FishTax

Cool to see how far first responders are coming in from and how quickly. I've seen California firemen in pictures, with their equipment. I'm sure every department in the local region has sent folks and throughout NC where I live it's all hands on deck shipping supplies and teams to help. Many more are ready but can't deploy because there is no access. I agree with what @Catt said - the church response in NC has led the way. Every church is gathering supplies and volunteers and 'baptists on misson' is coordinating it so it's productive and organized. Our church sent 3 tractor trailers full of supplies Monday morning with more going out throughout the week, and are coordinating with 'baptists on mission' to get supplies to the region. They have one of the best response and distribution setups going, along with Samaritan's purse which is based in Boone, right in the heart of the damage. Also, glad to see 1000 active duty military finally deployed to help. The 82nd is only a few hours away at Fort Bragg and they are trained for things like this. I'm sure there are many guidelines to using military resources domestically (for good reason), but knowing they are there and not being utilized is frustrating. I know there is a massive federal and state response in addition to private, it just sucks that we know people are dying and can't be reached and no matter who does what it will never be enough. The terrain is so difficult it's just unimaginable how long this will take. Places like Swannanoa are just starting to have reports come out, and they are bad. I'm very thankful all of my staff have been accounted for and are healthy in SWVA. Many don't have power or water, but they are able to travel and gas and supplies are available in their local area so it is much better than many places west of them.

It's bad. People on the ground are comparing it to Katrina. Many areas are only accessible by air, such as Montreat, Black Mountain, etc. It is still search and rescue, will be a while before it turns into recovery and rebuilding. Once cellular service is restored I think we are going to get a lot more really bad news about how bad it is.

Whatever is on sale. I let the discount bait monkey tell me what the bass want. 60% of the time, it works every time.

I get cheap polarized glasses from zenni. They are cheap and you get what you pay for, but I view them as disposable if I drop them in the lake or something. I've never tried Costa's but would love to. Maybe one day, but I have trouble getting that into my budget.

Pressure doesn't impact my fishing routine, as long as people aren't in my personal space and I have the space to do my thing. With that said, I think @Pat Brown said something which was maybe overlooked but is also my observation at least in central NC where we are. Unpressured fisheries tend to be full of small/stunted fish. Anecdotal, but he and I both seem to have observed this in various places, in my experience small private ponds which are everywhere around here seem to be like that. Also, I think the fish learn the lures and react to that more than anything else. If you hit them with the frog every day for a week, you will see a diminishing return. Switch to a fluke, etc., and you're back in action. Last thought- I have a theory that heavy pressure impacts their feeding patterns. On my home lake, it's electric only and you have to access through the marina which closes at 7p. If you happen to live by the lake and can slip a kayak in from private land, rumor has it 🤫 that the bite turns on some evenings between 7-8p and you can have a beautiful evening alone on the water and get some serious fish to bite, even though it's a very heavily pressured lake with regular tournaments on it during the weekends. Totally different body of water when it's 'closed', but the same fish...

I like going because of the clear water. Especially when they are shallow, I learn more about behavior from standing and watching how bass interact with their surroundings and my lures than I do fishing blind, even if I'm not getting bit.

Out again. I'd pay that much just for the rod. I've been wanting to try a left hand reel and will buy this immediately if I find it available!

I'd go with a lighter weight on whatever you choose, and for soft plastic use something with a flat bottom like a beaver instead of a worm so it doesn't roll over and hook as bad. When you get snagged, don't yank it because you're just setting the hook into wood. Lift the rod tip gently and see if you can pull it over the wood. If it pulls back and swims, yank it

We had a good false fall #2, in classic NC weather fashion we're expecting heat advisory in 2 days. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that in the pictured morning I was quite cold. I was totally unprepared for those temperatures. But I also love them and can't wait for more of them 🙂 Katie those pictures are beautiful! Fishing is just the icing on the cake being in that spot.

Seems like a bigger profile that would print. I think I just need to try it and see. Then I can convince myself I need more toys. Are you pretty happy with the G43x?

I just held a shield plus and am leaning toward buying it. Haven't totally decided yet. Does anyone carry with a red dot? Online people make it look like it doesn't impact how you carry it but logic says it would have to. I've never shot a handgun with red dot but I'm interested. Hopefully a friend will get one first so I can try it before I decide

Have your experimented with your hook set? Sounds like the jump is almost immediate. Do you tend to yank up or sweep to side? Not sure if that's helpful but if you want to try something different maybe that's something. Personally I haven't had much luck stopping the jump. My favorite technique is to yell at the fish that they better not do it. Pretty sure I've seen one smile in mid air at me...

Happy birthday, and happy Medicare Day haha. Hope you had a great day

I'd go out without fishing gear, but with life vest of course and a knife on the vest..I have an inflatable. Only used a few times before I upgraded to old town pedal drive but I let me know I loved being on the water and hated being blown around and having to paddle a lot. Mine was the equivalent of an air mattress. Very tough to control, but I did catch bass on it so it got the job done!

Yes they work all the time. Except when the fish don't want them. Always worth trying though. I definitely like gold blade over silver based on my results. Many times something else works better but most trips on the boat I'll at least try it. That's why I have several rods