Susky River Rat

I have a 6’6” St. Croix premier ML I love for light Ned’s, drop shot. I have a great feel with it. They have a 6’ and a 7’ two piece I think too. Not a high priced rod but, I like to use middle of the road equipment. I’m just a river fishermen not going after DD largies.

I routinely fish about two bodies of water. 1st is 444 miles long about a mile wide at the widest. Goes through 3 states and dumps into the Chesapeake bay. One of those oldest rivers in the world. - “The” Susquehanna river. I do not really need to say much more. The second body of water is a 1200 man made impoundment. I honestly despise it but, can’t catch fish sitting on my sofa. - Blue Marsh. It’s close to home and the only place close I can run my Big motor. The one neat thing is Ike is known to fish the susky from time to time. This year he also visited blue marsh so his kids could fish a youth fishing tournament. One day I would love to bump into him.

Anything I deem to feel “different” I set that hook like it owes me money

I say this at least 20 times a trip

I just wish I could catch fish.

My dog took about 8 months to come out of his shell. It was very hard on all of us. He cowered, paced, panted for a long time. He had so much distrust for humans. So scared of everything. (Still Is at times). It also didn’t help we thought we had a lab golden mix when we rescued him. Turned out he’s a German Shepard mountain cur mix. Which explains a lot about him. A year and half later he’s an amazing dog. He deserves every ounce of love, food and every belly rub he gets.

@gimruis it ruined musky fishing here. The off shore bite on bait has pretty much been eliminated. That was my go to because the fish up shallow got pounded. I watch dudes run their big motor pit it in neutral when they see one cast at it than chase it again when they don’t see it. there have been articles bass guys do the same chase one big bass around. I do not like FFS. Yes, I can afford it. Will it go away? Probably not. I think the effects for me are worse here do to small bodies of water. Regardless I'm going to keep casting till its not fun anymore.

@Boomstick I thought everyone had 123

Winter time here means drowning a jig for 15-30 seconds before you move. I swear each cast takes 15 minutes per cast. Booo for sub 40s temps.

It’s been extremely tough in our sub 40 water temps. I hate now till mid March. I generally just go work over time

@TnRiver46 that’s your old age 😂😂

@flyfisher I don’t want to bust my stuff up but it’s going to happen no matter what. As long as I can get back to the ramp it’s just money.

Tell that to us river guys who spend that on John boats for the river.

@volzfan59 fishing, racing, hunting your “hobby sports” even at the top or near top level thrive off the side hustles.

@Glenn I understand how sponsorships work. I raced motocross at a pretty decent level and was involved in sponsors. That is why I have no ambition to be sponsored or pro staffed at fishing. I know how it works. I do not want to be told I need to use this that, how to stand, what shirt to wear and I despise FB, IG, tic toc etc. I have a job I do not want fishing to be one. I think motocross and fishing have a very good parallel. You have the top x amount that are making a decent living on winnings/sal. The rest are busting it to keep doing it to be “pro” You started BR back before a lot of the social media platforms we have today. You saw the writing on the wall in the professional fishing world. You used your tech savvy to build this amazing site. You created a great fishing community here. It didn’t fall in your lap. you put your head down and busted it. You are a pioneer in what today’s angler needs to do to stay profitable in the fishing industry. what I was referring too was the fact none fishing companies were buying fishing companies up. Not the duties and responsibilities of sponsorships.

I know pro motocross is the same way. You sign a factory deal you tow company line. It doesn’t matter what you like if it’s part of the team you run it. I did enjoy the video. It did open my eyes because this is the first year I have ever paid attention to pro fishing. I think the reason I enjoy Ben is he is the “outlaw” of the pro fishing world. He also seems pretty candid. It could all be an act. I never will meet the dude.

@FishTaxgive him an early Christmas present

I didn’t really catch anything big. 2.5-3# was a lot of the size range I constantly caught. Nothing really stands out to me. Didn’t even touch my musky rods this year.

Caught in 36.4 degree water temps I hate winter fishing

I don’t catch fish

Check the tribs and the tribs mouths in spring. I know you say there is a not much current but a day or two after a good rain hit those mouths again. You want to hit the mouths when the main river is up but, the creeks are coming down. Because of it not being deep you may have fish that stay very resident to each area. I’m the river try to find some anomalies. Gravel, rock,hard bottom. That change can be key. I know this is completely different than what I fish. I would still bet you will find pockets of fish and the rest of the area won’t have them.

@ol'crickety at least I taught someone something! Ironically I figured everyone knew about them because I’m so used to it. i also learned the susky is a place people want to travel to. I’ve been spoiled with it my whole life.

I have been here a year. As others have said there is a great crew here full of knowledge. I joined here to read during the winter months. Research things good and bad. I “dabbled” in bass fishing a year ago. Now I am very heavy into it. i have learned I fish different than most. Some days for better some days for worse. i learned more about pros and tournament fishing than I ever thought I’d be interested in. I think I am one of the few maybe the only member here that has a jet drive. I learned JDM is a thing. I learned to have fun fishing. As dumb as that might sound. I learned I would love to keep being a part of this great group. I’ll also have people to share my fishing experiences with.

@T-Billy I was tempted to make a post about that video. Miliken is a very smart dude. I know he has a degree and i would assume after that video something in business. I love that he is self made and does not bend to the companies. Zaladain made a comment in one of his podcast that mega bass would just throw his name on things and he wouldn’t know till he saw them in the stores. I know us mortals talk about being pro staff this that. I know for a fact I want to throw what i want to throw. I may hate this brands line but love their cranks etc. having a contract forcing me to run everything under the umbrella would suck.

I have scouted sections of river when they are extremely low. This way I can see what the fish are hiding behind in the current. My wife tolerates being on the boat with me. Some days her tolerance is less. On that ssme light she never once’s questions a fishing purchase and just let’s me have at it.