Woody B

Yep, and for me a bad day fishing is still a pretty good day.

It's not been good around here either. A high school kid drowned a month or so ago in a 1500 acre lake in my county. (Moss Lake, Shelby NC) School was out that day. Reports say around noon he jumped off a dock, then started to struggle before going under. They found his body a couple hours later. Then, at the end of last month a man drowned in Lake Wylie, the lake I fish all the time. There was some kind of boating accident involving a "rowing style boat". There's a yacht club near the place where it happened. There's always row boats, both single and teams all around that area, as well as some sail boats. They didn't find his body until the next day. Be careful out there everyone.

I have a reminder on my phone to charge my jump boxes every 6 months. I have a GB50 in my boat and a GB70 in my truck. I also charge them every time I use them, which is usually more often than every 6 months. The Noco's hold a charge really well. I had a no name before I go them that would be dead after a few months. I haven't had to jump my boat since I went to lithium for a cranking/electronics battery. I do occasionally jump others off on the lake, at the landing, and in various parking lots. Added: No, I'm not that phone savy. My Grandson put the charge reminders on my phone.

My boat (tracker) has the screw in fuse holders for the stuff you've mentioned not working. They'll shake loose but look OK. I can push in and twist on them and stuff will start back working.

No camera when I caught my PB. It was decades ago, before digital cameras. I used to take a polaroid camera with me sometimes but didn't have any film this trip. I considered keeping it and doing a skin mount, but decided to let it go. I had it in my livewell for 30 minutes or so. It weighed 10 1/4 lbs on my Zebco Deliar scale. The guy with me talked me into taking measurements before releasing it. It was 24 3/4" long, 19 1/4" girth. I wish I would have taken more pictures of the huge flathead cat I caught last year (bass fishing). I was by myself. I only took 2 pictures. I with I would have at least taken a picture looking into it's mouth. I had to grab it and pull it into the boat. It wouldn't fit in my 25 inch net.

I've been hesitant to tell about this, but I just have to. Last summer I was fishing near a dock. A young lady came walking down to the dock carrying a towel. She asked how I was doing. I told her how many I had caught. She said "do you mind if I take my top off?" She took her top off and said "do you like these, I just got them" while shaking her chest. I said "they look great". If I were single I would have asked to feel them. She placed the towel on the dock, and laid on it face down, I suppose to get some sun on her back. I wouldn't consider her a Karen though.

I can't answer your questions but Mrs B and myself wish you successful surgery and a speedy recovery. You'll be in our prayers tonight.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I had decided I was going to just keep what I've been using for a while, but I lost a combo while I was fishing today. I suspect the bait monkey got it. I had sit it on the deck. I was fishing out of the other side of the boat. About 5 minutes after sitting it down I went to pick it back up and it was gone. I guess I sit it too close to the edge and it slipped it the lake. It wasn't windy today. I was back in a quite pocket. Had there been any kind of splash I would have heard it. I really like my 734 Dobyns. I think I'm going to get a 733, from a higher line than the Colt that I have.

Last day off work today. I went back to Lake Wylie. Well....... I didn't get skunked. I caught 1 bass. I guess I lost it around 11 o'clock yesterday. I caught 10 yesterday. (post on previous page) he 9nth one was a 11:14. The 10th was a 3:31. I started around 8 today. I lost one small one early, then nothing for hours. The lake was muddy. I went way down the lake to clearer water but no luck. I decided to head back up the lake and fish a few muddy spots. I like to catch a bass on my last cast. At 3pm I told myself, I'm leaving when I catch a bass, or at 4pm, so I had an hour to get rid of the skunk. I caught the nice spot pictured at 3:09. I also lost a rod and reel. I had 4 combos on my deck. At that time I was fishing a crank, a bladed jig, a ned rig and a shakey head. I had sit the shakey head combo down and picked up the crank. 5 minutes or so later I went to pick up the shakey head and it was gone. I guess I sit it too close to the edge of the deck and it slipped in. It wasn't windy at all. If there wound have been a splash I would have heard it. I guess the bait monkey done it. I've been considering another rod. The one I lost was the one I was going to retire. It also had my least favorite reel on it.

I didn't have a good day fishing today, but a dock/land owner made me smile. I had just caught my only bass of the day. The land owner came down to his dock and asked how I was doing. I told him I had only caught 1 but that was way better than none. He had a pontoon on a boat lift. He asked if it was OK if he lowered his boat now. He said he didn't want to spook the fish. Probably the nicest guy I've ever met on the lake.

I hear you. I don't have money stashed in a mattress but I won't invest much where it's at risk. When I was younger I had a hunting/fishing friend who was a business manager for a big medical office. He would tell me what to invest in and when to bail out of it. In the summer of 2001 he told me to get everything somewhere it's was guaranteed. He passed away in 2002. I haven't any any money at risk since then. I also haven't had returns to keep up with inflation. I probably need to find a good financial guy or gal. I'm 59. I certainly don't want to lose a bunch of money now. Over the past 40 years I've saved, but not invested. For the past 20 years I've saved 1/3 of my paycheck.

SC's castle doctrine only covers buildings with a roof and 4 walls. It's illegal to use deadly force on a trespasser that isn't assaulting you. (The castle doctrine also covers vehicles, but only when you're inside it.) So, ponds were mentioned. When I was 12 ish a man with a shot gun ran me and my cousin off from his pond. The man was the owner of the first car dealership I worked at. When I applied for the job (6 years later) he said "you was fishing in my pond."

I took a day off work today and went to a new to me lake. Monticello Reservoir near Jenkinsville SC. It's a "different" lake. It doesn't dam in major rivers or streams. It's a "pumped storage facility" for nuke cooling and hydro. The surface area is 6700 acres. It's alongside the Broad river. There's 1 thing that I really like about it. No water skiiing, no Jet skis, no wake boarding ect. I caught 7 Largemouth and 3 Smallmouth including an 18 inch smallie. Smallest was 14 inches. The lake "boats" like a much bigger lake. It's only ~5 1/2 miles long, but it's almost 3 miles wide. There's a few islands scattered in it, but the 15 mph winds (according the the NWS) were strong in the main lake. All 3 smallies and 2 LM's came on a Siebert bladed jig with a manns spinnerbait trailer. 3 LM's came on a shakey head. The other 2 on a DT6. I was really pleased with 10 bass in a lake that doesn't have spots. It's ~75 miles, twice as far as the lake I normally go to. I will be back, especially this Summer after the wake boats and jet skis take over Lake Wylie. Most of the bass I've been catching at Wylie have been really shallow, right at the bank. The internet says the level of Monticello fluctuates daily. The shallowest bass were ~6 feet deep on stumpy flats. A few were out points as deep as 20 feet. I suppose they keep a depth "buffer" due to fluctuating levels. I saw a depth of 103 feet on my sonar but it was a mile or more from shore.

First smallie of 2023. I don't usually fish lakes with them. I went to a new to me lake today. (Monticello reservoir, SC) I caught 3 SM including the 18 incher pictures, and 7 LM.

The problem is, entry level jobs are...entry level. Due to the increase in entry level pay many aren't developing higher level skills. Another problem is motivation. I have a cousin who's a retired regional manager from a fast food chain. One of his friend, still working said when entry level pay started going up the workers started working less hours. (dollar amounts are regional) IE someone was working 36 hours a week making $9 per hour. Their pay increases to $15 per hour. Now they only want to work 20 to 25 hours per week. The inflation started with all the stimulus money. That's not what happening. Many workers in entry level jobs have no ambition to develop real skills. See the posts above. Why learn to be a proficient welder to make $29 per hour if you can drive a fork lift for $25? Welding at a professional level is hard. I've built a few race cars and trailers but I can't weld at a professional level. The lowest paying job where I work is ~$20 per hour. The company had a strict on time, and attendance policy. They recently had to change both because people wouldn't show up everyday, on time for a good paying job.

The tables haven't turned. Entry level jobs and jobs that require no real skills are getting paid a bunch more than they used to. Skilled workers are still making the same, or less than years ago. I'm lucky enough to have a skillset that's in demand, and draws a good paycheck. For many years I made 6 or 7 times what someone with an entry level unskilled job made. Pay for entry level, unskilled jobs have more than doubled. Mine is still the same.

The current inflation rate is a redistribution of wealth. The money I've worked hard for and saved all my life is going to be worthless by the time I retire. I should have bought a $100K boat. At least I'd have a super nice boat instead of a bunch of money that isn't worth anything.

I've never had a problem with a land/dock owner. I've had a couple fishermen who didn't like me. One guy came flying up, stopped his boat and started yelling I was fishing in his spot. I told him he didn't own the lake. I've never got buzzed by a jet ski. I need to put a baseball in my boat just in case.

Caught 11 today in 6 hours. 7 spots, 4 LM. None big. Lake is 2 feet higher than yesterday with 2 mud lines. The combination of ~15 mph wind and all the water they're pulling had the main lake white capping. I got a couple on cranks, a couple on a bladed jig, with the rest on a shakey head.

That's where having a trolling motor with gps and spot lock comes in. I don't mind fishing in the wind at all. Launching, loading and going across the lake with high winds is the problem.

I currently fish with 5 rods. One of them I don't really like and I'm looking to replace it. First, the rods I have, what I use them for and what I like/dislike about them. 1. Lews Mach casting. MAPC- 7 foot medium action, medium or moderate taper. The rated lure weight is 1/8 to 1/2 ounce. This is my favorite rod. I can cast light stuff pretty good but it's got enough backbone for big fish. I successfully landed a 53 pound flathead catfish with it. (on a crankbait). I've boat flipped bass as heavy as 4 pounds. This is a tough rod. 2. Lew's TP-1 Black Speed Stick Casting Rod 7'3" Med Hvy. Rated lure weight is 3/16 to 1 ounce. I like the rod but not for light stuff. It fishes quite a bit stiffer than my MAPC. I like it for t-rigs and shakey heads with weights at least 1/4 ounce. (the weight of the weight itself, not the entire lure) 3. Dobyns Colt, CL734C. 7'3" Dobyns calls in Hvy-Fast, but it fishes lighter than that. It's rated for 1/4 to 1 ounce. It's good for stuff down to 3/8 ounce or so. I like it. It feels good in my hands. It's quite a bit heavier (actual weight) than either of my Lews rods. I suppose because it's a cheaper model. I like it for mid size cranks, (Rapala DT's, ect) and bladed jigs. The OG4's I like as well as Bandit cranks and Strike King 3's are a little too light for it. 4. BPS patriot. (I think it's my most expensive rod, and the one I like least) 7 foot med/fast. Rated for 1/4 to 5/8. Me and it simply don't get along. I can't cast stuff well with it. I can't cast 1/4 ounce stuff with it good at all. It's too whippy for stuff over 1/2 ounce. I've also broken 2 guides. 5 Duckett Silverado. 7'3" Heavy/fast. I don't think it has a lure weight rating. I use it for heavy stuff, A-rigs, deep cranks, big swimbaits ect. I can cast pretty good with it. I've used it for stuff as light as a 3/8 ounce Devils horse but it's not ideal for that. The balance is terrible, it's tip heavy. Not a big deal for me, but don't want someone to read this and buy one without knowing that. I can fish "most" of the stuff I fish with on most of my rods. Occasionally I want a OG4 (silent) and a Bandit 100-200-300 or Strike King pro 3 or xd 3 both tied on. The Lews Mach 7 med med is the only one that's I'm good and accurate with at that weight. I'm considering another Mach med med or even a Mach 2 so they aren't identical. I'm considering a Cashion BFS. I looked at one. It didn't seem too floppy. It was rated at 1/8 to 7/16 ounce. I fear it will be too whippy if I ended up with a bladed jig tied on it. I also wonder if it's stiff enough to set the hook on a big bass. Especially on something like a Devils Horse with trebles. Any other recommendations for fairly light Cashion rods. They're made here in NC. That's a plus for me. I like the Dobyns CL734. I'm also considering a Dobyns a little higher end than a colt in a "3" power instead of "4". I'm figuring a higher end one would weigh less too. The weight isn't a big deal. I'm built like a fire hydrant and have auto mechanic upper body strength/stamina. It's still a shock when I put down one of my (lower end) Lew's and pick up the Dobyns. It feel like it weighs twice as much. All three have the same reels on them. I "could" spend a bunch. I'm tight, not broke. I know St Croix makes excellent rods. I'd be gritting my teeth paying for one of them knowing they warranty them even if it's stupidity that breaks it. I'd kinda hate to buy a rod that was super sensitive, and light as a feather. I fear I'd be replacing more rods after that. LOL As always, thanks.

Long story, short fishing trip. Not a good day today. It was 44 degrees and raining pretty hard. A few weeks ago I went fishing during 36 degree rain. I caught several bass that day, and was able to stay dry and warm, with the exception of my hands. I had just sit my rain gear in the back seat of my truck. The next time I put it on it had a bad mold/mildew odor. I washed it, and haven't worn it (during the rain) since. My rain coat, and bibs double as my cold weather coat and bibs. I fished in the rain last week but had on my lighter rain gear. It took about 30 seconds today for the rain to soak through my rain gear. I was soaked to the bone by the time I got my boat launched. I decided I was going to catch 1 bass, then go back home. (I hate getting skunked) I might have made 15 casts before catching a nice fat 3 1/2 pound LM. I hated leaving but I was soaked, and cold. It was 42 degrees and raining pretty hard. I won't fish if it isn't fun so I came back home. I guess washing my gear damaged whatever made it water proof. It's nice Aftco stuff Mrs B got for me. They have stuff on their website to treat it with. Hopefully it will bring it's waterproofing back. Hopefully I can catch some post front bass tomorrow. I normally do really good fishing in the rain. I just couldn't stand it today. Maybe I'm getting soft.

Mrs B had hers removed a few years ago. (2019 I think) She had problems off and on for a while, but when she finally got the surgery it was instant relief. It was outpatient surgery, went early one morning and was home by noon. Not much aftercare required. She's retired, but I went back to work the day after her surgery. (She was OK to be home alone)

I got soaked today. My rain gear isn't waterproof anymore. I was pretty much soaked by the time I launched my boat. I decided to catch 1 and go back home. Anyway, surface temp was up to 64. It was really warm all week until late yesterday. Surface temp was 64, bass temp was 64. The bass was full of eggs.

I think "we" (especially me) often over estimate the effect of the "surface" temperature we read with our electronics. Last winter I put my infrared temperature gun in my boat and started checking the temperature of bass I caught. One particular day in January air temp was mid 40's and the surface temp was 48 to 51. I caught several bass right off the bottom in 30 feet of water. The temperature of those bass was 56 to 58 degrees. After that I lost that bite and didn't catch any for a couple hours. Later I saw bass, right up against the bank in the Sun. I threw my tackle box at them, only to be ignored. Finally, even though it was January in NC I tied on a Devils Horse. I caught several including a few 4 pounders. Their temperature was 59 to 63 degrees. I guess they were warming in the Sun. I've never caught NC bass on any kind of topwater lure in January in NC. I think length of day, and possibly time since last spawn are big factors on when a bass spawns. Length of day might actually affect the "bed" temperature more than the weather effects surface temperature. I don't target, (or avoid) bedding bass. The water clarity where I fish most is rarely good enough for me to see bedding bass. I haven't checked any bass temperature lately but I'll start back for a while. Today, all day the forecast is mid 40's and rain. Last week the surface temp was 63. I doubt that's changed much, maybe down a degree or 2. I'll check the temperature of any bass I catch today. I hope this intention doesn't jinx me into a skunk. LOL