schplurg

I will check my map right now! Thank you!

You need stuff that mimics real bass food like chatterbaits and spinners. I hear they love those.

Oh I tried. I'll say I gave it ten minutes, then half an hour over a period of a couple days, let it sit for a week, then cut it out.

Caught a tule behind me then casted. My first unfixable nest. The OP reminds me of a time as a teenager when I was at Lake Shasta with family for a week. Merle Haggard (country star) drove his bass boat straight up onto the ramp (Silverthorn I believe), jumped out and said "this boat is %$#^, get me another one!" Old memory but I think he was owner of that place too.

I swear I've aged only three years but they tell me it's been five. I've heard the people who make calendars are part of a conspiracy...

I thought this was going to be a much more horrific thread involving puppies and kittens. As much as I love dogs I must admit that for a micro-second or two, I was a little disappointed.

That's one thing I like about bass fishing: they like shade, I like shade! Roland Martin says "bass don't have eyelids!", so there ya go they don't like it bright. I fish accordingly. I night fished off my Dad's dock last summer and caught one 1st or 2nd cast. T-rigged YUM Dinger. Such a trip. "Everyone at BR says throw what you'd throw during the day so here goes" Was about 1 am. About 3 pounds. Just let it drop. Next night I brought my pliers and a light! De-hooking is no fun without at least a light! Learned that fast. One thing I don't always like is that I can't always see my lure. A few years ago I sidearm cast 90 degrees to my left and over the neighbors metal dock roof. Didn't even know it til I heard a 'tink' to my left. How the heck...? I was a rookie but pretty good during the day haha. But that's a safe, easy to reach dock in my Dad's back yard. Some of the scenarios you guys described with giant bugs and monsters, maybe not so much. I'd try it though with ya.

I'm going to drive up to Salem, Oregon soon to visit my family. Since I have my van set up for camping I thought I might stop along the way and fish. Maybe take a few days to get there. Any suggestions for bank fishing? Black bass or other. Planning on taking Hwy 5 but not necessary. I have no time limit. I did the drive a month or so ago. Shasta is so low. There is also a nice looking river along Hwy 5 once you cross into Oregon. Dang it looks pretty. I'm not worried about where to sleep. No campground needed. I just want to be able to park somewhere, hike if necessary, and fish. Creeks, lakes, rivers. Shasta seems like a possibilty if I can access the water from somewhere. I'll check a map and get reaquainted with it. Been decades since I've been. I'll have a packpack so can hike a bit, as usual. Once I get to Oregon my sister will take a few weeks off work and we'll see about finding my first ever smallmouth. Actually I'm up for suggestions in the Salem area as well. That's where I will be staying.

I'm back. One bite from a tiny bass. It's still early in the day though really. I'm not upset about no fish, but I'm upset that the ponds are going down fast. The creek that connects/creates them is already dry. All the cover is gone (well it isn't cover now). All the places the fish like to hide. My fishing "depression" stems from the creeks running dry, plus it's just a lousy area to fish. I want to fish, just not here. It used to be very good years ago so I hear, but lack of water plus lack of caring from the county means not only does the fishing suck but you can't even launch a kayak in all but two places. It's extremely frustrating living in Cali for me. So yep I fished and that actually was good. I'm glad I made the effort. I mean if nothing else I got exercise. Walked a couple miles maybe. You know, go for a walk, but bring a rod just in case So now I'm not sure what to do for fishing. I will move from the Bay Area soon for sure. Always wanted to again anyways. It (everything) sucks here! Just getting that nibble from that tiny fish was enough to get me going though...that was cool! I could see them watching my bait but they were too small. One tried. I know it's not me now that's the problem with not wanting to fish, it's where I live. The creek was the only good place to catch, now that's gone.

That's very honest and understandable. I've had mild depression on and off my life, but I think Covid or something else triggered something. Either that or I had Covid and didn't know it. I know that lack of energy and motivation is definitely a widespread "thing" since Covid. People in HR at work say it's common, pretty much everyone I've asked has had at least some of this type of effect. So this thread is not surprising. Maybe even reassuring. I'm not the only one. None of us are - far from it guys. I'm going to go fish right now. It's only low 80s today. Feels like I'm waiting for the planets to properly align before I go or something, but that ain't happening. So I'm going. Will report back!

Belly support keeps the fish from squirming and flopping too. I don't know if it's pressure on the swim bladder or what but they stay still 99% of the time for me. Also a fish is more likely to start flailing if it can see that it's close to the water. Like you can have it on shore taking a photo no problem, but once you get close to the water it will try and make a jump for it. I get caught off guard sometimes too. If I get distracted I think my grip may weaken just a little. The fish senses this and shakes loose.

Barbless hooks are easier to remove from you as well, I would imagine. I fish barbless a lot because the nearby creeks require it. I've caught my two largest bass barbless, and come to think of it I lose very few fish. Do the best you can for the fish. Well actually that would include not fishing I think. I've said this recently in similar threads, but if we cared that much about the poor fish we wouldn't be tempting them with fake food, hooking their face, and terrorizing them just so we can weigh them and take a photo. I care about gut hooking them, but I think I'm largely a hypocrite for it. Maybe it's just a way to justify the rest. "See how much I care?" Crocodile tears as far as the fish is concerned. Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm going fishing, tonight hopefully. But I like to challenge my own beliefs and know why I do or think the things I do. I've even changed my mind before

Dogs are truly man's best friend. I still have my dog Rhodi's photo on my phone screen. Still miss her. Sorry for your loss, A-Jay. I wanna come back as a dog. I swear my dog in her short life had more great days than I will ever have.

Dude, I wear a camera on my head, rarely shave, and I have "Lady President" reels that I like to think of as being salmon color rather than pink. They were 66% off from Pflueger so heck ya I bought some. I don't care much what people think of my appearance. Never have been. Having skin cancer because you didn't wear a hat looks "stupid". Wearing a Gilligan hat to protect yourself looks pretty doggone intelligent to me. And I swear I'm getting very slight burns through my ballcap. I just bought UV shirts that are slightly small and make me look fat - well I look as fat as I actually am now. UV gloves I have yet to try. Besides you'll always look cooler than a golfer. I mean yikes!

And if the OP were in a kayak the conversation would be different because weight is more of a factor. AGM/lead are great but weight and the fact that you can only drain them 50% make them a bummer. Performance per pound is depressing. So is carrying them. Of course the price of Lithium is crazy. Maybe I'll do pedals.

That's only 3 months worth of damage? Honesty is important. So is money. Pick one, cause it's gonna cost you one way or the other. I agree with the rod holder idea, that's what I was going to say too. I may use one because I don't wanna lay my more expensive rods on the ground. Edit: My girlfriend would be buying her own gear at that rate of damage. That is extreme!

Tell you what, if you go I'll go! I've been in the funk again, partly because all my local spots have dried up. No water. I'll make you a deal. Is there anyplace close you can go to get a line wet for an hour? Even a creek under a nearby road? If you go tomorrow (or today still not too late for me) then I will also go. It's gonna be hot so I'd do it late evening or night. The creeks are dried up but I will drive 25 minutes to the lake. Maybe that's a dumb idea but I wanna go, I just haven't. If you are in the same boat then that's my "challenge"!

Funny, none of the notoriously late folk have responded. Where are all the late people? Thread is a few days old, so it's late enough now. My friend should respond here, he's late, at least with me. He doesn't fish though. "Hey, Mike, I'm right around the corner...coupla minutes!" 15 minutes later I'm sitting on the porch wondering why I believed him this time. Best friend so...

I'm already in one.

I was going to do that on my minivan but I don't feel comfortable with it. I have never tried it though. Doing this on a ramp could be a nightmare too. I have a cart so I could pull it to flat ground. Then again with the low water levels here that could be a real chore. launch ramps can get very long and steep. As suggested above, lay a bath mat down on your vehicle so you don't scratch it up.

The creek I fish several times a week is dried up. So is the other one. Just happened a week ago. Lakes are puddles. I'm sitting here wanting to fish and wondering where to go.

I stuck my 'ducer on the back. I think I lowered it since this photo. Homemade aluminum mount. I really want the screen mounted on my chair (or hull if needed) beside me. If I start yakkin I may do that. Don't know if any of this could work for you. Edit: I just noticed your screen is really high, so I see your problem. Mine is very low.

I can see why! Wow!

Talk to Garmin

As for fish finder mounting, the best place I can think to put one is beside the seat, probably hanging over the water a little. I was going to do it on mine but haven't figured out the best mount to use. Could just attach it to the seat I think. I made a rail mount for mine so I can either slide it forward out of the way, or mount it on the other side of the yak. I prefer to cast to the left so it's mounted on the right. I can also swivel it out of the way if needed, either over the water or inside the yak. I used Starboard and parts from a rail mounted rod holder I don't use. Painted it later.