schplurg

I have a $20 Bass Pro telescopic spinner with a Trion reel. My friend has the same rod (not sure if they are made exactly the same) and it has lasted him over 10 years. I use it in my Kayak too. I use an $11 book backpack I got at Walmart. Rod fits in, one or two Plano 3600s, water, scale, small bag o' plastics, small terminal box. Camera equipment for GoPro, food and sunscreen. With room to spare. I keep this kit in my truck ready to go.

Even if that made sense, the road isn't the main problem, it's all the other idiots that I'm worried about. I've been rear-ended and injured twice myself. People get killed on roads every day. Wearing a seatbelt is sensible. From Wikipedia: For 2016 specifically, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows 37,461 people were killed in 34,436 motor vehicle crashes, an average of 102 per day.[1] As I've already shown, getting robbed or boat-jacked on the water just doesn't happen. I found one story over the last 10 years (or was it twenty?) and posted it early on, and it was Mexican robbers on a lake that borders the US. That's it. You're afraid of a boogeyman that does not exist.

Early this season I found an empty box that an Ugly Stik combo was sold in. A 3 foot long box, carried half a mile over a hill and dumped in a beautiful section of trees and shrubs. Oh ya, this one REALLY ticked me off. I'm fishing the creek and I see two Modelo 12 pack boxes on shore with empty cans inside, plus some other junk. It was a neat pile so I thought it was odd. Maybe someone was still using it. After awhile a guy comes walking up, tells me I'm in a good spot for fish, then grabs something out of the pile - a mostly eaten bag of crackers. I figure okay let's see if he comes back to grab his stuff, because I have him red-handed on camera. Very next day the pile is still there, only it's been kicked around to make a great mess. Unfortunately I'd deleted the video from the day before. I wanted to nail this guy on Youtube and show his face for all to see, but oh well. Far as I know it's all still there. I pick stuff up sometimes but this is a big pile. The guy was mid-thirties maybe, had a few nice rods and a good backpack - yet still a complete POS.

Only experience I've had Jeeping is doing the Rubicon with my brother in his. I saw bigger trucks - one brand new - destroyed trying to wiggle between boulders in a few spots. For that trip I would use a Jeep.

I used to wonder about changing split rings until I started changing out hooks on my cheap plugs. I have good split-ring pliers but sometimes a cheap split-ring gets mangled or won't close up properly after I've pried it open. Maybe it's my technique, but that is the only problem I've had with rings (so far).

If I'm bank fishing I only bring two 3600 boxes in a backpack. One has cranks, jerks, poppers, maybe a frog for fun. The other box has spinners (regular, inlines, and Beetle Spins), couple jigs, a chatterbait, a buzz bait. I carry one soft plastics bag (say a YUM Dinger bag) filled with a variety of things - worms, craws, grubs, lizards, flukes. I can stuff a lot in there. I used to bring a freezer bag with maybe 10 bags of plastics in it but that's a bit ridiculous for most trips, and they get heavy. I usually know what I'm going to want to throw as far as plastics go. For a long day I may still bring the freezer bag, but I'd rather carry more drinking water. One small double-sided box for terminal tackle. On my yak I have a milk crate and bring 4 3600 boxes.

Encouraging more people to fish is not in my best interest, but it is in Bass Pro Shop's best interest. If there are not enough anglers one day to encourage companies to create new technology I'm fine with that. I'd rather have less anglers on the waters I fish than a better fish finder. Is there anyone here who wishes there were more anglers on their waters? Not crowded enough, not enough litter? Because that's what the result will be Sure, I encourage a friend or a kid maybe to fish here and there, but a big movement to bring more anglers to the sport? Nah.

Few things I've noticed about the Covid Anglers... - They don't get up early to fish. - They fish wherever they can park their cars and no further than they can carry an ice chest. I've recently found new spots along creeks and ponds that appear to have very low to zero traffic (no litter, no footprints). Just walking some yards off the beaten path is often good enough. I thank/blame Covid for forcing me to be more adventurous.

Can anyone suggest an alternative to Z-man baits for Ned Rig? I'm afraid I'll eventually put the plastics in the wrong bag and melt everything else I own. I'd like to avoid ever buying Elaztech. Or maybe I'm paranoid.

I have one 3600 box for deep divers (don't have many yet), and the rest are stuffed into another box. All of those are squarebills of same depth. I'm gonna force myself to stick to a simple color scheme - light (shad, white), dark (black, red), and medium (chartreuse, bluegill and whatever else). I just don't think the fish notice the intricate patterns as they attack these baits. We shall see. I'm going to ignore the ol' monkey and stick to basics and see how it goes. I see an alternative treble hook bonnet on Amazon, wondering if anyone has tried them. In case the picture doesn't show for you, these look like foam discs that slip onto the hook shank, then you press it down onto the hook points. I could probably make some. Actually I think I will do just that. Seems like they may be more difficult to put on and take off than the slip-on type bonnets. I've never used either type. I have an Amazon order ready to go but realized, thanks to this thread, that I need to try hook bonnets. Edit: I just ordered the traditional type bonnets instead of these.

That's quite a milestone, especially after that many years! Congrats!!!!!

This, and talk to a physician. Take care of it or it will only get worse. Ask me how I know

I noticed mine got some stuff restocked. All the Ozark Trail baits and all these jigs are there. No fishing line though and little terminal stuff.

I've always been told that water "clots" fish wounds the best and that getting it back in is the best thing for it. Putting anything on a fish wound seems like a bad idea. I've caught bass with big chunks missing from them, probably from bird claws, and I doubt the bird dressed the wound properly. Companies don't want to admit what is actually in their live well additives so I don't like the idea of using it and letting it get into the water, even if it actually worked. They make pretty wild claims with no evidence. And yes I have a bit of a bug up my rear end for this stuff, sorry. Studies have shown that additives are not effective. Big write-up if anyone wants to read it. In my opinion though it is up to the companies to prove their claims and they can't or won't. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272477468_Effectiveness_of_Livewell_Additives_for_Increasing_Largemouth_Bass_Survival ...the consistent trend of higher mortality with livewell treatments during the field experiments suggests that additives may impart additional negative stressors that increase mortality. Our results also suggest that fish size and ambient water temperature may have a greater influence on delayed mortality observed during competitive angling events than specific livewell additives. ........ Many organizations continue to sponsor black bass tournaments during late spring and summer months when ambient water temperatures are at the highest. Although a variety of practices have been adopted to reduce initial and delayed tournament mortality, our results suggest the benefits of livewell additives on post release survival of competitively angled largemouth bass are minimal; water temperature when tournaments are held and the size of fish angled appear to be more important. Our results suggest that tournament organizers should consider conducting events when ambient water temperatures are cooler. In addition, tournament organizers should consider alternative rules and formats that may result in less physiological stress on fish

First your canoe gets trashed and now this? I'm thinking people in your area have proved they are not worthy. If I remember correctly you and your kids also went out and picked up trash for some hours one day. Their trash most likely. I dunno what to say man, so sick of people sometimes. I try not to let it get to me but it does, and I enjoy being around people less and less. Hate to be negative but it's the truth, and not just fishing.

Trash, and I never get used to it. I get angry every time. I wanna blame certain groups of people for it, but I see all kinds of trash from all colors, races and age groups. I see chip bags with Asian writing, I see cans of beans and sardines, I see Modelo, Bud Light, Coors, water bottles, bass bait packages, live bait, socks, diapers...I want to blame the bucket brigade, or the immigrants that fish for food with no license, barbed hooks and live bait (all illegal at this spot) but it's everyone. Few weeks ago I saw a giant McDonald's cup on the trail. It was recently dumped as it was a hot day and the dirt was still very wet. I had just walked by this spot not twenty minutes earlier and it was not there. The only people that were around were a group of three teenagers who'd recently arrived. They must have dumped it. When I initially saw them I thought "Good to see kids having some honest fun for once". After seeing the cup I was so mad - I'll leave it at that.

Taking fishing advice on a fishing forum will get you almost as far

Caught a bullfrog on a frog once. Only thing I've ever caught on one so far. Was barbless so he was an easy release.

But they don't, save for a lake in Texas 10 years ago on the Mexican border (Mexican Pirates). I can find no other reports of fishermen being robbed on lakes (boats on docks, yes). I'm sure there are a few areas that are sketchy, but I wouldn't fish them anyways. I'm a sitting duck at a red light too, and carjackings actually DO happen, but I'm not worried about it. The odds are astronomical. I think it's more likely a bear attacks your boat than some gun-wielding PETA nutbar Is it legal to carry a concealed loaded weapon on a boat? I don't know if it is here. Everything is illegal here. I could see carrying when bank fishing in some places. That makes some sense. I don't know if a gun is really the best defense though. I ask all this because there are a few members of my family that are gun enthusiasts and I do not trust their judgment very much. They are not responsible gun owners. I know a few other people who are very responsible with their firearms, take care of them, show the proper respect and actually know their weapons inside and out. In my experience, most people fall into the "dumb idiot" category, and the thought that all these people could be carrying worries me more than the criminals. Thank you for the discussion. I don't own a gun now but I have, and I have access to a safe full of them across the room as I type this, so I'm not anti-gun.

I think watching three-year-olds race would be a hilarious way to spend a few hours if they were people instead of horses. Or maybe have the jockeys do a foot race and release the horses from the gate when they're maybe a hundred yards down the track. That would be really funny! I have great ideas for rodeo too.

Good bass fishing in the south bay was 10-20 years ago. There are still fish here, but it is what I would classify as "pretty bad". OP - you're better off in the East Bay where you're at. From there the Delta is close too and on a different level than anything in the South Bay. The Delta is one of the best fisheries in the country for bass and many other species. I honestly feel you are wasting time and money looking for bass in the South Bay. I mean it's something to do, but it's very frustrating. Calero - 50% capacity water level or less. Open for boating with reservation but not until 8 am. Very very small lake. One of your better choices for bass here but count on catching zero. Coyote - 50% full or less. Reservation to launch. A relatively good choice for bass (for the area). Might get a couple. Anderson - being drained and will be so for a decade at least. Coyote Creek below Anderson dam. My favorite spot. Bank only, barbless, 8 am to dusk. Guadalupe and Almaden reservoirs. Nowhere to park (no parking signs all along the road). Uber there and maybe catch one on these low water level lakes. Not a bad choice really (for the area) if you can get there. Stevens Creek (non-power craft), Lexington, Almaden in San Jose, Vasona - closed to all water craft right now, extremely tough fishing. Uvas - Good for bank fishing, lotta bank access, I've caught a few. The fish are healthy here. I usually go home with nothing though. Chesbro - sucks for bass. It's 2 miles from me and I know it well. In the South Bay you may catch a few but your odds are bad. If you want to fart around then go for it. It's what I do. If you want to go "real" bass fishing you gotta go elsewhere. Disclaimer - I am not the best bass fisherman but I know people that are good that don't bother to fish here anymore. I still fish because it's all I have, but I'm moving away in a few months. I've had one bite this year so far at all these places combined. Went to Lake Tulloch last weekend - that was real bass fishing, and I only hit it from the dock. Go ahead and try, I still do. It's no big loss though because I live here and don't have to drive far and plan a day around it.

100+F at night? My honest advice - move! My brother moved to Arizona a few years ago and encourages me to do so. The heat alone is enough for me to say no way. No job could pay me enough, no woman could be beautiful enough and no fish big enough.

Yep, and if you put a few pieces of scrap in there to actually dump you can probably weight it free, or even MAKE a few bucks, assuming they don't mind you towing a bass boat in their yard. They weigh you after you drop off your scrap as well.

I guess I responded in the old thread I was gonna get a Striker, then someone here told me the Echomap Plus 6SCV with a 6 inch screen was on sale for $300 (and still is at BPS, I added a link in the other thread) I couldn't use a 4 inch Striker without glasses on. This 6 inch is awesome, plus it has lake maps built in. Highly recommended if it's in your price range.

I just look at death stats in my area. Current cases etc is totally dependent on the amount of tests performed. Death is death and we can quickly determine if Covid was the reason or not. 150 in my county of 2 million. Nothing the media or (especially) government says will make me more apt to hang out in crowds right now. I'm not heading to any sit-down restaurants, not gonna sit shoulder to shoulder in a bar. And I'm definitely not going to any rallies where thousands of people are expected to attend - indoors no less. That's just irresponsible idiocy. I went fishing yesterday (saturday) and I was the only angler I saw at the ponds. Saw a few "hikers" and that's it. My problem now is with the fish who swim slowly by ignoring all my baits.