We need more fishing threads...

[MXTHOR3]

Nice smallmouth!! Topwaters at night are a ****load of fun!

[kanukVariant]

^^ wow

post more photos from the trip when you get a chance

^ Seconded!

Nice bass indeed. We caught about 30 of these last weekend. I was using the fly rod, the boys surface lures. They were unbelievably acrobatic (4' out of the water!) and parasite free, so we kept 6.



We're going back for more "triple headers" this weekend.

kaNUK

[2pt. slo]

Just got back from 2 weeks on the Sutton River.. Talk about epic..

The colors on those northern brookies are just incredible. Sounds like a blast

[Amsterdam087]

[MXTHOR3]

I love me some coho! Nice fish.

[Shawn B]

We're headed back out on LSC tomorrow so I decided to set up this brand new 9.5" Loke with #6 Wolverine split rings and 5/0 Musky Innovations Plasma Point hooks.

[MXTHOR3]

Big boot thanks to Lake O lastnight.

[kanukVariant]

Nice one!

I was fishing for pinks over the weekend. They were not really interested in food any more, I literally bounced a fly off a surfacing male's nose without eliciting a reaction

We then switched to "Fire tiger" Rapalas with pretty good success. I assume we were appealing to their territorial nature. At one point I set the hook on a nice male, only to have most of his face come off. That one was definitely past his prime (puke_smiley.gif) We called it the salmon of the zombie apocalypse.

kaNUK

[Dreizehn]

My friend hooked a 4-5 lb. Bluefish and about one minute later...this...



Another blue chomped half of this thing's body off! This was sick!

[kanukVariant]

Exactly! See what I'm saying?! Zombie-fish are EVERYWHERE!

kaNUK

[SivNiz]

Big boot thanks to Lake O lastnight.

Impressive! What kind of fish is that?

[MXTHOR3]

Impressive! What kind of fish is that?

Chinook salmon.

[kanukVariant]

^ I saw it's grand-daddy today while shore fishing in the Nipigon River. Bricks were shat

We were targeting Pinks and landed a few as the schools cruised by. Then we noticed some MUCH larger shadows in the school: Brook Trout! Bigger than any I've ever seen, cruising past in pairs or threes, a mere 10' in front of us. One or two of those fish were definitely over 24" ...perhaps pushing 30. Just as my sons and I pick our chins off the ground something comes along which DWARFS the brookies. It's a monstrous chinook with a huge kipe! My ten year old son yells "It's as big as ME" ... and he wasn't far off.

We chucked the tacklebox at the fish. The recommended "Fire Tiger Rapala" didn't produce, but various spoons with silver did. When the brookies came through we pulled out our lines, as the season is closed. When a big chinook came by we all took a cast at in turn ...no dice

I apologize for breaking rule #1 ...camera was left in the car

kaNUK

[Shawn B]

My Marshad's (Green Frog & Special Perch) showed up today! Looking forward to trying these on the weekend when we go to LSC again.

Marshall Custom Tackle - Look them up on Facebook
marshallcustomtackle@yahoo.com

[Mars Noble]

i told my youngest son that my father used to take me fishing before i went to school in the morning. his reply, "i wish he was my dad."

we did a small charter out of colonial beach this past summer & caught a grip of perch. i wasn't the ideal fishing exp but we didn't come empty handed which was the objective.

i sat thru a brief bass fishing workshop this past weekend only to jump start that need to get out there again.

i gre up doing mostly bottom fishing for spot & blues out of solomon's island. i may get a chance to do some fishing neat assategue next week for blues & stripers.

my latest passion is doing freshwater kayak when I can. needless to say, i hope to post pics soon.

2.0pt slow i hope to run into you one of these days.

[Laser04]

heading to Cabela's

[Shawn B]

[Laser04]

[Mars Noble]

Two days & no new posts? Caught the fishing bug lately, so I have a few questions.

Recently got a new Shakespeare baitcaster entry level reel & paired it up with a 6' lightweight Shimano rod.

I also bought a topwater popr lure that i was told works well for some LMB at a nearby lake. I took it for a spin in my backyard & it's not heavy enough to cast. I was also told to not a use any weight with this rig.

I've got 6lb flouro line on the reel, & loaded per instruction (thread through hole, tie line around spool with a common knot & load until 90% capacity.)

When I cast it, just kinda swing there like it was never released. Any advice for a noob? Thanks.

[captain_insano]

With baitcasters you can set amount of tension on the, usually a dial next to the reel handle. Once you do that you use your thumb as kind of a brake on the spool so it doesn't birdsnest on you. Hopefully this helps

Sent from my obsolete cell phone

[MXTHOR3]

Two days & no new posts? Caught the fishing bug lately, so I have a few questions.

Recently got a new Shakespeare baitcaster entry level reel & paired it up with a 6' lightweight Shimano rod.

I also bought a topwater popr lure that i was told works well for some LMB at a nearby lake. I took it for a spin in my backyard & it's not heavy enough to cast. I was also told to not a use any weight with this rig.

I've got 6lb flouro line on the reel, & loaded per instruction (thread through hole, tie line around spool with a common knot & load until 90% capacity.)

When I cast it, just kinda swing there like it was never released. Any advice for a noob? Thanks.

Can you tell us which model reel you have? It might or might not have a brake system, that's all dependent on the reel.. If not no worries, you'll still be able to cast with it.

On the same side as the drag, there should be another smaller knob, this is your tension knob. you want to turn this towards you (loosen) until the lure pulls line off the reel with it's own weight (Make sure you have freespool engaged).. Once that is set it should be pretty simple to cast without giving you too many backlashes..

One thing about baitcasters is that you've gotta practice.

Also, as a rule you want to spend more $$$ on the reel then the rod. Shimano Citica or the previous gen Curado (green) are great reels for beginners...

[Mars Noble]

It's a Shakespeare Agility from Dick's

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...uctId=11206571

I think I may have tried that, but I'll try it again. Just wasn't sure if I had it setup right w/the common know & the 6lb test.

Oh yeah, what's birdnesting?

Just noticed I can source a few of your recommended Shimano reels for about the same price as the reel from Dick's.

[MXTHOR3]

A birdsnest happens when the spool over runs the line coming off it, also called a backlash. You'll experience one, lol

If you want a budget Shimano reel the Caenan has been getting great reviews.

[Amsterdam087]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/alaska-gold/

[Mars Noble]

I released the tension knob & the line slowly drops. I practiced a few casts in my yard, but still getting the backlash. I may just switch out to a weighted rig to get better results.

i did hear a few birds chuckling at my attempt to make a "birdsnest" with my reel & line.

i may just return it & get the shimano you recommended.

[Amsterdam087]

there are some very helpful videos on youtube that may help you out as well, Mars.
bait casting reels take some time and lots of practice, stick with it.






In other news, this little piggy was caught just upriver from me the other day.

[Clean PG]

^^ errrrrrrrr, that guy is holding that beast way too effortlessly. i call shenanigans

[Shawn B]

Another helpful tip for a beginner at using a baitcaster is to peel off as much line as a full cast length or a little further then wrap some black electrical tape around the spool before winding te line back up over it. Now when you cast you are limited to exactly that length for a max cast but the rest of the line won't explode on you causing as nasty of a backlash (birds nest).

I casted my conventional baitcaster today for the first time. Not bad. This Avet is gunna sail pounder bulldawgs next Saturday!

[kanukVariant]

Riddle me this: What are the advantages of a bait-casting reel compared to a spinning reel? I can see the line would be twisting less, as it gets pulled off a rotating drum... Any other advantages?

I've never used one and am curious.

kaNUK

[Shawn B]

Cast control and accuracy come to mind as well as the versatity of speeds for applications or technique specifics. Many baitcasters also have a better multi drag in them also.

[punisher89]

Going out on a drift boat in a few hours to fish some reef spots and I can't sleep.

Hoping to catch some dinner.

[MXTHOR3]

Riddle me this: What are the advantages of a bait-casting reel compared to a spinning reel? I can see the line would be twisting less, as it gets pulled off a rotating drum... Any other advantages?

I've never used one and am curious.

kaNUK

All depends on the type of fishing... Big fish, big baits, I'll always go towards the baitcast setup over the spinning rod. Better line control, better lure control, easier to put the boots to a big fish if you have to.. More delicate fishing like vertical jiggging for walleyes, or dropshotting for bass I'll pick the spinning setup.. That being said, I use a custom 7.5ft 1pc XST for Nipigon brookies with 6lb Nanofil and a Saros 1000.. That my friend is A LOT of fun!

[Shawn B]

Almost ready for my guided trip with my buddy this coming Saturday! Rods are ready and now I am just packing a tackle box to bring with me. The guide is a friend and has many years experience on the water guiding and still does guided trips with customers, I won the trip on a friendly forum contest a few years ago. He has a ton of gear for us to use but said more never hurts also I am a lefty so will need to bring my own rods.

[GTI 4 ME]

Steelhead season on the north shore of Lake O is upon us. I'll be heading out to some local spots to kill some time. We didnt get rain so i'm not sure how good it's gonna be.
Just picked up an islander steelheader center pin. I'm sure getting used to it will keep me occupied. Wish me luck.

[MXTHOR3]

Yup, slowly all the salmon rubes are leaving the river.. Can't wait to get out this weekend!

Here's one from last year.