FishTax

I've used Zenni for prescription polarized cheap sunglasses. I view them as disposable. Don't compare them to costa, look at price difference and set expectations accordingly. Again... disposable. I tried the kastking ones, they are way too narrow for my big head and caused headaches. They'll probably crack in half or an arm fall off soon as tight sunglasses tend to do. I'd love some good polarized ones but I feel confident as soon as I spend the money they'll go swimming, so unless they make them to float I can't buy them.

I went for a walk yesterday afternoon along my property bordering the lake. The amount of stuff I found was discouraging, but most of it was pretty old. Like very rusted can, glass bottles and jars with the labels washed off, etc. I didn't have a way to load it up, but it's on my land so next time down I'm going to bring a contractor bag on the 4wheeler so I can pack it out. Also going to make my kids pick it up and teach them life lessons in the process. Every time we get rain here, a bunch of stuff washes into the lake from the feeder creeks that go along the roadways, and then stuff dislodges and washes further down, etc. So pretty much every time a big trash clean up is needed. With that said, our lake is generally very clean compared to many others I've visited, so I'm thankful for that. Owning property that border the lake will give you a slightly different perspective on this sort of thing though. I definitely have similar feelings to @A-Jay, especially when there are liquor bottles washing up on my land. The occasional water bottle doesn't bother me as I just assume it accidently fell of the boat or something, but big liquor bottles and also just general household waste stuff really fires me up.

Welcome to the forum @JohnnyG! We have a good representation of NC guys on here, would love to have you stick around as the more the merrier In NC, winter is variable. Last year it lasted 1 week and I'm not sure we even had any ice on water at any point. I really don't think water temps got much below 45 last year but am not totally sure on that. This year, water temps are currently in the mid/high thirties (and dropping the next 3 days ). I say all that as a preface because that 10 degree change in water temps makes a huge difference to our bass. My advice with water temps under 45 is to go small and slow. With water temps under 40, good luck. I think our fish are in shock and we are having a fish kill of crappie and shad out this way in some bodies of water, which means a buffet for bass so in my mind why would they hit a fake lure when they can just gorge on dying baitfish with minimal effort? Anyway, I'm bitter about the cold. But for lures, I'd recommend soaking a worm, however you like it. I'd go small, like 5" or less. Finesse worm, roboworm, etc. I like shaky head. With it being a pond, if the bottom is a mess of slop you may do better with a dropshot so you aren't constantly covered in gunk. I'd also look at a finesse jig if there isn't too much gunk. For each of those, let it sit on bottom. Drink some coffee. Barely work it. Keep a hand in your pocket. Etc. Very slow. Boring. If you want to do something, try a blade bait. Let it touch bottom, then slowly lift it until you feel vibration. I caught my only winter fish this year from a pond which has crappie and sunfish as primary forage on a chartreuse blade bait that was small size and I think a 3/8 oz weight. Several guys on here are masters of the blade bait and do very well. I'm still learning it, but have enjoyed it so far. Try using the search function to see how other guys are using it. Hopefully it'll warm up fast in February and we'll get some warm rain. We pretty much haven't had prespawn and usually that's in full swing right now I think. Will be interesting to see how all of this plays out going into the spring. I'm hoping for some very fat fish from the buffet they are currently being provided. Also follow @Pat Brown, he is local and fishes more than half the time from the bank and he is a hammer so you can learn a ton from him. He's way smarter and better fisherman than me.

Yeah I'm trying hard to not carry mine on the water at all. I have a Gerber I use but prefer to just use my fishing pliers with built in line cutters which are tethered to the boat.

I'll just pile on from Pat's post. We feel like we're in Canada and we are gaining respect for all of you up north. I couldn't do it. Every day I get up and just see how much ice there is and feel sad. Last time out I watched a bald eagle for a while so that was neat. The good thing down here is we aren't used to these temps and neither are the fish. There is a fish kill happening as Pat mentioned, which we are guessing will create a huge buffet for the bass and in about a month we hope to be making PRs with pot bellies. Maybe not, but we have to have hope to survive our month of cold. We are missing our hundred degree summer days right now. At least falling out of the boat won't kill you on those days. Anyway, here's to huge future fish on future soft water, and kudos to the yanks for your fortitude in surviving the winters!

Caught my first blade bait fish this year at the pond with @Pat Brown. I was inspired by @AlabamaSpothunter and @Team9nine to try it. I'm far from dialed in but looking forward to throwing it more. I do find I lose them quickly though. Pretty sure I found since crappie Fisherman brush piles they thought were well hidden 😎

Good one, really enjoyed it. He's great!

That is crazy impressive. I can't believe you landed it on a kayak. That entire catch from hookset to release was pure skill, I don't know how you got it on the kayak but I think I'd have been scared to try. Incredible!

I was hoping to, and discussed it with @Pat Brown, but they're calling for rough weather up our way so definitely no on tomorrow and probably no on Saturday as well unfortunately. We will see what actually happens and how the roads are. Down your way I'm guessing it'll be fine on Saturday, I live right on the line of potential mess and am not really interested in dealing with it or other drivers. So a 23% chance I'd say

That I need fancy rods and lures. The bait monkey is the gimmick. All I ever needed was the ugly stick and a senko...

Agree, I recently got one this length and have found it to be perfect for bank fishing around trees and such.

Throw 15 lb big game line on it and take it fishing. That is versatile rod that will work with many things. Mary not be perfect but you can catch make fish on different techniques with it. Don't over think it!

@Cdn Angler very interesting on the white poop bait. I've been trying to figure out how to catch on those, they seem like they should work but I've been unsuccessful throwing weightless. Thanks for sharing.

Ok the year finally ended so I can post. The Siebert swim jig and mini swim jig in 3/8 with various skirts but all some shad looking whitish with accents was definitely my #1 producer and became a great confidence bait for me this year. I'm not sure what second place would be as it was all over the place based on season, but probably a shaky head with a junebug trick worm as that is always in my top 3 along with other jig varieties (brush, football, finesse, black and blue, green pumpkin, etc). I also had good luck with a rage swimmer on an open hook vmc head in I think 1/8 oz but it may have been 3/16. This one in gizzard shad looking colors specifically.

I'd be happy to accept the challenge of spending that gift card without big ticket items. If someone sends me one I'll be happy to document the journey and see where we land. 😎

@A-Jay you are an inspiration. I'm stepping up my game starting today with a focus on mobility and longevity, but hopefully getting a little jacked too. Having back arthritis in my 30s is frustrating but maintaining good health is probably the best way to manage it long term.

I don't have lots of fancy specific rods, although lots is relative and my wife may see things differently. I do have some preferred rods for different presentations. Especially the ones I throw regularly like swim jig, brush or football jig, heavy jig, and spinnerbait. I also have a few different spinning rods. Technically all medium but they fish very different. I'd throw a mid weight shaky head on a different one than a weightless wacky because they load up a little differently.. it's not all necessary but definitely makes it more enjoyable and increases my confidence some.

It's very cold here. For NC at least. I went out yesterday briefly and got skunked again. I think today is our last really cold day for a while so hopefully the bite will come back after Christmas. I'm planning to catch at least one more before this year ends, and I'm hoping it's 5+. (trying to manifest it by typing it here )

I'm hoping to catch something good in the next week, so will update when the year is over But as a teaser, Seibert swim jig in 3/8 with a shad looking deal and a twin tail zoom trailer in white was my #1. Occasionally I'd swap the trailer to a pintail type thing from BPS in silver. The pond fish couldn't get enough of that deal this year.

Everyone pulling rods up with treble hooks is inspiring me.. how many times will I lose a lure if I drag a lipless trying to get the rod? I think the bottom in that area is generally clean but a lipless will definitely let me know... Maybe I'll go to Walmart and see if they have some cheap heavy Ozark ones to try with

That's nice that you can retrieve them. Mine was in 20' of water. I went out yesterday with a magnet and tried to get it as I know generally where it's at, but no luck. The wind was so heavy I was blowing 1 mph every time I quit paddling, according to my electronics, so it's was difficult to maintain position. Even if I had position though, I don't think the magnet thing would work. I tried sticking it to another rod I had with me and it barely found anything magnetic so that was probably a failed strategy. Seemed like a good idea though, I'm surprised the rods don't have more metal on them, I guess only the reel is and the guides are too small. I think the lake owes me a big bass for that one.

Lost my cell phone a few months ago, trying to text and bumped my arm and plop. It sunk very fast. Some ladies kayaking nearby saw it happen and checked on me, even offered to let me use theirs to call my wife but I decided not to call her from a strange lady's phone so I just headed back immediately so my wife would know I wasn't dead floating somewhere. I lost my new prized rod and reel combo on Monday that I bought on Black Friday. Nicest one I've ever owned, first time out with it. Somehow when I was casting it flew out of my hand. I almost dove after it but better sense stopped me luckily. Diving into 50 degree water alone from a kayak would have been way worse than losing the nicest rod I ever bought I believe. I'm still tore up about losing that rod but I'll get over it. Not sure what lesson to learn from it except to not get too worked up about it, I can always buy another one although not at the price I got it at or with what's left of my budget after Christmas.

Water temp was 51 yesterday on my lake. I think it'll be high 40s when you're here. We'll see. Hopefully the bite will be back by then. They can't keep their lips sealed forever.

I caught one at the pond on Saturday on a blade bait that I posted on the other thread. I've been skunked before and after that and echo the other guys. Super weird weather pattern. Clear water, just ending a warm front that has water back up to 51 today but it was in upper 40s last week. Yesterday I went out and somehow threw my brand new swimjig rod and reel into the lake and lost it. First time out with it on the lake. I'm pretty sad. Between losing my brand new setup I got on black friday as a gift to myself and getting skunked several times, it's been a depressing week. I bought that combo as a present to myself for a good year at work, most expensive one I've ever owned. Pat and I agree we're ready for real winter. Who'd have thought us southern boys would ever say that? I'll be whining when it happens, but hopefully catching decent fish again at least.

I generally throw a nighttime spinnerbait. I usually catch a tree and have to break off. Usually after 2 of those and one good beaver splash in ready to hang it up until tomorrow... But yeah I feel like night time has a lot of potential and plan on exploring that even more this year. I've seen @Pat Brown wreck them on a frog at night from the bank.