Erik's fishing rants

I always bring four rods with me, all set up for something different, on top, deep, no weight, lures/live bait. Never ever have one rod unless it’s creek/wader fishing. But extras are in the truck.

 

You need to know what the fish your after primary feed on. Not every lake/pond or river is the same. In my lake the fish are hammered with every lure known to man. I laugh at what some try to fool a fish into hitting. You need to use only one, or two spinner rigs, or a similar color flat fish crank bait with a lot of motion that mimics a wounded fish. Those yakami mag lip crank baits are candy to trout here.

 

3rd cast with a giant catch co bull gill swim bait. My buddy had not even gotten setup yet when I hauled this in. He picked up some giant weedless jig heads and was using giant gulp minnows on them.... he didnt catch anything on that combo.



3.52lbs



I had 2 baitcasters with braid, and my normal spinnning rod with 8lb, both baitcasters got pretty knotted up real bad after a few hours. So the rest of the night was spent with the spinning rod going for crappies.

 

Same here, i carry 6 in my boat. Some to target different species of fish....some set for different depths.

 

Everytime I used a baitcaster I got a birds nest, I’m a spinner at heart! That is a nice hog!

 

My son and I hit this private lake last evening only thing biting was Carp. So humid/hot- Landed some decent ones, used my 7 ft rid with 6lb test and circle hook. Makes the real in fun, and tiring! We landed about 25 total 10-18lbs.

This one was about 31” long 11 lbs.


This one was my heaviest at 16lbs and 27”


Those yellow lines are air lines they have an aerator set up in the middle of the lake. It’s about 16 ft deep in the middle.

 

If your getting a birds nest on your bait casting reels, its not setup properly, or theres a problem with the reels operation. Proper method of casting using a bait caster is important...you cannot use it like you would a spinning reel.

 

Carp are an overgrown goldfish imo. Those are pretty big. I use to catch them in the houstonic river here...5-7 lbs all evening.

 

I am sure my method is not correct!
First time never stopped the spool! Huge cluster u know what. Second time, similar but not as bad. Honestly gave up, I tried to use an ocean one in a charter once too but that ended in big ass mess.

 

Ive used my baitcasters on and off for about a year, I still cant get the technique down, so I always bring 1-2 spinning rods, that way I can actually fish and not crochet a sweater from the birds nest in the reel.

 

I think there are some video's on line on basic setup of bait casting reels plus the arm technique needed to cast with one. I've found it gets much harder to setup a bait casting reel as you use lighter line, and lures.

 

Got out for a few hours tonight, hit 2 lakes, only got fish at one of them. I got a 2.5 lb bass, a massive bluegill, and a hotdog sized bass that if I had a bucket would of come home with me.

Its been 90+ degrees out and no rain for awhile, the fish dont seem to be biting and the water is hot. I think next time out im doing the kayak and going to the trout lake, its spring fed so it stays 60 degrees in the water during the summer.

But some of the stores near me are starting to get ice fishing gear in, so I will be stocking up while its still hot out so I am ready this year (last year I was so under equipped I didnt get to go out more than 1 time)

Next month my brother and my dad will being coming up here for a month, so I need to go buy 2 more fishing kayaks so we all can go out and get some big pike (I wont pike fish alone with a kayak, I cant swim(spine damage), and a pissed off slime noodle with teeth and hooks hanging out of their mouth is not ideal for me while alone)

 

Its hot again this week, in the 90's. Lakes been too busy to fish with water skier's, tubers, and wake boarders having their fun.....action starts around 8 am or even earlier. I haven't gotten out there in a couple weeks now.
While mentioning those greasy pickerels, i've taken out a few them last year, so far none this year. Been trying to get my brother out there...he's get's a license every year, but never fish's.

 

Well I broke one of my fav rods today 2.1 lb bass, he dove into the weeds and while trying to pull him out the rod broke, I only had 8lb line, not sure how the rod broke before the line did. It was a st croix triumph rod (6f medium). I am going to replace it with a st croix premier rod, but im trying to figure out what length I should go with. I really liked the 6f medium, but im thinking of upping it to a 6f6i medium.

 

Just my opinion but if fishing for bass you should choose at least a 7' rod with medium action, and medium-heavy power using a fast rod tip. Heavier line also. Sorry you broke that rod...any others wouldn't be so bad, but a st croix is hard to take.

 

Yeah, the rod I was using is normally for my medium sized baits for the smaller bass/crappies. But the rod was from 2005, so its pretty old and I think it was time to upgrade it anyhow. When fishing for bigger bass, I use my ugly stik mediums, they are fitted with 20lb braid and I can just drag anything right out of the weeds with them.

I did order a replacement this morning, I got the split grip st croix premier in 6f medium. I plan to order a 6,6 or 7f medium heavy soon for larger fish, but I might wait till fall and see if I can get some clearance ones.

 

I used a st croix rod way back in the day fishing of 5 lb brook trout in quebec...got stuck...when i tried to free the lure, i over did it...the rod snapped. I nearly cried before having a fit. Have not used a st croix down here since. As far as length rods, i never use anything shorter than 7' now when lake,
or pond fishing. Got just one i still use thats about 6' just for smaller rivers/streams

 

My son also has broken St. Croix rods. I’ve never used them, for that reason. I love my ugly sticks for everything!

 

Sofar 50% of the st croix rods I have snapped (I have 2 of them). and 0% of the ugly stik rods I have snapped (I have 17 of them). The st croix rods really are just light duty for me, so im hoping to not have another break off. The ugly stiks will continue to be the staples for river, kayak, and big fish.

 

I've snapped a couple bill dance rods bought at wally world. I complained how they shouldn't of broke. I guess they had others that bought them with the same issues. I ended up getting credit to replace it. Still using one thats been ok. My brother broke an ugly stick tip of mine getting it caught in his car door when i let him borrow one of my spinning rods. I just put a new rod guide tip on the end of the broken rod tip...been good as new.