FishTax

Keep going! This site keeps me sane when I'm not on the water. Alright everyone gave their top choice, what's your second choice for weight and plastic?

Strippers eh? Which ramp are you launching at to find those... asking for a friend?

OP was looking for exactly what he got. A great conversation with tons of different perspectives and a few new ideas. I've been fishing a texas rig for 25 years so I know how to do it but wanted to hear what others do. The specifics were to try to keep people apples to apples. Until the free rig convo... But I loved the entire thread, and feel free to keep it going Oh, and since I'm the OP, send all samples to me and I'll bring @Pat Brown along on our testing session 🤣 but the key here is send samples. lots of samples.

I recommend going up a size if you can and getting the bigger transducer. I have the g4 7" with MSI. I like it but I'm on a kayak, if I had a boat if definitely want a larger screen especially on the bow, and the new transducer will give you better returns as well.

Sounds like fun! I'll be on a work trip so couldn't do it but I may be interested some other time.

I actually searched him on FB when I noticed he quit posting about a month ago and he is still posting on there, so I assume just taking a break.

I just went into Academy to pick up my online order, and found the in store clearance to be massive as well so that got me a second time. Extra 30% off already marked down stuff is just too good to pass on. I picked up the 6th sense umbrella rig for $9 which will be something new to try in addition to many other random items.

Yeah that Academy sale got me, as usual. I order it all online, better selection, and then some things are store pickup and some things mail to my house. I've got 2 rods (I don't really need) waiting for me to get today, and I'll check out their clearance bins when I go in.

Interesting that basically no one has said senko on texas rig. It seems like all of us have a million senkos that we never throw 😂 I'm going to pick up some nano hooks and some tungsten weights this week. And I guess I'll have to try a free rig as well. I'm going to add @AlabamaSpothunter to the list with @Pat Brown of top sales reps for the bait monkey... I think I already have pretty much every soft plastic mentioned laying around here somewhere... so if I can find them, I have plenty of variations to try!

I received my master catalog last week. I went online and logged in and made sure my address was correct (it wasn't because I moved 6 months ago), and I received a catalog within a week of updated address. I never requested it, didn't see that option. I'm going to be dropping by BPS in Richmond on Friday as I'm passing through. I'm hoping they'll have some good sales going. I actually like their soft plastics and will probably pick up some of those along with anything juicy looking on clearance.

Interesting replies. I'm not sure if I should imitate them or do the opposite on my pressured bodies of water 😎

We are finally thawed out in NC and hoping to remain that way. Pretty sure we will, super nice week coming up. Just in time too because I was spiraling. I think my kayak will get wet within the week 😎

I am going to try to throw a Texas rig more this year. That has me thinking about different setups and I am curious to hear what all of you think. If you could only have one Texas rig set up for an entire year, what would it be? Specifically what plastic, color, hook and weight, assuming you are mostly running the banks with it, not fishing deep. Very interested to see the results of this. I know a lot of people like beavers and a lot of people like worms and lizards. Can't wait to see what you all think will work the best year round.

Mine is a mess. I'm definitely in the market for better storage in my heated shop where my fishing gear reside

You may think so, but how can you know unless you try it. 🤣 I think my intelligence dropped with the air temps this winter.

yup! how'd you know

I hooked myself pretty good yesterday with a lipless, just trying to cast from the bank. That's what I get for trying this crazy cast under a tree that I saw on facebook reels... my lure never even got wet, just stuck in my finger instead. Best hookset this year so far, unfortunately.

Incredible! I'm fairly confident I would have fallen in as I'd have lost control of my body functions holding that fish!

@Mdd71 send you a private message with more details on Mackintosh, etc.

Welcome from ... Lake Mackintosh Step 1- something I never thought I'd have to say, wait for soft water! There are good fish in that lake, but they certainly aren't easy to catch and the skunk gets me pretty regularly. I agree with what Pat said. Tons of knowledge on here, don't be afraid to ask questions and please participate in the forums! Which Marina do you launch from? Do you have a boat or rent one? I primarily kayak from Guilford marina but occasionally will rent a Jon boat and take my kids or friends out on it.

I've fished it briefly a few times. It's known for striper I believe. It's pretty deep and clear water. I did see some green growth back in some coves. If the water is warm enough, the party people are out heavy on the lake so watch out for jet skis and wake boats. I was in my kayak, so was pretty limited to protected coves so I didn't get smashed by a wakeboat when I visited. Not may favorite spot to fish as I don't love ski lakes, but the fish are definitely in there. Please keep us updated on your progress, my buddy has a house there and I get to fish a few times a year so I'm very interested to learn more or see other's success.

I'm also in the southern crowd slowly losing their sanity. The lake behind my house still has snow on top of it, which basically never happens. I have a minisplit on my shop where I work and have home gym, but it can't handle this. I am getting a quote to add a wood stove, by the time I get it the winter will be over I'm sure though. Really need some sunshine though, we aren't wired for this down here

I'd also be happy to contribute. There's no way I could write any words that would help, or act like I can even understand what you are going through, but I'm with everyone else in that I care, will be praying for you to conquer this, and would love to contribute to a fishing trip for you if it even gives you a brief respite from thinking about this diagnosis.

I agree that a mentor, coach, friend, buddy, dad, uncle, or local alcoholic who's a great fisherman 🙃 are all solid options to learn. Personally, I learned the basics at a young age such as how to tie a knot, bass eat worms, spawn in spring, etc. Now that I'm an adult, I tend to learn from friends who are better than me and nice enough to let me tag along @Pat Brown, or people like my uncle who are older hammers and absolute beast with a couple of techniques (shaky head) and love teaching while catching. I do view a guide as a coach, in the same sense as a golf coach, meaning you can learn on your own the slow way, or you can pay a bunch of money and shave time off that process (maybe). If I had to learn a new body of water fast, I'd immediately hire a guide. But for fun fishing and relaxation, much more fun to go with friends/family just having a good time and picking up tips along the way from someone who is kind enough to drop tips or demonstrate techniques. Even though I don't throw a frog much, I've spent hours watching Pat do it and have learned more than a book could ever show you. Also he taught me literally hands on how to walk a finesse jig through a bed and get bit. Incredible. So I guess what I'm saying is, public thank you to Pat for being a great friend and mentor and very generous with his time and knowledge! A great coach as well, which is why Jake is an up and coming hammer for sure!

I think the challenge is exactly that, many of the great books are difficult to find. Maybe what we should do is buy the rights to them and then convert them to digital so they can be accessible to everyone. I've ready many books that weren't on kindle/etc and have wondered why the publisher hadn't done that. I assume it's a math reason or else they would. Interesting idea though. No idea if it'd be possible or the cost it may be. Sorry to go slightly off the initial intent of this, but so much great knowledge is in those old hard to find books and magazines it frustrates me that they aren't more accessible.