Tried a new pond today and got 6, mostly on a zoom houdini super fluke…

Ned continuing to do work in the cold waters of the Midwest this week, along with the occasional blade bait thrown for active fish. Picked off about 20 fish over a series of trips this past week. Still using the bail-less Lew's reel, but just ordered a replacement (Daiwa). Looking forward to getting it out and on the water next week after another series of rain showers passes through today and tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

27 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Ned continuing to do work in the cold waters of the Midwest this week, along with the occasional blade bait thrown for active fish. Picked off about 20 fish over a series of trips this past week. Still using the bail-less Lew's reel, but just ordered a replacement (Daiwa). Looking forward to getting it out and on the water next week after another series of rain showers passes through today and tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the advantage of no bail? I've seen this mentioned before but never looked into it as to why

13 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

What is the advantage of no bail? I've seen this mentioned before but never looked into it as to why

 

It's mostly an "old school" modification that I just adopted on that reel because the bail arm wire snapped on me a month or so back, so I simply removed it entirely. 'Back in the day,' it was done either because certain spinning reels didn't allow for manual closing, or because bail springs broke so frequently from use, and using the reel without the bail arm eliminated that from every happening. Basically a work-around. Takes some getting used to.

Dec 3rd brought nice conditions for one last open water try.

Had to take advantage of a day off and almost 80 degree temps. First time spending a full day in the kayak and I’m a little stiff, but pretty comfy overall. Caught 10 total and had to work for the first 5. Caught my final 5 in my last hour at opposite end of the lake / pond. Got caught up fishing “history” and pounded some spots I’ve been having luck at lately. Should have known the fish were likely to be on the wind blown side. Oh well, lesson learned. Caught on Ned, mojo, and drop shot. Biggest was 2.5 with a couple twos in the mix. Hooked into a really nice one for a few seconds. Set the hook and she barely moved then swam at me and one shake = gone. Get her next time! Just a great day on the water

Slow foggy day with no wind and 58 degee water. Fished from 10a - 5p. Caught 9. That's the best 2.

Dale Hollow...19"

 

The highlight of the day was driving up on a friend of mine and seeing him catch a 5lb smallie on a lure I made.

31 minutes ago, Chris Catignani said:

Dale Hollow...19"

 

The highlight of the day was driving up on a friend of mine and seeing him catch a 5lb smallie on a lure I made.

That’s a beauty. Sound like a fun and gratifying time! What kind of bait did you make for your buddy?

Late November. The day before I had this fish spit a drop shot and got off at shore. Went back the next day with a 3.3 on a 1/0 gold willow flashy swimmer. Made a couple casts in the exact spot where I lost this fish the day prior. Place doesn’t have many big fish. Had to be the same fish as I did get a good look when I lost her the day before. Luckily there was a European guy there throwing carp rigs so I bothered him for a pic. He didn’t look too happy……or maybe it was a normal stoic gesture. This fish made the season for me as I missed out on most of the year due to injury. 

30 minutes ago, Fat Ika said:

That’s a beauty. Sound like a fun and gratifying time! What kind of bait did you make for your buddy?

I got nuthin’. 
 

Forecast kept saying rain. Starting at 6:00, then 8:00, then 10:00. So I gave it a shot. Got the boat in the water at 8:45. 8:47 it started to rain. Oh, well. 65° and no wind…I’m fishin’! And I did. Got wet. Had one bite on a X-Zone Adrenaline Craw and…bam!!! 
 

No, not a big bass. Lightning! I decided discretion was the better part of valor and packed up posthaste. 
 

So, no fish. But I did meet a fellow angler who seems as serious as me and we exchanged numbers and hope to fish together soon, so all-in-all, not bad. Came home and made sugar cookies with my wife. 
 

Life is good. 

16 minutes ago, Chris Catignani said:

Oooo! I found a guy that probably uses that same mold and makes some pretty neat drop shot plastics that are slightly buoyant. They almost hover horizontally vs a that aggressive tail up float of elaztech. The custom Ned’s and shot plastics he makes have a nice licorice scent. 

3 hours ago, Chris Catignani said:

Dale Hollow...19"

 

The highlight of the day was driving up on a friend of mine and seeing him catch a 5lb smallie on a lure I made.

Excellent 

The temperature was supposedly 42 but it kept getting windier and maybe colder. I talked the wife into going , at first she was loving it driving the boat. Then it was pretty darn cold and she was using a dog for warmth and flipping me the bird with mittens on so we called it. 

Got out for a little while this AM before being chased off by thunderstorms moving in. Fish were suspending and not wanting to bite. Got 4 on the Ned rig anchored by a nice 2 pounder. Broke a decent one off due to a poor knot. Knew  it wasn’t right and didn’t fix it so I paid the price. Got soaked 20 minutes after launching which wasn’t ideal. Wish I had the new BPS rain gear I am getting for Christmas! This guy only went a pound or so but his coloring was really cool. 

31 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

The temperature was supposedly 42 but it kept getting windier and maybe colder. I talked the wife into going , at first she was loving it driving the boat. Then it was pretty darn cold and she was using a dog for warmth and flipping me the bird with mittens on so we called it. 

City!...That there is 100% bonified...KEEPER!

 

Now...take my wife for example...I was tellin her all about an Arduino Sensitivity device I invented for measuring rod materials...etc...etc. An was thinking on doing a presentation at with it at a rod show. She said, "I dont know why you wanna do a talk on sensitivity. Your the most insensitive man I know!" I said, "Honey...you still mad at me about the trolling motor I bought you for Christmas?"

@TnRiver46,

I think you misinterpreted.  I'm sure she's indicating you only get one more cast. LOL.

Saturday was the first real cold day I've had to fish in this year. Temps weren't bad, the wind sucked though. It was supposed to be 13mph from the NW, the whitecaps argued otherwise. Couldn't even fish a couple areas I wanted to fish the waves were crashing into them so hard. Stayed just warm enough all day that my guides didn't ice up until the temps started dropping from an approaching cold front at around 2, and that's when I left. I bounced around and scrounged 8-10 green fish, several whites and wipers, and 1 each flathead and channel cat. A 2tap caught the 2 bigger bass on the day, shakyhead and Ned caught the rest. Wipers ate a swimbait, flathead was on a jigging spoon.

Fish were pretty active this afternoon after a cold start this morning. Caught a dozen not counting a few dinks mostly on this blade bait with a few on a jerk. Jerkbait got the biggest which was a little better than the one pictured. Looks like we should have more opportunities in the short term. I'll probably have to deal with skim ice the next couple of days because of nights in the 20's. Years ago I would be ice fishing by now.

Cold heavy rain throughout the night had the pond cold and muddy. Threw a little floating JB for twenty minutes and caught four of these feisty jokers while my old hound dog "rambled" around. Had to wake her up to ride back.

I started fishing a couple of months ago
and got use to the 1, 2, and 3 pounders. I was happy and content with those until last Saturday around 8:00 am. Felt a tug and calmly told my husband to “Get The Net”!  My PB so far. I think i am hooked for life!

It was 5 lbs 3 ounces at 1.7 ft. I don’t know if the picture does the fish any justice…. 

 

7 hours ago, GreenPig said:

Cold heavy rain throughout the night had the pond cold and muddy. Threw a little floating JB for twenty minutes and caught four of these feisty jokers while my old hound dog "rambled" around. Had to wake her up to ride back.

A fine hound 

My Mom hooked a donkey! 5.9 lbs even, her PB. She saw some ripples and called over to me. I told her just leave her bait sitting there. After over maybe half a minute, her line started swimming off. She was excited!

 

3 hours ago, Melinda M said:

I started fishing a couple of months ago
and got use to the 1, 2, and 3 pounders. I was happy and content with those until last Saturday around 8:00 am. Felt a tug and calmly told my husband to “Get The Net”!  My PB so far. I think i am hooked for life!

It was 5 lbs 3 ounces at 1.7 ft. I don’t know if the picture does the fish any justice…. 

 

 

Congrats on the new PB!

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

My Mom hooked a donkey! 5.9 lbs even, her PB. She saw some ripples and called over to me. I told her just leave her bait sitting there. After over maybe half a minute, her line started swimming off. She was excited!

 

 

Congrats on the new PB.