schplurg

I did until the creek dried up this year.

Beetle Spins rock! I'll fish for anything, no hate for Beetle Spins here. I fish creeks, ponds, rivers, lakes. I love fishing, not "big bass only" fishing. Bluegill need our love too!

If I spent $60K on a bass boat I'd use it however I wanted. Put a freakin ski tow bar and a bimini top on there if you want. They're probably angry because they didn't have the "guts" to do it themselves.

Echomap is good and I got the 6 inch for $300 on sale. My 6 inch screen is perfect for my almost 54 year old eyes. I've only used it a few times but I mainly use the split screen with the regular ol' colorized fishfinder (not down imaging) on one side and GPS and contour map on the other. I have a high seat and the unit doesn't get in the way rail mounted. Batteries are in my crate behind the seat. I have all my junk mounted on the right side so that I can land fish, or climb into the yak, even from the dock, without obstructions. My ducer is mounted on a homemade aluminum mount on the right side rail for now. All you need is a drill and a vice to make the bends.

I'm thinking of trying live bait on a local lake. I see fish on my graph, a lot of them, and people keep saying it's tough here. I'd like to at least know what kind of fish I'm seeing so I may try worms soon. I don't really care what I catch as long as I catch something soon. And I don't care what anyone else thinks about it, especially jackwads I also wear a camera on my head and use two Lady President reels that I got at 66% off brand new. Think what you want about me, I don't care. I'm busy fishin' while they're hatin'

Finally a thread where everyone spelled Castaic correctly.

When I use beads I put on two. I don't think lead weights and beads make much noise, you need the second one. I think Tom mentioned that here before but I'm not sure. I don't know if they help I only do it sometimes.

I design and print stickers and labels as part of my job. I don't think the ones I make are great for outdoors, at least in the open weather. I have some inside my crate lid that are fine though and been there a few years.

Haha no but they did ignore me. I have a lot to learn for sure. I could see my bait sometimes on the screen. "It's right there! Eat it!" Well at least I know they are there. I saw a ton of frye in the back cove swimming in the veg near shore. Couldn't tell what they were. Looked kinda big. The guy who does the inspections at the ramp said nobodys catching, but he heard there was bass spawning near the dam. I'm like...okaaaay. Possible. Gonna hit the Delta in a few.

It's probably the wake boat monkey. You ever see or hear the gigantic stereos they have in those things? Yep, someone's gotta be telling these guys "Yeah everyone on the lake will think you're really cool! Buy it!". You can tell the difference because the wake boat monkey wears stupid little shoes, whines a lot and is usually drunk.

I always carry some cash, I like having options. If I think someone might rob me I'd just start talking very very loud to myself or cuss out a nearby light post. People don't mess with me. I rarely use cash now because I don't want other peoples' Covid infected change in my pocket. A burrito place near me only accepts cash too. And ever try swiping a credit card on a stripper? Don't get creative or cute with it, you'll get a 9 inch heel stuck in your forehead!

I set my van up with a bed and kitchen stuff. Coleman stove, a bunch of spices, flatware, cookware, bare minimum. But my EFK (Emergency Fishing Kit as I call it) consists of a telescopic rod, a Plano or two, some plastics, a scale, a snack, water and a few other things, all in a backpack. I don't like keeping too much gear in the van. The heat seems to make the line memory a lot worse if I keep rods in there. For the van I have a 5 pound propane tank (a mini BBQ style) because those little ones can leak and in a van that isn't good. And because the homeless people buy up the small ones, or so they tell me at the store. I bring a deep cycle battery to run any lights or watch a movie if I'm stuck in the van. Small battery box I made. It's also my fish finder battery. I have a big one should I need it but never have. I have a 5 gallon water jug with a USB rechargable pump on top of it ($12 Amazon). I frickin love that little pump. It runs a long time between charges and is very worth it. I have a PVC rod rack I made. I have photos from another thread. It's my favorite DIY I think. Takes practically zero space that could be used for something else and it solves a common and big problem.. I also made a curtain that blocks the cab from the back, can kinda see it. And I made covers for all the other windows, insulated and black so nobody can tell they're in there when I use them. Bed has two drawers beneath with all the kitchen stuff. The drawers are maybe 4 feet deep. Here's the bed and drawer with the mattress folded up out of the way. By the way the mattress is very comfortable. But the main ingredient is the EFK backpack. That's all I need in my vehicle, bare minimum.

Dude you need a GoPro so the rest of us can enjoy it!

Great point. At one lake I go to it can be over 100 during the day, and it will still be 90 when the sun goes down. Quite the conundrum for a lazy non-morning person like me.

What is the advantage of a SUP over a kayak for fishing though? Not price, not storage, not stability (maybe a little?). I don't see the attraction. You have to lash everything down. Lash down a cooler and a seat and - hey it's a kayak!

Can't sleep so...my yak loadout for today: My customized crate has 4 rod holders that I made, plus lid and latch. All StarBoard and PVC pipe. I don't know what the lid is, some plastic I found. Got a DIY battery box made from a plastic ammo case with two 8 or 11 ah batteries, can't remember how much. Powers the fish finder, light, has USB ports and all that. Powers one camera. I am going to make a custom power and storage box soon. The rear storage area of this yak is wide and I want to use it. DIY flag/light/camera pole, made with a socket for a cars reverse light and an LED bulb. Pole needs upgrading, and needs to be moved to the back where the power pole mount area is (back left corner). Graph and ducer on the front right rail, ducer is tilted up 90 deg. Got a beanie on my seat for no reason. It's a prop cover for when I have the pedal drive in the van. Got 2 Plano boxes stashed under/in the seat. That's nice, up out of any water. Freezer ziploc of plastics behind the seat just thrown there. Oh and there's my orange DIY mini oar next to the crate. I actually used it today. Those rectangular clear bait covers on my rods are awesome. Keeps the hooks from digging into my upholstery in the van, my fingers, and each other as I carry them. Simple and effective, and I like them clear. I take em off once I'm ready. My lesson of the day: I sped towards the launch area, aimed the yak for the dirt right next to the dock - I didn't wanna block the ramp. I got up some speed then as it got shallow I yanked up the pedal drive, then pulled up the rudder. The yak turned for some reason (wind, weird drag?) during this and I nailed the dock at about 35 degrees I'd say. Pang! No biggie I just thought it was funny. Note to self.

Went out today, Calero. Nada. Nobody had anything positive to say about the fishing there. It's close though. Silver lining! I used the Garmin Echomap today and it's great for me mounted on the right-side track. This is my Ride 115 shown in first image below, but the mount is the same. Same placement too. Made of Starboard. I painted it black. I stole the ball mount from a rod holder I have, and I used another for the ducer arm. I can pivot the screen out over the water if I need it out of the way. I made this when Covid started and had little choice. I like it low and out of the way. I think I'd like it next to the seat, I don't look at it constantly. I mount my aluminum ducer arm right in front of it. Was wondering about the picture below, I've only used this three times: - is my transducer too high, or sensitivity off? Why yellow from 0 - 2 feet? Or is that green? :-D - Them 'r fish, right? Them archy thangs? - bait ball in the middle or veg? - I see dinosaur eggs too I think. Echomap 6 cv I think. Them archy thangs ignored me all day. Was fun and I needed to get out, BAD! Oh I used the paddle today in a spot. Man I do NOT miss that thing! Pedals all - the - way!!!

Not private but only one public launch ramp.

My first and only experience with a tourney angler was a Wednesday night 4 hour shootout on my Dad's lake. I was fishing off my Dad's dock, I casted my popper and was working it. Some jerks in a bass boat, who definitely saw me, cast within one foot of my bait and dragged their little bait back without catching a fish. I said nothing (that won't happen again), but I caught a nice topwater bass 30 seconds later and made sure they heard me as they puttered away. The more I learn about boat bass tourneys the less I like them. Sounds fun, but livewelling and killing fish, driving like idiots and treating other anglers like crap turned me off. Kayak tourneys I will do if I get a chance.

Cows eat up to 15 times a day so I guess the fish are always biting according to them. Now if I see fish eating I know that the fish are probably uh, eating.

Flat paddle board looks like a pain in the butt to fish off of. Where do you put any gear? No seat? Nah. Maybe for an hour or so just for fun. Once. I see no advantage to it over even a cheap paddle kayak, including price. I suppose if I had just a SUP I'd try it, but I'd probably trade it for a kayak instead if I really wanted to fish.

Pretty much anything that comes out of a fisherman's mouth can be true or false depending on everything in the world, even this.

....at home doing something else! In a boat I could see wanting a partner more than not. On shore, I sometimes go with someone else, but we often split up anyways. It is cool having someone around depending on the situation. Surf fishing with a freind was a blast, we even kept score. Kayak fishing, not sure. Another person would motivate me to get up and go, but once we launch, eh I dunno. I've done it a few times and it was cool. And it's good for safety. I'm not leaving until I'm done, so be ready for that or drive yourself. At the Delta I'd welcome a friend anytime probably. I always drive myself bank fishing because one friend leaves once he's out of beer. I don't have time for drinking when I fish. That's for after!

That's great, I miss it. I added above that I still have access to the shop via the new owner. It's a drive though. Different building. My family sold it to one of the employees, super nice guy. The gizmo is still a little tight too, so hopefully I can make it purty still by sanding. It'll rarely get used anyways, not that that matters If it fits well enough I can make a pattern and share it I suppose.

I did the cardboard but wasn't perfect. Worse than I thought, I should have been more patient. I've worked with Starboard and I like that, this seems different. And yes very dense! Holy cow. I will buy my roommate a pack of blades for the jigsaw, he needed them even before I started haha. I wanted to do cardboard, then a thin wood pattern. I could router around that perfectly. Jigsaw sucked LOL. It tore this stuff up. I don't have the cabinet shop to play in anymore. Parents owned one for 45 years and it was awesome growing up with that big shop on the property. I'll sand it in a few days and show y'all how that turns out. Edit: I do still have access to the shop, the new owner is cool, I just feel weird asking him. If I could make a better pattern I could use the CNC and make a bunch of these.