getting on this past weekend in the Worcester area so I like my odds.

I might do some scouting wednesday morning and try and get out if I can find a place that seems "safe".

waterproof hiking boots

Oh okay that makes sense now

I believe they deactivate it during active sales, when I applied mine during the black friday sale it didn't work.

Depends what lures you plan on fishing? What type of river are we talking? The answer could range from 6lb fluorocarbon if you are fishing for smallies in the st Lawrence or 80lb braid fishing thick lily pads in an oxbow somewhere.

Most techniques I am either seeing or detecting a bite, and sweeping the rod immediately, or working something like a frog or jig where my rod is not necessarily pointed right at the fish, reeling down until it is, and the swinging. For no technique do I ever wait after feeling a fish, unless I know for some reason it spit it out already, or missed it completely (topwater).

Now there's dedication!

I may be in the minority, but I hate using trokar hooks, or any "cutting point" hook design. IMO they work too well, the hook penetrates and cuts so easily it will slice a bigger hole than a standard hook in my experience which for me has meant lost fish. Don't get me wrong, hookup is insane, but I have a few trokar war eagle spinnerbaits and I've lost way more fish on those than the standard mustads (I believe) they use, and the ones I do get in I have noticed do have a bigger hole in their mouth. I also have bad luck with the hook points rolling upwards.

if it doesn't warm back up I don't think I'll be going out again this year. This weeks forecast looks like some ice-making to me at least in my area. I wouldn't be surprised to see A1 solid enough to fish before new years.

Mine is a H. I was actually going to tell you to get the XH if you want to toss those 5oz baits so good choice. I don't like going over 4oz on my H, and I hear the XH and XXH models are faster action than the H model. I've had it a couple years and like mine, but I use it for mostly treble hook swimbaits like slammers and gantarels because it's more on the moderate side.

I've got the same setup, is it the H or HX rod?

If you think you have the personality for making videos there's no harm in giving YouTube a shot, just have a plan if it doesn't work out, and even if it DOES work out, still have something to fall back on because I'm sure someday YouTube will no longer be around.

Last Chance Tackle has Upton's Customs baits 30% off for their daily Christmas sale. I have a couple packs of his worms and they are awesome!

Yea lesson learned there for sure

The worst for me is getting wet. I'll fish in 30 degrees no problem if I have a couple layers on and some handwarmers in my pockets or some light gloves, but I've had my most miserable day of fishing in 45 degrees and rain. It sucks too because I was having a pretty good day. But my arms and hands got so wet and cold that I didn't have the muscle strength to press down the thumb bar on my baitcasters, so I called it a day.

Way to go out and get 'em dogbone! I got my order of winter baits, some hair jigs, trailers, ballheads, grubs, and a few blade baits. Anybody thinking of going out this weekend? I was hoping to try out some of this stuff but I only learned today how much snow we were actually supposed to get so it probably isn't happening for me.

If anyone is having second thoughts about not pulling the trigger on a Curado K during the Black Friday sales, Outdoor Pro Shop has them 20 dollars off.

Since I was introduced to fishing by my dad when I was really young to probably 4 years ago I was spinning only. But lately I've been building up my casting arsenal and they've definitely become the majority. I still love spinning and if I could only have 1 setup it would probably be spinning, but you won't see me punching on 65lb braid with a spinning setup, although I'm sure it can be done.

Had some decent success in late summer punching, which I hadn't done much of before. Also picked up an MS Slammer that I am really enjoying.

...welcome to the forum.