Jmurphy87

My local Walmart had bigmouth boxes for $10 or less a piece, I think they are flambue brand. It’s what I used for chatter baits, spinner baits, buzz baits. I got at least 20 of them in each one.

Around 4 tiny bass 12 inches or less along with 5 pike and my first smallie of the year. I can live with that.

I didn’t get skunked at least, caught 2 monsters. I mean small ones. I got to spring valley today to see where they were at. I got there about 9am after dropping my daughter off to go to her soccer game invitational. I started with my custom skirted thunder cricket. I walked into the water and started fishing. There was a couple people out on it fishing in a canoe and a small bass raider. I wasn’t getting anything but neither were they. I kept fishing my stretch of the bank and trying different things and finally caught my first one, about the same size as the one I took the picture of. I was in the water and didn’t want to get out to grab my phone. I switched to a lipless and caught another small one. The reason I took a picture of the second one is because I needed to grab my pliers to remove a treble hook without getting stuck with one. The little fish still shoved one treble into my finger a little but that’s normal at times. I never saw the other guys catch anything. Spring valley is a very odd place to fish and you have to know exactly where to go otherwise you will just practice casting, I have learned that by experience lol.

Here the picture of the reel, got it spooled up with 14lb sniper I had laying around.

That’s a great idea, lol. I am definitely trying though. Doesn’t seem like it, although that’s my addition and obsession. I will see how this goes. The hours at work are definitely not like they used to be so that ultimately decides if I buy something else or live in a cardboard box with my stuff. I think that’s a easy choice maybe.

I wanted a backup in case I blow one up lol. I just wanted to compare the daiwa mag brakes to the shimano centrifugal brakes. The next purchase will be for the wife, she won’t give up her zebco reels. She complains about them and how they are temperamental, I am thinking a daiwa gold cast or whatever they call it. I need to find someone who knows something about them though so that I know if she will still have the issues she does. The next purchase after that will be a new spinning rod for my daughter, lucky her. She turns 16 this year time for her to get her first fishing license ? I am doing better lol not really, but baby steps they say.

Yeah I will be posting a picture of my curado MGL later lol. I got the 6.2 ratio though. I went in my local shop yesterday and they had them for $30 off I looked down and saw the tatula 80 that I bought the previous day was $30 also. I talked to the salesman who knows that I am a regular and he told me that he would make it right. I walked out the door with one for $148 something. I thought that it was a good deal at that price. There decent reels, the mgl spool is a quicker one but there nice. I think that you will like it ? definitely a little different than a daiwa but in a good way.

Nothing special size wise for sure, it was a grind with not much happening really. I got to break the new combo in with a fish at least lol. The bait used was a 3/8 thunder cricket gold series with a swapped skirt to a beast coast tackle natural gill with a mini zako trailer in 956. I made a decent cast, give or take 35-40 yards it touched down and I was like something doesn’t feel right, when in doubt set the hook. I saw my line moving oddly after I swung and figured that I caught something. I didn’t have my drag all the way tight on my tatula 80 and it played around with me a little and jumped out of the water a couple times. Then it tried to run into a brush pile but I kept it out and got it to the bank and grabbed it. I was surprised that it stayed on, hook was through the soft tissue on the side of the mouth. The mbr 844c did a good job of keeping it pinned and the braid probably helped me get the hook set at that distance. Like I said when it touched down I felt the bite. Either way I am happy that I caught something at least. the pond I fished is shallow so they start bedding earlier. Probably landed close to a bed and just got a reaction strike out of this little whipper snapper lol. I really like the 30lb sunline plasma braid though, I always liked it though.

I had way too much stuff, there is no reason why I needed that much stuff. I picked the mbr because it will work for a lot of things, it might not be the exact specific rod for technique but it will work for them and it’s good enough for me. I got tired of hauling my 90lb kayak off the deck and through the apartment and then down the stairs to put it on top of the car. It was not heavy just awkward I want to teach my kids and wife more about fishing and focusing less on my obsession of catching the largest bass around here that I can. I have owned the high end stuff and now I don’t have to be curious about what it’s like, that’s worth the price of admission to me. I wasn’t parting with my lews $70 reel from Walmart or my abu max pro, pinnacle deadbolt classic either. I like my cheap stuff also due to the value you can get at times.

Well I sold most of my stuff this past Sunday, both yaks and all rods 23 of them and 23 reels also along with most of my lures and plastics. I had way too much stuff and it was creating A never ending addiction. I got permission from the wife to own 1 rod and reel, besides my 3 beaters. This made it really hard to choose a rod, I was looking at megabass p5 super destroyer, tequila baccarat, and a couple loomis rods. I don’t trust myself with the recoil guides of the nrx + so I had to look lower or higher. I had really good luck a couple years ago with my 844c mbr. After 3 days of consideration and fondling of rods at my local shop I finally decided. G loomis conquest 844c mbr reel was a oddball being a tatula 80 but why not.

I got out for a few hours today. The weather cooperated good enough in my book. The bass were not in the mood today really, it has been cool lately that doesn’t help. The pike were definitely active though, but that’s normal. I started off the day with the experiment that I had planned, I wanted to try different black and blue craws and baits to see what ones my local fish prefer. I started with a black and blue bandito bug on a 3/0 owner jig rig hook. Caught a pike or two on it and no bass, switched to a rage craw same color rattle version and got one more pike. I then decided that it was time to go big or go home, I went big. Well not really but I don’t know of many people that throw swim baits around here. The lure was a jackal gantral jr in rt carp color, this pond has a lot of carp in it so I figured that they might be munching on them also. Probably 10-15 cast later I started working parallel to a old fallen tree that’s next to a old submerged stump. I caught my first and only bass of the day, not big but weighed 2.5lbs. I caught one more pike on the gantral and he destroyed my leader. I also went in the cold water shirtless to get my gantral off the old stump, sorry for the shirtless pictures lol. I then switched to a mini max black and blue with a mini zako in electric shad. Caught 3 more pike on it in 15 minutes. The odd part was that the biggest pike of the day came in with a hitchhiker a lamprey, it flopped of him on the bank and I disposed of the parasite. I then tied a jig on without a leader and had a pike destroyer it at the bank got him onto shore he bit through my line and then I removed the jig and he was back on his way and I still had my jig. I fished a little bit longer but it went dead, I had a pike on briefly with a sleeper gill but I didn’t get a good enough hook set so that one got a early release. All in all it was a good day, the experiment will pick up when the bass want to play again and I have the time.

Well I got some more stuff, more different craws to try in black and blue and I wanted to try some spro square bills. I wanted 3/8 oz jigs, I accidentally got a 1/2 oz black and blue. It will work, I fish shallow weedy places so I like to go lighter on my jigs. I wanted to try a variety of craws in black and blue and see what my fish prefer lol. I lost my rights to purchasing any more fishing stuff for a while. I don’t need any more and I told my wife I have a problem and I need help, I am still breathing so I am currently alive for now.

I grabbed a few more things to try out, all this talk of swim baits had me itching to try a new idea. I fish a pond with a lot of carp so I figured a carp gantral jr couldn’t hurt and I wanted to try the small s waver also. I have a experiment for the black and blue plastics this weekend if the weather cooperates lol. Black and blue plastics are rage scournbug midsize rage bug rattlin rage craw bandito bug d bomb is bayou flash 1/8 tungsten for the shallow weedy waters I fish 3/0,4/0 rig n hooks 3/0 owner jig rig hooks gantral jr rat carp r2s s waver 168 yellow perch 1 spro 30 size rat in brown, wanted a bigger one but they didn’t have any ? hopefully the weather cooperates ?

Well I caught a couple today, had 2.5 hours to go fishing. Second cast caught my first pike of the day on a rapala slim 4, poor thing chocked it. He swam off though, next fish and the best one of the day bested me at the bank. Only had the rear treble in the very edge of the inside of the mouth, gave a dance at the bank unhooked himself and then threw itself onto the bank. I about went in backside first trying to grab it, but he laughed and ran back into the water lol. Took a while to catch my second tiny bass on a demon dt-4. I then caught 2 more pike on the dt-4 and a Rocco. The best bass of the day was probably 2.5-3lbs. That’s fishing though and crank baits, you win some and you lose some but it’s still a blast.

Well I bought the tray to separate my flat side cranks from my lipless box lol, then I went down the color rabbit hole again yay. That’s roughly 5 different stores to find the colors and different flat side cranks. I know the dt are not flat sides but I have heard that the 6 is subtle compared to the 4 we will see.

All of those look really nice, I bet you those machete minnows will be really good. I would eat that if I was a fish. Of course I already eat everything as is, I am definitely convinced that fish will eat anything if you present it correctly.

I got a couple more things that I wanted to try this year, I am going to switch from stick baits to tubes and see how it goes. I plan on using speed worms, trick worms and rage craws also. I also got a jabber jaw to compare to the axis 2.0 to form a opinion. I have a idea for the salty core tubes, I am thinking about using my owner haymaker 2/0 hooks to see how they work with them. The body looks thin enough that I should get penetration but I will see when I rig one up.

Well I got out for 30 minutes again today, it was raining by the time I got to my spot. My first cast felt multiple taps and set the hook, felt the weight and then nothing. I knew that I had a pike just bite me off well time to re rig and use some of the new 4.5 flipping tubes that I just bought before I went fishing. I wanted some larger bodied tubes for my owner phantom tube hooks that are 5/0. I got re tied and put a black and blue flipping tube on, which is more fitting for the dirty pond. Around 5 cast later close to the bank I felt a little weight. I didn’t set the hook too hard, saw that it was a bass and kept tension on the fish and got it onto the Bank quickly because I knew that I didn’t get a very good hook set. A decent little bass. I kept fishing a little longer and felt another bite and set the hook and got it in and it was a pike this time. Bait of the day was a 5/0 owner phantom tube hook 3/16 weight with a strike king 4.5 flipping tube in black and blue. Not too bad for 30 minutes if I say so.

I finally got to go out for a longer session for me today, with everything that’s going on in my life. I decided to go fishing at my one pond that I have done ok at in the past few years, my daughter caught her pb at the pond. I had to replace some hooks on a crank bait before I went and decided what I was going to throw. I settled on a 1/2 jackhammer and full size zako trailer, the next bait I used was a magnum zoom lizard in black grape on a owner jig rig hook. the first fish was the only one that I caught on the jackhammer, first fish took 10 minutes or less. I saw small ones just cruising the banks. I casted parallel to the bank and brought it back to me with a straight retrieve until I got to the brush in the water in front of me, that’s when I switched to a yo yo retrieve to work it through the wood. A tiny one came out of nowhere and just hammered it. I then tried a few more spots and got it hung up on a branch underwater and walked out to get it back. The water was probably 5.5 feet deep. Got that back and tried some more spots where the bigger ones are but no takers, tried multiple retrievals. Got hung up again. Made my way down the bank slowly to get it back and spotted the best bass that I saw all day under a sunken tree, it spotted me and swam off slowly. Got my jackhammer unhung and tried a few more places but nothing. I switched lures, now I was onto the zoom magnum lizard in black grape on the owner jig rig hook. I caught my second small fish of the day within five minutes of swapping lures. I then moved on to all the different spots and got some taps here and there but it was either bluegills or more smaller bass, I would swing and there was nothing there. I was getting ready to leave and get my tackle bag packed up when I saw another small bass hanging out near the bank casted past him a ways and worked it back and he appears out of nowhere and crushes it. I was out for three hours having fun, quantity wise was up quality was down. I will say that a dink a day keeps the skunk away though. I had taken tubes with me and if I would have used those I probably would have caught more numbers, although I was trying to target bigger fish and cut out the smaller ones. Either way I finally used the owner jig rig hooks that I bought and caught something on them so that is a plus. I really liked getting out there and having fun. I think that some of the fish get out every year when it floods over, it really flooded last week. But all in all it was a good day.

Yeah it basically comes down to who is working there. They weren’t the friendliest but I will probably still go there. In the end I am a consumer of fishing stuff and I like to buy locally and not over the internet. So I am left with options but not many oh well. Thank you for your input on your local stores. It’s definitely the people who make a store though, in reality they could have not offered to do it. My hats off to them for following through though.

You are back and on them, feels good to hear how you’re day went and I am happy that you caught some really nice ones to start off with. Congratulations and here’s to many more to come from you. I haven’t been able to get the kayak out lately here, but the weather has been beautiful. I have only caught 9 pike in a day so far this year, 1 maybe 2 bass at a time for any session.

Well I changed the blade and skirt on one of my spinner baits, first time ever doing this and I am sure that I screwed something up but it worked. I took it from a quad willow to a single 4.5 Indiana hildebrandt in gold with a pro pumpkin skirt. Idea is to try to keep it to mimic bluegill. I didn’t get out with it before sunset so it was dark so I couldn’t tell if it’s tracking true or not, that will have to wait till another day lol. I started out with the deeper spot and casted in the dark but no bites, could definitely feel it pulsating really nicely. I decided that it’s time to get wet to work on a prime bank. I took the shoes and socks off and went in. In less than 15 minutes I caught my first night spinnerbait bass of the year. Small fish but it was a blast my drag was a little loose, I got a good hook set in the roof of the mouth but it was definitely pulling drag but even with that mistake I landed it to my hand. I then took some really bad pics in the dark but it worked and I have proof. I am really starting to enjoy working on and tinkering with my baits. It’s definitely fun. I finished the night off giving someone who was fishing before I got there a jump start due to there battery being dead. I then headed back home feeling proud.

Well my local shop has there local sale going on so stocked up on a budget lol. I reworked a spinner bait that I didn’t like years ago. I finally know what I am buying and not just buying gimmicks lol, I don’t know what I was thinking a quad willow spinner bait face palm. I took it apart on Sunday and decided what I wanted to do. I wanted a single bronze blade but all they had were willows, didn’t want that. I settled on a 4.5 hildebrant Indiana blade in gold, next was my skirt choice beast coast pro pumpkin. I think it looks ok, your thoughts ? I bought some mustard triple grips and got a free pair of split ring pliers so I could live with it. next stuff I bought was a royal pain in the butt. I took my daughter to dsg to get new shin guards for soccer. I saw a few sixth sense lipless cranks that I liked, I then saw a sign that said buy 3 get 3 free so I picked out 6 baits that I liked. Got to the register and they tried to charge me for all of them. I told them about the sign they called a manager and they looked, took 10 minutes and then they tried to tell me that it was only googan and rapala buy one get one and I told them it’s on the end cap and says 6th sense hard baits and soft baits buy three get three free. 10 minutes later they come back and take the 3 off so I get 6 cranks for $30 but they were rude and didn’t want to help. I don’t see me really going there much anymore.

That’s what I thought, I can’t recall seeing anything else quite like one. I am sure there’s another version made by someone else out there though.

I don’t know if it’s the one but z man hellraizer is the one that comes to mind.