OldManLure

I’ve kept notes on my phone for every trip since 2013. If I fished lakes, I would likely keep some sort of record, but I believe it almost essential for fishing rivers. A river can change almost day to day. Features that exist at one depth can disappear or become more pronounced at a different depth. Eddies grow, shrink or disappear. Currents may expand or become more concentrated. I’ve discovered structure at lower depths that I never knew existed, and these became prime targets on later trips. Keeping track of catches, along with depth, water temps, water clarity and the weather has helped me discover a few patterns that have proven to me to be fairly repeatable. So much so, in fact, that I have caught 3 PBs in essentially the same spot several weeks apart, and two of them using the same bait. I don’t consider the total number I catch as being terribly important. I’m sure there has probably been times when I really caught only 11 when I thought it was 13, or I really caught 13 when I thought it was 11. But what is certain is that I know where I caught the special ones, and what the conditions were when I caught them. And when the conditions are the same, I make sure I target those spots again, and again, and again.

I would follow manufacturer’s recommendations to the letter at least until out of the warranty period.

Is information available that quantifies the amount of time an angler has ‘stopped’ fishing? Is this something the tournament staff captures? It seems to me that actual ‘time spent fishing’ would provide a more accurate picture of catch rates attributable to FFS v. non-FFS.

I’ve never considered a cutting point hook. I’ve seen them on pegs in stores, but have never examined them. Does the cutting point profile extend past the barb? It seems that this would be the only way the hook could enlarge the hole, and only then as a result of a hooked fish’s change of direction, jumps and head shakes.

Always “Yess!”; sometimes followed by “NOOOoooo..”

Growing up so close to the Tennessee River, cane poles rigged with braid were everywhere. In the early 60s you could buy them at mom and pop food markets, gas stations, hardware stores and, of course, all the bait shops. I liked braid then, and I like it now.

I agree that the choice boils down to a personal preference developed, I hope, through experience and objective assessment. However, if new to the choice I would never rely on comparisons that lack any objective data and is peppered with words like “generally”, “considered”, “slight”, “potential”, “potentially”, “often” or “preferred”. Words like these convey to me little more than guesses or opinion.

For what I consider routine or normal sharpening, I use a medium grit emery cloth. The ability to adjust its shape makes it versatile to the point of often being able to even clean up the barb on single hook baits. When the tip is blunted, I have several needle files I’ll use before finishing with the emery cloth.

It sounds like your skirt length may be disguising your trailer and affecting its action. I think it is important that the flippers, claws, or tail of the trailer be conspicuous and free to flutter, wave, or wiggle. It is not uncommon for me to trim the length of the skirt to free up the trailer.

On your way to the sporting goods department, stroll through kitchenware and check out SteriLite storage containers. Just as functional and 80% less expensive

How eye dominance can affect various visual perceptions is actually pretty interesting, and can reach a complexity that I don’t care or need to fully understand. But what can’t be denied is the fact that our brain processes visual information from the dominate eye differently than information from the non-dominant eye. The good news, not there is any bad news, is that we are pretty good at compensating for the differences, especially when it comes to repetitive behavior. Casting, shooting, reading a putt, hitting a baseball, etc., I think, would fall into this category.

I think I said it wasn’t as precise as aiming, as in a firearm. But there is definitely some sort of lining it up involved. Try casting with your eyes closed.

You may not perform something as precise as aiming but you definitely perform some version of lining it up. Unless, of course, you’re casting willy nilly and hoping for the best or dropshotting off the side of the boat.

For a spacer, try Lowes specialty drawers in the hardware section. You can find packs of 2,3 or 4 small washers. I used Hillman #8 lock washer with external teeth that worked for me in a reel I had. I stopped looking when I found them, so I’m not sure whether or not they offer similar sized washers in rubber or nylon.

Actually, I couldn’t care less. I have just grown very tired of seeing that “SPELLING IS SOOOOOO OVERRATED !!!!!!!!!!!!” is still displayed!

Don’t overlook a Rebel wee craw and deep wee craw in ‘ditch’ and ‘stream’.

Catching smallies when wading seems so pure. Here is a 600 yd stretch of the Shenandoah I visit several times a month. 16-18” are not uncommon.

Sounds like the same company that I ran across several years ago that was online selling name brand “kayakes” for $250, and offering a free “paddel” with “each one you pay for”.

I have not spoken to him recently, but I am going to contact him to see what he ended up buying. I would swear he said he ordered the Gullwing, but it sounds like I misunderstood him.

I know nothing about that area, but a visit by Google Earth reveals a number of small lakes and the Merrimack River are in the area. You might try contacting local tackle shops or outfitters. I bet they can suggest a number of places to spend the day fishing with your children.

I’ve used 2 piece for most of my life, and still use a Fenwick and a St Croix 2-piece. Both are excellent rods, and I’ve caught some mountable fish on both. Neither have ever hinted at performing less capably than my 1-piece rods.

Are you certain they are out of business? A buddy of mine developed issues with his wrist, and about a month or so ago mentioned looking online at ergonomic paddles. I am pretty sure he said he ordered from Gullwing. As much for the price as the design according to him. I have not spoken to him since, but their website does appear to still be active.

If Rapala doesn’t make it, I don’t take it.

They don’t possess the receptors to see the pink we see. It’s more likely to be seen as some hue of faded red.

I would be interested in knowing how you tested while holding all other variables constant to conclude that it was flourocarbon alone responsible for “considerably more bites” than braid.