bp_fowler

I’ve got a few budget ones I’ve picked up. None are very functional for paddling, casting and fighting fish however. Anyone got any recommendations for something with a bit more mobility? I’d like to keep the price around $100.

I feel your pain. I never had much success with heavier jigs. Late last season I got on a hot streak pitching a Baby Structure Jig with a Super Chunk Jr. as a trailer. First time I really had success with a jig. I won’t say it’s a finesse presentation but it’s definitely more compact. Ditto with football jigs and swim jigs. I use 1/2oz and 1/4 oz respectively.

The nice weather last week unfortunately did not make for good fishing. Today was a bit cooler but the winds were calmer so I took the canoe out to the New Reservoir. I started out with a coppertruese ned rig. Caught 4 dinks at the first creek arm I tried. They were all about the same size as the fish pictured below. Moved on to the second creek arm. This one was being feed by a swollen creek and was somewhat muddy as a result. Caught this one with a White 3.25” paddle tail just off a beaver lodge.

Best. Birthday. Ever.

Went out today to Flagdale lake. Last time I was here I was in my brother in law’s kayak and had a rough go of it. Winds were crazy I struggled to keep the kayak in position and I lost two at the boat. Today was more of the same wind wise, 40 mph gusts. Found a pocket that the wind was blowing into, also had birds swooping and diving into it. Caught two out of there on the black/blue mini max. Like to think that they were the same two I lost last year. Either way I feel like we’re even now.

For sure. That’s a big part of the reason I asked. Just trying to narrow it down.

Targeting SMB in clear water. Options for sunny and overcast days? Looking for to 2-3 to start with.

If @Pat Brown were selling his mojo I’d be willing to pay top dollar to learn the arcane art of the frog. 🐸 🥷🏻 Shore bass, winds gusting up to 30mph today.

Less than ideal conditions here today as yet another fake spring bites the dust. Two casts in and I hook this fish. Texas rigged craw for the win.

A lot of the spots around here are the same. I wish I had some kind of smart sounding explanation as to why this place wasn’t but honestly I haven’t the foggiest.

I’m getting more comfortable every time I take it out. Today I really started to notice the primary/secondary stability you mentioned. I was able to get a pretty good lean to one side or the other and the canoe would just balance there until i shifted my weight.

Agree. There’s so many ponds there. I wish I had a couple weeks just to explore. I probably still wouldn’t even come close to scratching the surface of all that place has to offer.

After getting pummeled by that front yesterday I wasn’t expecting much today. Decided to check out a place east of me called Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area or as most around here refer to it, AEP. Basically it’s approximately 35,000 acres of reclaimed strip mines, it’s dotted with a few hundred ponds. So many that most don’t even have a name just an alphanumeric designation on the map. Lauched my canoe at the first pond I came across. Water was super clear, like see right down to bottom clear. It caused me a bit of a problem. I could see tons of bluegill and small bass scattering as I approached. Even spooked a handful of larger bass unfortunately. I ended up having to make very long casts to even have a chance at a bite. Caught a half dozen dinks most about the size of this one, which was my first catch out of the canoe.

Hopefully I can start catching them from the canoe soon. Haven’t been able to take it out much since I got it. Winds here have been brutal.

Crappie Hole again this morning. Trying to get in before the next front hits. Fished for about an hour alternating between a double Colorado and a football jig. No takers. Figured what the heck and switched to a black/blue Mini Max even though I’m not a fan of fishing them in this lake because it’s full of snags. Caught three in three casts. Two decent ones with a dink sandwiched in between. Moved down the bank some and caught my biggest of the day. 5.09#. Had to beat a hasty retreat after that with the storm rolling in.