schplurg

For cover I like floating mats or plants, and tule/bamboo whatever along shore that looks like it could hold fish. Almost all the local fish I catch are in a creek and under cover. Structure - I guess I'm not sure yet. I haven't fished long enough and rarely from a boat, but so far I like the steep ledge near my Dad's dock. Fished for 15 minutes last weekend and got me a 2 pounder third cast at 11:00 PM. That dock is perfect. There's a small point within casting range with a steep ledge as I drag it back. Docks to both sides. Gets deep quickly, but right under the dock is shallow-ish. Can cast back to the seawall under some cover (bushes on the wall). And I can shoot out to water that's at least 40 feet deep with a hard cast. Mix of tall grass and clear spots. And the little point creates an armpit where the wind blows stuff in (it collects at the neighbors dock so haha). I catch fish almost every trip to the dock when I'm visiting. My current avatar is me on that dock with a 4 pounder. Sorry, I'm rambling. I love fishing, I love talking about fishing and I love thinking about fishing. Edit: Whatever my definition of cover is I'm sure I learned it here, and probably from Tom. So, whatever he says.

Was in a recent thread here with guys telling about how grumpy they are when other people are around. "Treble hook cast at them" was mentioned. Good to see this thread. Some guy was walking toward me along shore at New Melones a few weeks ago. I grumbled to myself "don't cast here maaan..." When he approached he asked, "Okay if I cast and fish through?" "Sure go ahead!" Ya real tough guy haha. He was catching fish, I was not. Could maybe learned something from him but I was about done. If you're polite I am more than happy to know you. Edit: Now that I think about it, he said, "Okay if I cast here, right?" So some people just assume you are going to be kind (what nerve!). Cool guy, just a hack like myself

Who isn't drinking tonight....that's the question! Torpedoes here.

To add insult to injury, I'm one of those lucky guys that has hair everywhere except on his head. I was 25 and it was already out of control. If you think you see bigfoot it's probably me, so don't shoot! And thanks Dad!

Yes, use a box. If nothing else it will keep it from short circuiting if something falls on top of it that contacts both terminals.

Doesn't seem like you'd get much sun on the fingers of either hand. What do you all think? I guess maybe they will when not actually reeling or using the rod. I'm looking for protection for just the tops of my hands. I think?

I'm sure a big enough bird could even do the job if you were going fast enogh. I wouldn't want to be hit with some of the big geese I've seen whooshing by overhead even if I were standing still! I agree with 12poundbass. Driving over an idle at night is a very bad idea.

And remember: white bass can't jump!

I hooked a sand crab about the size of my thumbnail once while surf fishing. I have almost all of my catches on video, including that one

Did you catch him off a bridge? I made my first "vertical landing" recently up maybe a 10 foot ledge. Was shocked I caught one there. I'm like "uh oh how do I get him up?" but it was small enough. Good stuff!

Bad days sometimes make good stories later.

Vote for carp

Video of a bird stealing the fish my friend had just released. Video should start right at that moment:

Keep pressure and watch the show. Lost my very first bass when it jumped. Was still very exciting. If a fish can jump and escape me then good on him. We have nets, sonar, all kinds of crap to catch them with. Little sucker still outsmarts us! I don't like losing them, but a good battle full of action is what I like and it makes it much sweeter when you do catch it

it was a weedless split shot rigged Zoom finesse worm, green pumpkin magic. Catches fish as well as sneaky trees.

I dunno, that's two senses gone. My Dad once said "Marry a woman who can cook cuz sex can get old but good food never does!" At 53 I'd give up sex before my taste or smell. Food is one of life's greatest pleasures. But ya it could be worse.

So I did skunk that day haha. Or maybe I can call it a reaction strike.

Was fishing the Delta for stripers. Had a frozen anchovy chunk tied onto the hook with some Magic Thread. Is this a clam? The Magic Thread is inside the clam. Do you think the clam closed on the string, and maybe my bait, or did the string just get worked into the shell somehow? I don't see how the latter could have happened. So did I catch this clam thingy or snag him? And I don't know why I was using that hook. Here's my only other catch that day...

My $20 Bass Pro telescopic spinning rod. I have caught so many fish with this thing. Fits in my backpack. I put on a Trion reel and it's a workhorse. Have had no issues with it. Actually I haven't collapsed it in awhile, it's in the rod rack in my van as a "regular" rod. Not my favorite rod, especially casting, but an awesome value.

The chart posted above appears in this article. It's a long article full of research, experiments and sciency stuff. No need to wonder, science has you covered. https://academic.oup.com/cz/article/65/1/43/4924236

I will let it fall then tweak it a few times before retrieval. I will do a slow retrieve sometimes, but if I'm fan casting an area I see no need to waste time dragging it over the same area repeatedly as it gets closer to my position. One slow retrieval or two per area. I don't retrieve wacky rigged baits super-fast to recast because I feel the bait will last longer and get pulled apart less if I go slower. I usually do T-rigs rather than wacky though.

My coworkers Mom hasn't been able to taste or smell since December 15th. I'm not sure I'd want to live if I couldn't taste food. She can't even cook confidently with no smell. Makes her cry.

No, and definitely not because it is dangerous. For example the job of being a logger is much more dangerous, as are many other jobs. I have never had issues with LEOs, but I know others who have. I have no special love or hate for law enforcement. They are just people, some flawed some not.

Magnet maybe. Edit: Doh! Corrected below

Here's my DIY kayak build. I've tried to break it and so far it's strong.