herder

Who is this Al guy, he seems to me to be a know it all

Interesting topic. In these situations I'll engage them for a while, looking them straight in the eye while nodding. After a while I'll get a quizzical look and raise my index finger shaking it ever so slightly. I'll say, you look really familiar, I know you from somewhere,,,,,,they will then ask a couple of questions and after a pause I'll ask them if they were ever in prison. That usually ends the conversation pretty quickly

Went back to the reservoir today, well it was tough. Couldn't find them today, 4 fish, 2 small largemouths, one perch and a magnificent rock bass.

Gim can attest to it being a killer technique for rock bass Just kidding, I can't help you with this as I use it mostly on a reservoir that is clear. Vertically in over 20' of water in a kayak.

I use a clicker, I don't trust my memory once I get past 3. I also have to make a list when going food shopping these days, even if it's just more than 2 items

Hit the reservoir yesterday, 12-14' visibility. Well made the mistake of fishing one area too long with a couple of small bass. Finally moved to another area and was able to get 2 decent ones, then the wind picked up with some white caps. Couldn't keep on em being in a paddle kayak with the wind, of course lost the biggest fish at the end of the day on the jump. Thought she came off while fighting it but it was just shooting up off the bottom, dipped the rod in the water hoping it wouldn't jump but she had other plans. 9 fish landed, 6 largemouths, 1 smallmouth, 1 sunfish and of course 1 rock bass, all on a drop shot.

Eye here ya......

I'm old too, when I read the title of this to myself this is what popped up in my mind.

Most of the time the water I fish is ultra clear, so if the finesse bite is off I'm in for a long day.

Worthington and Poxono

Got back yesterday from a 5 day camping trip to the Delaware River. Of course I had to pick one of the hottest weeks of the year, it was HOT! 1st day set up camp and by the time I was finished, well, I was finished, no fishing that day. 2nd day launched the kayak a couple miles north of the campsite, managed 8 smallies with the best one of the trip. 3rd day fished l launched from the campsite launch, caught 25 fish. 20 smallies, 2 sunfish, 2 rock bass and a walleye. 4th day launched again from the campsite launch, the forecast called for no rain,,,,,, fishing was a lot slower. Saw black clouds moving in and figured that I should drift back down to the ramp. Good thing I did as I had left my sunroof opened a bit so the car would only be 110 degrees instead of 130. Rain had started but not much got into the car, then I drove back to my campsite as I left my rain fly opened on the tent, just in time as then the sky opened up and it was coming down hard. Went back to the ramp to wait it out as the radar showed it would pass soon, it did and the sun came back out as did I back on the water. It must have helped as the fishing picked up after the hr rain delay. Wound up with 18 smallies, nothing real big but those river smallies really fight. Most fish were caught on a 1/8 ball jig on an ultra-light St Croix trout rod with 4lb test and a 2.8 Fat Swing Impact and a Ned Rigged Zman green pumpkin TRD bottom bounced drifting along the edge of the eel grass using a Fenwick Eagle which is a more moderate action rod with 10lb test 832 and a 8 lb mono leader 5th day was pack up a wet tent and canopy and head back home. It was hot out on the water, I constantly was dipping my hat in the water and even beached the kayak and took my sun shirt off and dunked that in the water a couple of times. Also had to dip my carbon fiber paddle in the water as it got too hot to handle! Also had a “local” stop by for a drink on the river while I was out there.

The first couple of steps out of the kayak I look like a drunken sailor, after that I’m ok 🙂

I've made quite a spectacle of myself getting out of my kayak after sitting in it for 6 hrs Being a glasses wearer for over 60 years, fresh water ain't too bad. Saltwater though is a royal pia, worse I think was bringing up a Cow Nose ray, when them wings got to flappin I was drenched in saltwater.

Super glued to the jig really helps, nothing helps with perch biting off the tail

Can't say I use them in murky water, but on the clear reservoirs I fish a drop shot with a Max Scent flat worm have been really good for me. Murky for me is something that has some vibration to it, paddle tails or colorado blade spinnerbait or an inline spinner.

No, you're not the only one.

2.8" Keitech Fat Swing Impact on a 1/8oz ball jig has put a lot fish in the kayak this year.

Fished a reservoir yesterday, 14' visibility. 11 fish landed, 7 largemouth, 3 smallies and a rock bass. Nothing of size and fish were in 16' to 25' all on a drop shot. Sunday heading out for a 5 day camping/fishing trip on the Delaware river.

Hellgrammites hands down were the best smallie bait in rivers, it was crack to them.

As a young lad at night after a rain it was nightcrawler time, collected in an old coffee can. Helped my cousin who was 10 years older than me seine a river for shiners. Here in Jersey can't use a cast net in freshwater. Used to seine in saltwater rivers/bays when going fluking, still enjoy that to this day. You never know what you could bring up on a pull, snapper blues, baby stripers, weakfish, flounder, spearing, sennets and even sea horses and some things you didn't know what it was.

My wife just had hers done last month, she still can't believe how much of a difference it made. She reminded me of what we used to hear in the 60's, "Wow, the colors, I can't believe the colors"

We have one here in New Jersey supposedly opening sometime next year. I say supposedly because this has been going on for a dozen years ! 20 or so years ago we were going to have Cabela's up here in the Meadowlands Xanadu complex as an anchor store, well that never happened. At least now with Bass Pro they have started building the structure.

Fished a private lake in North Jersey, first time this year and what a difference a year makes. It was heavily weeded in, previous years there were not much weed. We were able to find a different area of the lake that was not as bad. Wound up with 16 fish, Largemouths, Smallmouths and a couple of perch.

I have 2 close friends who had their knee's replaced, both worked in the trades and could hardly walk. Both are doing great now and they both said they listened and did what rehab/Pt's had them do. Hip for me, shattered my pelvis in an accident and had to learn to walk again at 40. Rehab took months, but had a great PT and followed her instructions religiously, 30 years later kayaking, fishing and camping a lot. Having a good surgeon is important, but doing the rehab work is key.

I loosen mine after every trip when I get home and unload. Habit, from the days of felt and leather, 90% of all my reels are now carbon fiber with a light coat of Cal's on em. I test my drag when putting the rods on the kayak, but when retying or fixing what ever I messed up on the kayak I loosen it to pull line off the reel, of course then I have forgotten to retighten the drag and go to set the hook,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,