Holetail

Went to Academy yesterday for one non fishing item and they have their clearance sale going on. Selection had been picked over some but still scored some ol monsters, flukes, rage bugs, rage tails, and fish head underspins for about half price. Don’t really need any of these, but hard to pass up a sale. Also picked up an H2O express bait binder. New product with 10 ziplock pages and an external pouch with small tackle box. Think it will be perfect for bank fishing and short kayak trips where I don’t need a ton of tackle or plastics. Will easily fit under my seat in the junk drawer.

A growth plate in his leg got damaged last summer which caused his foot to be crooked. Had to wait until fully grown to have surgery to repair it. They cut a wedge of bone out and put in a plate to straighten the foot. Will be on “light duty” for the next couple months. Hate we had to do it but he’s so young, that we had to try so he can have the best life he can. If left crooked, it would eventually damage his other joints and could eventually lose his leg. Poor guy is happy to be home after 4 days at the vet.

Today was our boy Hank’s “gotcha” day. What a difference a year makes. Picked him up following a surgery today. He is happy to be home and will be good as new in no time.

Thanks. I was sort of hoping to hear your response since we at least fish in the same state and I’ve read enough of your posts to realize you know your spinnerbaits. Will definitely take the color suggestions into account. As for weights, not sure I want to go to 3/4 oz. Plan on throwing them on Dobyns Sierra 724c with Tatula 150 and 15# invisx. Rods only rated to 1 oz and the 1/2 oz war eagle weighs around 3/4 on the scale. Confident I can fish the 1/2 oz slow rolled with a 6.3:1 reel. Appreciate the info. Will snag a single Colorado in silver just to have for certain situations. Will go with tandems since I already have some double willows.

This is why this forum is the best. Congrats to all on what looks like a great day!

Wanting to order some Zman plastics and Siebert has what I want at best prices I can find. Planning on picking up a few tungsten weights as well to see if I like them more than lead. Planning on picking up a Fogy just to check it out vs the multiple chatters I already have. Have several jigs and swimjigs from them and they are amazing so I know I cannot go wrong. Where I need some help is with spinnerbaits. Haven’t really fished them much but want to start and would like so recommendations on a few different blade, colors, and size (compact vs full size) to start with. Have picked up a couple war eagles in 3/8 and 1/2 with double willow blades but wanted to get a few since I’m ordering anyway. Mostly fishing 15’-20’ deep clear water with grass on the bottom. Thinking slow rolling will be the ticket but will need to figure that out. What do the spinnerbait tossers feel would be a good start? TIA

I believe there are events in life that change your outlook and also present choices / options you may not have considered possible before. Mine was in 2008 when my grandfather who raised me ended up hospitalized after a surgery gone wrong. At the time I was single, living at the beach, and commercial fishing for a living. This left me with $ and too much free time to chase girls and party. I travelled home several times to see him and was there when he passed. Those hard few months reconnected me to my family back home. Came back to NC and my heart wasn’t there anymore and knew I needed a change. Enrolled back in school back home so I could live with my grandmother to help out and spend more time with family. Was wrapping up work and getting ready to move when a girl I went on one date with months before happened to text me. Ended up seeing her that night and every night for my last week there. She is now my wife and we have two great kids after spending our first two years 600 miles from each other. Graduated in 2010 and moved back to NC with my grandmother demanding I go marry that girl! Haha. 2010 was a rough time to be looking for work so I struggled and she supported us for the most part. Then, she’s pregnant and I’m losing my mind how we will make it on my $10 an hour gig at Home Depot (all I could find). The day after my son was born, I got a call for an interview with the company I still work for today. Now here we are almost 13 years later in a nice home, two great kids, and blessed beyond belief… Moral of the story is that when a door closes, maybe you need to go out the open window. The path to happiness may lie on the other side of it.

A picture is worth a thousand words… thanks for the assist

Dobyns rods are known to have slightly softer tips than what most companies use. For instance, their “fast” actions are typically a little slower than say a St Croix “Fast” action. I cannot speak for all of the Dobyns series rods since I haven’t used them all, but the Kadens were designed to be closer to a “true” fast action which so far I feel they accomplished at least in the one rod I have. Compared to the Colt, Fury, and Sierra rods I have, the tip is quite a bit faster making it ideal for what I wanted in this rod. Hope this helps explain some. I’m sure there are others here who could go deeper into this explanation if need be.

Just got my first Kaden (713c) for light Texas rigs and tubes. Only one fish caught so far, but was really happy with the rod the few times I’ve had a chance to use it. Noticeably faster tip than the fury it’s replacing.

Have whittled down to only Dobyns rods in Fury, Sierra, and Kaden series. Pretty much all Daiwa Tatula and Fuego reels. Have a few other brand combos but they don’t get used a ton.

Some more “open water” but it would be a serious problem if this pond froze

My 7 year olds schedule. Charmed life

When you get and give directions by referencing who lives by an intersection. “Head out past the Henderson place and it’s the second dirt road on the left”

The saying “That’s stronger than new rope” comes to mind…

Nothing special, but first time out in over a week. Big weather change coming so I thought they would be chewing. I was wrong. Only 3 bites total at 3 different ponds but made the last one count with this 2.2 pounder on a stupid tube.

This guy was on a trail behind our neighborhood. He survived this encounter but one of us may die if he ever gets in my kayak #cardiacarrest

Everything I’ve read is that using a stake through a scupper hole is a bad idea. Voids warranty on some kayaks as well. Better to use an anchor trolley or a short length of rope/paracord tied to stake and a cleat on your kayak.

Although Charles in Charge did have a young Nicole Eggert. Just saying… haha

Yep. $20 set of Wahl clippers = 20 years of cuts for me as well!

Just checked it out and it appears there are very few items in stock… maybe I’m missing something though

Great deal on a very nice rod for what you want to do with it. Picked up the same rod prior to Christmas and the sensitivity difference between it and the Fury 702sf is noticeable.

After spending an average of 3-4 day trips offshore on a commercial fishing boat when I was younger, a little possible bass slime or scent wouldn’t keep from eating anything if I was hungry. We would even carry wasabi and soy on trips so if we caught a small yellowfin, we could have the freshest sashimi possible. At least we were evolved enough to not use the bait knives as utensils!

I have been upgrading all of my rods and reels the last few months. Finally settled on Dobyns Sierra series (but have a Kaden on the way) and Daiwa reels. Been giving away some of my older gear to a friends son who is really getting into fishing. I’m told he slept with the first rod I gave him next to his bed he was so happy. Haha. Definitely figuring out how I like to fish and what works where I fish, so I plan on cleaning out some of the excess plastics and lures this year. I definitely fell into the trap of trying everything last year. Want to focus my efforts more on what works rather than bringing the kitchen sink. Kept a log last year so plan on using that to narrow down my options going forward.

I trust you know I was joking. That yak looks like it will serve you well