Backlashes Suck!

If you use a baitcaster reel, you have probably experienced the backlash or "bird nest".  If you haven't, you will! These are extremely annoying and I have been known to express my annoyance with these situations in a rather loud manner!  I saw this video with some tips that I plan to try next time, because as much as I hate to admit it- there will be a next time.

Crappie Time!

Despite the name of this blog, I love catching anything that swims!  In this part of NC, the largemouth bass is King and the most sought after species.  I do enjoy going after crappie and bluegill at this time of year.
Last week we went to a small pond in search of some of these small and fiesty fish!  My son caught this nice crappie in his very first kayak fishing trip.  I was more excited than he was!  I caught about 6 and had fun watching my boy paddle around, he did great.  We used some 1/8 oz Roadrunners and small in-line spinners, both favorites of panfish.  Another fun time!

Good Fishin'...

I made another short excursion to a couple of small ponds with my brother in law last week and had a ton of fun!  The weather was perfect and the water is getting warm.  I started out with a shallow diving chartreuse Strike King crankbait and caught a nice little one pounder on my 5th cast!    The pace slowed and over the next hour I wore out the hinges on my tacklebox as I tried spinnerbaits and crankbaits of every color! I was beginning to get frustrated.  Then I remembered the new pack of 1/8 ounce Roadrunner Jigs I had bought on sale back in the winter.  It was a great choice, as over the next 2 hours I caught 4 more bass, 4 nice crappies and 2 bluegill.  Can't wait to go back!

Quick Trip...

I got the chance to make a quick stop at a small pond near my home this afternoon.  The weather has been better and the water was not as cold as the last few times I have been fishing.
I decided that I would try some smaller baits due to the relative size of the pond that I reckon was about a quarter of an acre or so.  This seemed to be the right choice and I caught 4 small bass from a half pound up to about one pound in the 2 hours I was there.                    
I used a white Chatterbait jig and a Beetlespin with a white grub.  These are usually pretty reliable and once again proved their worth!

Break in the Weather...

Finally a break in the cold, rainy weather!  So I hit a local pond with a buddy in his jon boat.  The water is still cool and extremely muddy due to all of the rain we have had.  I did manage to land 4 decent bass, the largest being nearly 2 pounds.  I caught 2 on a 4" Chatterstick and 2 on a small Chatterbait jig with a white curl-tail grub trailer.  These seem to show up well in dingy water and have incredible vibration.  All in all a great afternoon!

Tie 1 On!

I don't know about ya'll, but I was never a Boy Scout.  That's my excuse for not knowing squat about tying knots.
I struggled for a long time with finding the best knot for me.  If you are a knot-master then just ignore this post, but if you need help like I did, pay attention.
The Palomar knot fit the bill for me.  It's pretty simple to tie and is very strong.  So practice it a few times and I think you will like it as much as I do.

 

Big Bass Love Frogs!

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