My DIY Projects and Great Adventures

[Jamesdean]

I haven't commented on your posts, I don't think, but have read nearly everyone. I primarily fish from the bank at this point. Physical therapist said for this year anyway. I enjoy the read, and am paying attention so my learning curve wont be quite so large when I can get out...Keep up the great work/playing your doing...

[moonrunner]

Attachment 408971

Micanopy,
Saw this way of rigging years ago on Youtube - Bluegill World-The Iowa Tube Rig. Have used for gills and does work.

[Jamesdean]

Different, that's for sure...

[GrumpyLoomis]

Being from Iowa I do know this has been around for years but I think it was back when we did not have as full of a skirt as today. It also helped keep hollow tubes from being pulled of and if it did get pulled down you still had the skirt were it was effective.

[GrumpyLoomis]

Micanopy I have read all of this and find it quite a journey. I use plastics when I am in the jungle brush piles here. Open trolling I use the good stuff most of the time. Nice assortment of 1/16 and I would go into and brush pile with those. Some of the beauties you tie would not be sacrificed that way. Keep them coming.

[Micanopy]

[DockShootinJack]

Nice mess of fish. Y'all did well.

[DockShootinJack]

Well there Grumpy….I am trolling jigs, some in real close to the boat, some back behind a ways. No snagging going on round here. I think I have only lost three all year.



What tricks ?

I like tricks you know. Quick tell me so I can go explore.

Back in the 90's when I bass fished as often as I could. I would take a bag of culprit 6 inch worms and spray bang scent in the bag. Seal it up and leave it a few days. You would get this oily slim the color of the worm all in the bag and covering the worms. Those river delta bass would wear them out. My buddy would fuss about getting used water in the back of the boat. I took the back seat and would still work him over

[Micanopy]

The Old Gal did pretty well. I think I have found a fishing partner in the rough. She crawled out of bed and did all those things she feels she must, and jumped in the truck. We hit the boards early enough to please me.

There were already a dozen trucks with empty trailers when we arrived. Still I was able to launch pretty fast and get parked. We headed out and there was a flotilla all gathered in one area. I told her that that was where they caught fish yesterday, but it can change quickly. This lake has almost no structure so the crappie follow the bait schools. I steered us a course well away from everyone, and she liked that.

I switched places with two rods and changed the spread. Now the two longest rods are way back with 1/16th oz jigs, and the two rods sticking up in the rocket launcher are about 3/4’s that far back. The two sticking straight out next to the long rods are 1/4 oz and a a few feet further back than the two right next to the boat. Hard to explain but the new setup was working well, as we only had one small issue when a jig grabbed the line of another rod. Otherwise I was able to make course corrections at her directions, and she loves to tell me which way we should head.

I love the way the water splashes when they hit the jigs right alongside the boat. Wakes you up for sure. Splash Splash and you see the fish and only then do you see which rod he is on. I just kind of grab the rod and lift them. She has issues handling those fish as she says they flop too much. Still she has figured out that the thumb in the mouth trick is better than the spine in the finger trick. Like grabbing a flapping cactus.

She was very quick on the poles and was working out her technique a little. There were issues but she was working through those. She had two very nice fish bump the back of the boat, and as soon as they did the line snapped. I was surprised when it happened the second time. The fish was coming coming and she was bringing them in close and she was going to try to lift from behind the boat but as soon as they touched the boat the line broke. 8 pound test Trilene with a UNI knot to a small twisted wire connector. Snap.

She landed a beautiful 2 pound fish. That thing was fat. She went on to lose several others very much the equal of that fish. The two that hit the boat were bigger in my eyes. I told her I was gonna start taking the rod away from her if this continued. Like that was gonna happen- right ?

We counted 25 in the cooler using my clicker thingie, and decided we had more than I cared to clean. So we stowed the rods and cruised the edges of the lake looking for gators. Did not see any at all. She took a quick dip in the middle of the lake. We cruised some more and headed in.

At home I cleaned the fish using my new knife. Kaboom recommended it and the devil will get very sharp indeed. I wouldn’t say it was a huge improvement over my five dollar knife, but it felt good in my hand. I have kind of bastardized the cleaning process. Now I backstrap them devils and done. I slip the knife in and run along the spine of course. Then poke thru and finish through the tail area. Flip and repeat. Then using a serrated knife I cut the behind the gill cut and rip the filet away from the skeleton. This leaves me with a nice elongated piece which I cut away from the skin. Sure there is some meat left on the carcass but when I am hot and the skeeters are after me and I’m dripping sweat onto my glasses and such like…..I don’t really need to be doing yeoman’s work. I can do this and get done quickly.

So I took my Bowl-O-Meat inside and vacuum sealed 3/4’s of it and placed the rest in the fridge. The bag in the deep freezer after writing SEPT 2021 on it. Later after a nice nap I started making fried fish. Tried Golden Dipt Beer Batter and it was OK I guess, but the pancake mix was better. I was perusing the Recipe Section for ideas but was left uninspired. Eventually I will find something we really like. So far blackening is her favorite. She has been asking for baked fish so that will probably be next up.

I am planning on taking my buddy again. He called to remind me that he had had a “Blast” on our little trip last week. With this new rod configuration, I imagine I can alter it somewhat and set him up with four rods to work. That would keep him occupied. I remember when I first got the boat and told him I was going to try to learn how to crappie fish. He laughed and laughed. Well now he wants to do what ? That is right, go crappie fishing with me. Amazing. Now I laugh.

The best producing jig for numbers and size was my under spin with the lemon/lime paddle tail bait. in 1/16th and 1/4 oz sizes, they love it. I tried orange, blue and white, black and chartreuse, and white tones and they want that John Deere special. Which is fine, I just need to make some more. The fish tend to tear at it.

Speaking of which we noticed how flimsily we were hooking these fish. Just the tiniest piece of flesh around the rim of their mouthes. I told her it was why we were losing so many fish. The way they were striking the jig. They hit hard but the jigs were popping loose way too often for my taste. I hate to see that open mouth just disappear. We sure lost some beauties but that is the way it goes. Go again, and everything changes. Weird I know, but it is how it goes.

I hate my TM. If I sit next to it and babysit it, the boat does well. Step away and turn my back we veer off course and start doing circles. Every time it seems. Frustrating. A couple of times she jumped in and corrected course, and that was cool. I hate to untangle lines, especially when the fish are biting.

We noticed how dark it was for 6:30 and 7:00 in the morning. Days are definitely shortening. Soon Old Man Winter will be along. I would go nuts hanging out for six months waiting to go fishing again. I used to wonder why people would ice fish, now I know. They can’t wait. Fall and Winter down here are gorgeous, and some of the best days to be on a boat in Florida are in January and February. Bright sunny days where the Sun turns you into a lizard soaking up it’s rays. Great days for a nap on the boat as well. Wrap and peel.

I sure hope the fishing improves soon.

[Micanopy]