-
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
2024 Fishing Thread
- Thread starter Mountain
- Start date
Dennis in MA
NES Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2007
- Messages
- 40,753
- Likes
- 36,219
Nah. It puts the worm parallel to the hook. They're freaking PINK Senko's.
We went out again this Sat. We wandered around in teh boat. My SIL caught 3-4 - maybe 5-6 but all but 1 was a white bass. He prefers this mini craw b/c it gets bites, but I'll get real fish and he gets pan fish.
Oh, he caught the biggest damned perch I ever saw. 14-15"??? He threw it back before I could measure it. It was HUGE!
Then we went to a run of docks. The smallies were schooled in 3' of water 15' from shore. It was just dumb luck on our part. I cast at a dock, hooked up. As I was reeling, he hooked up.
We doulbed up 3x in a row in a matter of about 5 min. Then the sallies left.
. Made for a good morning though. Ordered more pink worms. And white. I'm betting the white does just as well as the pink.
tuna
NES Member
Some days, the Lord knows what you need to do.
Yesterday, I found an old fly rod in the basement, no idea where this came from, seems to be lighter than a 5/6, maybe a 3/4? It was corroded and nasty, but I cleaned it up and found an old Pflueger Medalist reel that had some rotted line on it. I cleaned up the rod, and stripped the reel and cleaned it up. My daughter had driver ed road lessons today, so I went and got some backing and line and leaders and decided I'd try fly fishing again. I really like it, but I just really suck at it.
We got home, and I had to bring my son somewhere, so I had about 2.5 hours to kill, gonna go fishing.
Then I noticed that the grass needed cutting. OK, but I don't have gas, so I went and got some. My mower died on the first pass, I didn't have the throttle high enough and didn't notice, it bogged down and died. I need a new battery, but haven't gotten around to do it yet, so I got the jumper out, and it's dead.
I tried to do the "right thing". Honest.
But all I could do now was go fishing. Didn't catch anything, but it's a better day than cutting grass.
Yesterday, I found an old fly rod in the basement, no idea where this came from, seems to be lighter than a 5/6, maybe a 3/4? It was corroded and nasty, but I cleaned it up and found an old Pflueger Medalist reel that had some rotted line on it. I cleaned up the rod, and stripped the reel and cleaned it up. My daughter had driver ed road lessons today, so I went and got some backing and line and leaders and decided I'd try fly fishing again. I really like it, but I just really suck at it.
We got home, and I had to bring my son somewhere, so I had about 2.5 hours to kill, gonna go fishing.
Then I noticed that the grass needed cutting. OK, but I don't have gas, so I went and got some. My mower died on the first pass, I didn't have the throttle high enough and didn't notice, it bogged down and died. I need a new battery, but haven't gotten around to do it yet, so I got the jumper out, and it's dead.
I tried to do the "right thing". Honest.
But all I could do now was go fishing. Didn't catch anything, but it's a better day than cutting grass.
Went out with my buddy Tuesday night for commercial striped bass. I caught the first fish around 730 then we didn’t catch another until like 10. Ended up with 5 big ones. Biggest one was around 45 inches.
Here’s the first fish I caught. 44 inches 32+ pounds. Gorgeous night too near Cranes Beach.
Here’s the first fish I caught. 44 inches 32+ pounds. Gorgeous night too near Cranes Beach.
My son's up in errol nh for 2 weeks camping. He took up fly fishing a year ago and is making his own flies. Got his first ever trout on his own fly yesterday. He's happy as hell. Fishing the androscoggin. He's entirely self taught on fly fishing and tying his own.
Went out Monday (into Tuesday am) and Wednesday night. Only one fish on Tuesday am. Wednesday night we got 10 fish. Should have maxed out given how many fish were coming out of the Essex river. Check out the sidescan sonar
Never seen so many boats out there. Was ridiculous. Then around 10:30 we started heading out of the Essex river at a good clip then BOOM we hit a sandbar. My buddy and I had to take our shoes off and jump in to push the boat. Was a little sketchy given that it was blowing 25+ all night but we got it off.
No monsters unfortunately. I think the biggest was like 42 inches. Everything else was 35-40
45collector
NES Member
Dude that's a beauty!
I've been out once this year, caught one that was probably a keeper but I released it. Next weekend one of best buds is visiting from out of state and I'm taking him to one of the favorite spots. He caught the biggest fish he's ever hooked from shore at the same spot over a decade ago. Hopefully it's productive next weekend!
He rarely gets to the Cape these days.
45collector
NES Member
jeffC
NES Member
Anyone here use the FishBrain app?
If you don’t…. You should consider it. The free version is pretty great, and the paid version in AMAZING. Me and my son love it.. We’ve been using the app for like 2 months now, and it’s been a game changer. We’ve found tens of dozens of fishing spots we’ve never known existed before finding this app.
Not affiliated in any way. Just want to spread the good word.
If you don’t…. You should consider it. The free version is pretty great, and the paid version in AMAZING. Me and my son love it.. We’ve been using the app for like 2 months now, and it’s been a game changer. We’ve found tens of dozens of fishing spots we’ve never known existed before finding this app.
Not affiliated in any way. Just want to spread the good word.
Dennis in MA
NES Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2007
- Messages
- 40,753
- Likes
- 36,219
I was watching some interview on TylersReelFishing on YT - some fish biologist. I've spent the last 15 years looking for fish in my lake. (Assawompsett) Have had a hard time. CAn't figure it out. Turns out. . . crystal clear water does NOT hold forage species very well. Not enough phytoplankton or something. I've wondered why I never see any (well, very very few) bluegill. I thought it was a cover issue - which is also a problem.
Just the fishing is boring-tough. Except for a few times of the year - early and late - you just drift through the lily-pad fields and cast away. You'll get 4-5 white bass, 2 picks and 1-8 (depending on the day) smallies.
Even the Larries have disappeared. I have caught MONSTER largemouth in this lake. Nothing now. Not sure why. I think on 10-12 trips so far this year (maybe 15?) we've landed ONE largemouth. I used to catch 10-12 a day during the right time of June. Places that would hold a ton of them are just gone.
I have to wonder what is doing it. Osprey activity is WAY up in the last 5 years. And they started putting loons in the lake around 2019 or so as well. That's teh only change I can see. But I think that super-clear water is not helping the conditions at all.
Just the fishing is boring-tough. Except for a few times of the year - early and late - you just drift through the lily-pad fields and cast away. You'll get 4-5 white bass, 2 picks and 1-8 (depending on the day) smallies.
Even the Larries have disappeared. I have caught MONSTER largemouth in this lake. Nothing now. Not sure why. I think on 10-12 trips so far this year (maybe 15?) we've landed ONE largemouth. I used to catch 10-12 a day during the right time of June. Places that would hold a ton of them are just gone.
I have to wonder what is doing it. Osprey activity is WAY up in the last 5 years. And they started putting loons in the lake around 2019 or so as well. That's teh only change I can see. But I think that super-clear water is not helping the conditions at all.
Dennis in MA
NES Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2007
- Messages
- 40,753
- Likes
- 36,219
No pic. My FIRST largemouth of hte season last Thursday. Just diddling around the lake. Was definitely in a SMALLMOUTH spot. Expected to catch one. Picked up a 4# ANGRY Larry. He just pushed down like he was saving Dory in a Pixar movie. Finally got him to the surface and in the net.
Went to grab him. He shook out of my hand (and I've got a strong grip) 4 times. I finally had to get teh fish grippers. He chewed up my fingers good and got a hook in me as well. Fun fish. Not another bite all day. And I won't get out again until the 24th.
Went to grab him. He shook out of my hand (and I've got a strong grip) 4 times. I finally had to get teh fish grippers. He chewed up my fingers good and got a hook in me as well. Fun fish. Not another bite all day. And I won't get out again until the 24th.
Eating freshwater fish is a great way to bump up your levels of bioaccumulating and forever compounds. The bigger and older the fish, the more time it has been accumulating those compounds. You couldn't pay me to eat that fish and that's without getting into the fact that it's a relatively big breeding female for the northeast.
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2023
- Messages
- 1,000
- Likes
- 1,741
I understand the concerns but I'm not too worried about OCCASIONALLY eating freshwater fish. Pretty much everything has something harmful in it especially at high exposures. My municipal water has high levels of haloecatic acid that isn't removed by filtration and there are micro plastics all over the place. Everyone's risk tolerance is different and there is a point where the worrying about risks is also a risk to one's health. Where to draw the line varies from person to person.
peterk123
NES Member
I'm more worried about the shit in the grocery stores. Seriously.
I don't eat breeder females because I want to catch them again when they're bigger. Smaller (younger) fish also taste better and are better for you.
pupchow
NES Member
Been chasing stripers from the beach for the last couple of days. Nothing but shorts so far but I did catch one on my first cast before the sun came up - black purple SP Minnow, dragged in very slowly. Caught a couple of fish from some rocks plugging during the day. Tried soaking clams during the last two hours of a dropping tide last night, and only got some pick ups with no hook ups. And my Shimano Corvalus locked up on me. For a freshwater reel, that thing stood up well to dunkings in the surf for years. Hit the beach this morning with the fly rod, and caught another short bass and a flounder. 4 trips, one skunking.
HorizontalHunter
NES Member
Always had my best luck with live eels.
Dennis in MA
NES Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2007
- Messages
- 40,753
- Likes
- 36,219
My SIL says the big ones aren't back yet. Too early still. Although he may not be going out b/c he goes down to the waterfront overnight in Fall River (good fishing) but is always "harassed" by junkies who want to talk.
He went out on a "deep sea" trip last week. Just south of the Vineyard. Said they hooked into some stuff but zero stripers. Lots of bluefish. Cap said there is a ton of small tuna in and around the wind turbines. Screwing up the local fishing habitat according to Cap.
He went out on a "deep sea" trip last week. Just south of the Vineyard. Said they hooked into some stuff but zero stripers. Lots of bluefish. Cap said there is a ton of small tuna in and around the wind turbines. Screwing up the local fishing habitat according to Cap.
pupchow
NES Member
Skunked after 3 hours of throwing plugs and metals during the last few hours of the dropping tide yesterday. Hit the beach this morning with clams and picked up a short. Followed by a keepah. No fish over 30 yet.
ETA. While reeling in the 24"er I see a large swirl about 20 feet away. Sammy Seal decided to show up and hang there with me. Of course the bite shut down, so I moved to a river. Then back to the beach. I've had those seals follow me up & down the beach hundreds of yards.
ETA. While reeling in the 24"er I see a large swirl about 20 feet away. Sammy Seal decided to show up and hang there with me. Of course the bite shut down, so I moved to a river. Then back to the beach. I've had those seals follow me up & down the beach hundreds of yards.
Last edited:
pupchow
NES Member
One last trip with a 10wt, attempting some sight fishing. Picked up another short bass and another flounder. Those things are always just shy of keeper size. That's it for my salt this season.
Getting back into Kayak/canoe fishing. Picked up a used Lifetime 10Ft Kayak a few weeks ago to service double duty as a fishing and waterfowl hunting rig.
I've fished out of it way more than I've hunted so far LOL. It's been years since I kayak fished and I forgot how fun it is.
I see a peddle driven fishing kayak in my future.
Most pics are from a nice quite pond I've been hitting to get comfortable in it.
This Lunker was from today. Different spot though.. busy lake that's known as a good Largemouth spot.
Ended up with this mount system from Billie Bars for the back of the Gladiator and really like it. Pretty easy to take on and off by myself and still gives me the truck bed for decoys and other crap. My rods travels on the Thule racks so they are not bouncing around the bed.
I've fished out of it way more than I've hunted so far LOL. It's been years since I kayak fished and I forgot how fun it is.
I see a peddle driven fishing kayak in my future.
Most pics are from a nice quite pond I've been hitting to get comfortable in it.
This Lunker was from today. Different spot though.. busy lake that's known as a good Largemouth spot.
Ended up with this mount system from Billie Bars for the back of the Gladiator and really like it. Pretty easy to take on and off by myself and still gives me the truck bed for decoys and other crap. My rods travels on the Thule racks so they are not bouncing around the bed.
