This has truly been the best year of bass fishing I’ve ever had. In many years of bass fishing. And in a new part of the country with new baits I’d never have tried before. So I wanted to say thank you to the people who helped me. Thank you so much to @Pat Brown  @Swamp Girl  @Jig Man @casts_by_fly  and anyone else who has ever messaged with me or commented on posts. Thank you 

There are harder jobs than being a diesel mechanic, but not many. I'm so happy you found your happy place on the bank of a pond where you can rest your back and heal your hands. 

Yeah Joe, we all appreciate you and all your posts! We should be thanking you!

Keep on rippin lips and learning and enjoying the ride!

41 minutes ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Yeah Joe, we all appreciate you and all your posts! We should be thanking you!

Gah I knew early this morning I left one out. Thank you so much. You have helped me for a whole lot of years. Literally lol

49 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

There are harder jobs than being a diesel mechanic, but not many. I'm so happy you found your happy place on the bank of a pond where you can rest your back and heal your hands. 

I don’t know about that. But thank you. And I truly am happy on the bank. 

4 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

Keep on rippin lips and learning and enjoying the ride!

That’s the plan. Winter setting in will be different for sure 

On 10/26/2025 at 8:38 AM, Joedodge said:

That’s the plan. Winter setting in will be different for sure 

 

Don't worry, you'll hate it just like the rest of us.

 

scott

On 10/27/2025 at 11:06 PM, softwateronly said:

 

Don't worry, you'll hate it just like the rest of us.

 

scott

 

Yeah, it is long and drags on and on. Beyond tomorrow, I likely won't have a tight line again until late April of 2026.

^ Like Katie - it'll be April (maybe even May) before I have a chance to cast a line again. Winter is giving us warnings (flurries Halloween eve maybe) so I've started dismantling my rigs for winter storage.

I posted some sad emoji's above because I wish all of you could fish year round. It is sad to me that some of you have to take about 6 months off from fishing and possibly experience cabin fever.

 

I wish it were otherwise for each of you.

 

I can see now why Swamp Girl, MN Fisher, Joe and others have to do a lot more fishing in the 6 months you do have to fish. It makes more sense to do it while you can.

 

I guess a lot of you may use the 5 or 6 months of winter to prepare for the next fishing season?

 

For me here in Florida my down time is primarily when the long duration rains come like slow moving tropical storms and sometimes hurricanes, and our normal summertime afternoon rains- because we can fish through winter. Quite often some of our best fishing days in saltwater are our coldest days usually in mid to upper 30's and 40's. We don't see too many days of freezing temps. So its not the cold that stops us from fishing. Primarily rain, wind and lightning keeps us off the water.

 

The nice thing about colder weather fishing in Florida is that the alligators leave us alone. We only have to worry about them in warm weather. The cold makes them lethargic and they don't want to move much. Its called brumation for them. Kind of like hibernation as their body metabolism slows down to survive the cold.

 

In places like North Carolina where the water can freeze over the gator has to keep his body under the water to keep his body temperature up high enough to stay alive, and as the ice forms over the water they have to stick only their nose out far enough to breathe, and they can stay this way for weeks or months until it warms up. It makes them vulnerable to other animals though.

 

This guy won't be fishing until April too! If he survives the cold.

 

 

So what do you do when you can't fish for 5 or 6 months?

1 hour ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

I guess a lot of you may use the 5 or 6 months of winter to prepare for the next fishing season?

Bingo. Reel and Rod maintenance, Line change-outs (for other than braid), review what worked, what didn't and plan shore backpack lures/plastics for next year, look for other possible shore sites.

 

This winter I'll also be doing final preps for selling Bass Trek. With the terminal diagnosis, I don't want to leave the wife with having to take care of that issue.

Very sorry to hear of the terminal diagnosis. God bless you MN Fisher!

 

56 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

With the terminal diagnosis, I don't want to leave the wife with having to take care of that issue.

 

You are a loving husband. 

@MN Fisher I am so sorry to hear that. Wishing the best possible outcome for you. 

On 10/29/2025 at 10:19 AM, MN Fisher said:

Bingo. Reel and Rod maintenance, Line change-outs (for other than braid), review what worked, what didn't and plan shore backpack lures/plastics for next year, look for other possible shore sites.

 

This winter I'll also be doing final preps for selling Bass Trek. With the terminal diagnosis, I don't want to leave the wife with having to take care of that issue.

I’m very sorry to hear that