Don, you are in an enviable position! My wife and I agreed that I can only have one expensive hobby at a time, and I can't seem to let stamps go. But I do have rods and tackle out in the garage gathering dust, so maybe I can borrow some of your enthusiasm and take my wife out to a nice a quiet fishing spot.
Good luck on your trips!
-Steve
I also fish. I have a friend that just taught me how to go after the ever elusive bass. Now I'm putting in a line all over the place.
You are lucky to have a fishing buddy to share the quite times waiting for a bite. Cherish them!
So where's the next trip?
Hi Fishermen;
@ purrfin2; In the last couple hours before dark try a red/white "jitterbug" next to and alongside
lily pads or other structure on the surface (your neighbors dock ). My favorite technique is to
cast the lure onto the dock and gently pull until it falls into the water. Wait for 15 seconds then
retrieve slowly, with occasional pauses....BAM got another lunker from under my neighbor's dock.
Is that poetic justice or what? It always tastes better when caught from under their dock especially
while they watch you doing it!!
@ Everyone; If you own property on a lake, here is a great way to make your own structure for free.
When you cut firewood for your cabin, leave the tops from green wood until Winter. Remove all small
twigs under ½". During winter place them on the ice and wire them together. Locate them away from
your dock, where they can fowl your motor. It is also good if they are large enough to protrude up
out of the water a couple feet.
When the ice melts they will sink. Within a year they will be covered with the aquatic larval stages
of various insects that live on or near water. This is the natural food that fish love. Having some of
the wood above water makes it easier for insects to lay their eggs.
The one our neighbor made by accident quickly became populated by nice big rock bass and bull-
heads. You will need a hook with the weedless feature made of very fine music wire and sold in
the better tackle shops. The neighbor had intended to burn the wood but found out it is illegal in
Michigan to burn brush or wood the has Poison Ivy mixed in. So in the Spring it sank. We never
bothered to tell the neighbor about the fish hiding in there tho....
So do you have a nice big dock I can fish next to?
Just Chillin'....
TuskenRaider
Perfect....a long white string + a safety pin + a worm and fishing from my Dad`s tipsy wharf...is one of my favorite childhood memories....esp when it starts to get dark and the eel grabs the worm....funny how fast a 9 year old can run!!!
Yes! Fishing talk!
The next trip is on Watuaga Lake in East TN. The smallmouth are bedding, so it should be good action. Depending on water temp the crappie may be active, too.
I grew up fishing for bass in small ponds and small mouths on the rivers in Virginia. Now, I'm mainly a trout guy - fly rod or ultralight spinning rig. It's fun getting ready for bass, however. It gives me an excuse to buy more stuff!
Twice in two weeks, trout fishing with my son in the same pond behind a beaver dam in northern British Columbia:
• Week 1 — My bobber bobs, and "swims" away. Paul's bobber, nearby, bobs, and swims away, following my bobber. We both reel in the same 15-inch trout!
• Week 2 — Ditto!
I took several members of my Grade 7 class on an after-school fishing trip to nearby beaver pond. One of my female students had brought a stick with a string and a hook large enough to catch a whale shark. I put a worm on the hook for her. She dangled it in the water for a moment and pulled out a large trout. I didn't catch a thing, despite my expensive outfit.
I've gone salmon fishing once since I moved to Vancouver. Caught and lost one, and got really tired of the noise of the motors and the rough water.
Bob
Florida girl here. I am a saltwater fisher (person? woman?) lover. Any bridge, boat or shoreline and I always get the first grunt for bait. The last couple of ties I've been down to the Keys I've gotten a lot of red snapper and barracuda. When I was a wee one I caught a 3 foot shark. My Dad helped be reel that one in, but I mostly did it myself.
Now that I've learned to bass fish, and yes fish with jigs mainly going toward the structures, I am always on the lookout for water, anywhere. I have 3 ponds in my development, but with that the bass are smart and remember, so I have to fish and then go away for a while. With all freshwater I catch and release. Way too much poisons in the water from run off.
My next lesson will be peacocks. I'm guessing they are almost the same as bass. I have lots to learn about freshwater fish.
As far as gear is concerned...I work at a sporting goods store! I went to work there so I could get my equipment for a discount. After all, we always need something else for the tackle box(es).
That is great!
Florida bass are a different thing altogether! I would love to make my way down there.
Here in East TN we have cooler waters, and until this year my main target was trout.
On the spinning side, I'm pretty much an ultralight guy but am looking to expand to a slightly larger spinning outfit, and maybe make the plunge on a casting rig...It is amazing how much new gear is available. Have the fish got any smarter? I honestly wonder. Bass Pro Shops is about ridiculous with the million variations on a theme.
I want to go back to fishing my Mitchell 308 (original) on a fiberglass rod pulling Fred Arbogast and Heddon lures across the topwater. I gave my son a vintage Jitterbug, and it is like a prized possession to him. I have been thinking about an all 1950s-60s rig, including using my metal tackle box with bakelite handle. The only new thing being my monofilament line Although, I have some rotten mono I could use too. haha
I have way too many vintage fishing reels so, I started spooling them up. I have tried pairing them with the various graphite rods I own, but the new rods don't seem to do the old beautiful metal reels justice. I'm looking for a decent rod to pair them with, and a lot of old rods have been through the ringer (I'm still checking flea markets). I think the fiberglass (composite) Ugly stik might be good for a modern rod - It has to have a cork handle though!
Happy fishing! I will report back on the cold Watauga waters next week!
Hi Brechinite,
"Fishing used to be one of my favourite pastimes. I taught my son who is now 37 years old and now lives in Sydney.
Three years ago he was in Fiji, booked a days trip and as luck would have it he landed a 300+lb Marlin. (I've never heard the end of it).
When he phones me, the first half hour is a list of where he's been and how many fish he's caught, never mind how are you dad?
I used to say I have thrown bigger back, but I can't do that now thanks to that b****y Marlin.
I still have the odd day on the river but the old knees aint what they used to be."
"I used to say I have thrown bigger back, "
Fishing for the big cats has always been my passion, but all fish are fair game for my grandsons. One in particular is a real fanatic.
His first limbline catch. He didn't even wait to change out of his PJ's that morning!
In about 30 minutes, these will be breakfast. Just add fried taters and scrambled eggs!
Like I said, no fish is safe around this young man!
Doubling down and oh so serious. LOL!
Fishing with kids is just too much fun!! Especially when the Largemouth are biting!
I guess we like to fish, just a little bit.
WB
Salmon in Michigan.
Robert Carroll Jones
born September 9, 1940 Kingsport Tennessee - died March 2, 2016 Leesburg Florida
Hey Steveo, Did someone order the large mouth bass?
This is a minnow compared the 13 pounder he put on the wall. My dad was the best fisherman I've ever seen. He could "put em on the bank" or "put em in the boat" better than anyone I have ever seen. Me and my two older brothers would catch 2 or 3 and he'd catch 10, every time.
He loved fly fishing on West Virginia trout streams, bass fishing in south Florida and sitting on the bank late at night catfishing.
He was talking about doing some sort of charter with me and my son right up to the day he died. I will miss having the opportunity to spend time with him. Rest in peace dad; I miss you.
-Ernie
Wow, sorry for your loss, Ernie! Sounds like he was a great man and an excellent fisherman! Cherish the memories.
WB
How about that, Ernie -
my dad was from Kingsport, too!
He passed away in 1986.
I'll bet they're up there fishin' together right now.....
LOL that's a great thought Randy. Maybe they are.
Thanks WB
"He was talking about doing some sort of charter with me and my son right up to the day he died. I will miss having the opportunity to spend time with him. Rest in peace dad; I miss you. "
"Hey Steveo, Did someone order the large mouth bass? "
OK so wife's cousin rings and says do I want to go fishing next week, sounds good.
Today I dig out the fishing gear, unused for a few years, buy my license, check rods and lures. Problem, all my hooks have barbs, Manitoba fishing is a no barb province.
Go to the store to buy some barbless hooks, sorry we only sell barbed hooks....Duh!
Have to buy a pair of fine point side cutters to cut off the barbs and a file to smooth down the remains. Now have weakened hooks.
Welcome to Canada.
Hopefully I will catch something, probably a cold.
My son has arrived from Australia and we'll get a couple of days fishing.
I haven't fished for a year or two, hopefully the gear is still OK and the old arm and knees survive the trip!!
I'm hoping to get a couple days of fishing in as well -
we will be camping for 4 days this coming week.
My family camps to camp - I camp to fish!
Stampin' & campin'.....!
I knew it would happen - It happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Come November, I am fully engaged in stamps, I make a couple hundred album pages over the winter, I identify several thousand stamps (and this year a very nice US Scott #519), my Wife worries I will never come out of the basement...then BAM...The fishing bug hits me square in the forehead. not bam...I'm talking...BAMMMMMMMM!
Last year it was fly fishing, but this year it's back to good old spinning reels and tackle. I have three trips lined up, and it's a great way to spend time with my 12 year old. He is also an avid fisherman. I just have to remember that I cannot COLLECT fishing stuff, like I do stamps.
I'm still around and lurking, but you may rather see me on a TVA reservoir for the next several months.
Don
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Don, you are in an enviable position! My wife and I agreed that I can only have one expensive hobby at a time, and I can't seem to let stamps go. But I do have rods and tackle out in the garage gathering dust, so maybe I can borrow some of your enthusiasm and take my wife out to a nice a quiet fishing spot.
Good luck on your trips!
-Steve
re: Fishing is now my obsession
I also fish. I have a friend that just taught me how to go after the ever elusive bass. Now I'm putting in a line all over the place.
You are lucky to have a fishing buddy to share the quite times waiting for a bite. Cherish them!
So where's the next trip?
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Hi Fishermen;
@ purrfin2; In the last couple hours before dark try a red/white "jitterbug" next to and alongside
lily pads or other structure on the surface (your neighbors dock ). My favorite technique is to
cast the lure onto the dock and gently pull until it falls into the water. Wait for 15 seconds then
retrieve slowly, with occasional pauses....BAM got another lunker from under my neighbor's dock.
Is that poetic justice or what? It always tastes better when caught from under their dock especially
while they watch you doing it!!
@ Everyone; If you own property on a lake, here is a great way to make your own structure for free.
When you cut firewood for your cabin, leave the tops from green wood until Winter. Remove all small
twigs under ½". During winter place them on the ice and wire them together. Locate them away from
your dock, where they can fowl your motor. It is also good if they are large enough to protrude up
out of the water a couple feet.
When the ice melts they will sink. Within a year they will be covered with the aquatic larval stages
of various insects that live on or near water. This is the natural food that fish love. Having some of
the wood above water makes it easier for insects to lay their eggs.
The one our neighbor made by accident quickly became populated by nice big rock bass and bull-
heads. You will need a hook with the weedless feature made of very fine music wire and sold in
the better tackle shops. The neighbor had intended to burn the wood but found out it is illegal in
Michigan to burn brush or wood the has Poison Ivy mixed in. So in the Spring it sank. We never
bothered to tell the neighbor about the fish hiding in there tho....
So do you have a nice big dock I can fish next to?
Just Chillin'....
TuskenRaider
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Perfect....a long white string + a safety pin + a worm and fishing from my Dad`s tipsy wharf...is one of my favorite childhood memories....esp when it starts to get dark and the eel grabs the worm....funny how fast a 9 year old can run!!!
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Yes! Fishing talk!
The next trip is on Watuaga Lake in East TN. The smallmouth are bedding, so it should be good action. Depending on water temp the crappie may be active, too.
I grew up fishing for bass in small ponds and small mouths on the rivers in Virginia. Now, I'm mainly a trout guy - fly rod or ultralight spinning rig. It's fun getting ready for bass, however. It gives me an excuse to buy more stuff!
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Twice in two weeks, trout fishing with my son in the same pond behind a beaver dam in northern British Columbia:
• Week 1 — My bobber bobs, and "swims" away. Paul's bobber, nearby, bobs, and swims away, following my bobber. We both reel in the same 15-inch trout!
• Week 2 — Ditto!
I took several members of my Grade 7 class on an after-school fishing trip to nearby beaver pond. One of my female students had brought a stick with a string and a hook large enough to catch a whale shark. I put a worm on the hook for her. She dangled it in the water for a moment and pulled out a large trout. I didn't catch a thing, despite my expensive outfit.
I've gone salmon fishing once since I moved to Vancouver. Caught and lost one, and got really tired of the noise of the motors and the rough water.
Bob
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Florida girl here. I am a saltwater fisher (person? woman?) lover. Any bridge, boat or shoreline and I always get the first grunt for bait. The last couple of ties I've been down to the Keys I've gotten a lot of red snapper and barracuda. When I was a wee one I caught a 3 foot shark. My Dad helped be reel that one in, but I mostly did it myself.
Now that I've learned to bass fish, and yes fish with jigs mainly going toward the structures, I am always on the lookout for water, anywhere. I have 3 ponds in my development, but with that the bass are smart and remember, so I have to fish and then go away for a while. With all freshwater I catch and release. Way too much poisons in the water from run off.
My next lesson will be peacocks. I'm guessing they are almost the same as bass. I have lots to learn about freshwater fish.
As far as gear is concerned...I work at a sporting goods store! I went to work there so I could get my equipment for a discount. After all, we always need something else for the tackle box(es).
re: Fishing is now my obsession
That is great!
Florida bass are a different thing altogether! I would love to make my way down there.
Here in East TN we have cooler waters, and until this year my main target was trout.
On the spinning side, I'm pretty much an ultralight guy but am looking to expand to a slightly larger spinning outfit, and maybe make the plunge on a casting rig...It is amazing how much new gear is available. Have the fish got any smarter? I honestly wonder. Bass Pro Shops is about ridiculous with the million variations on a theme.
I want to go back to fishing my Mitchell 308 (original) on a fiberglass rod pulling Fred Arbogast and Heddon lures across the topwater. I gave my son a vintage Jitterbug, and it is like a prized possession to him. I have been thinking about an all 1950s-60s rig, including using my metal tackle box with bakelite handle. The only new thing being my monofilament line Although, I have some rotten mono I could use too. haha
I have way too many vintage fishing reels so, I started spooling them up. I have tried pairing them with the various graphite rods I own, but the new rods don't seem to do the old beautiful metal reels justice. I'm looking for a decent rod to pair them with, and a lot of old rods have been through the ringer (I'm still checking flea markets). I think the fiberglass (composite) Ugly stik might be good for a modern rod - It has to have a cork handle though!
Happy fishing! I will report back on the cold Watauga waters next week!
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Hi Brechinite,
"Fishing used to be one of my favourite pastimes. I taught my son who is now 37 years old and now lives in Sydney.
Three years ago he was in Fiji, booked a days trip and as luck would have it he landed a 300+lb Marlin. (I've never heard the end of it).
When he phones me, the first half hour is a list of where he's been and how many fish he's caught, never mind how are you dad?
I used to say I have thrown bigger back, but I can't do that now thanks to that b****y Marlin.
I still have the odd day on the river but the old knees aint what they used to be."
re: Fishing is now my obsession
"I used to say I have thrown bigger back, "
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Fishing for the big cats has always been my passion, but all fish are fair game for my grandsons. One in particular is a real fanatic.
His first limbline catch. He didn't even wait to change out of his PJ's that morning!
In about 30 minutes, these will be breakfast. Just add fried taters and scrambled eggs!
Like I said, no fish is safe around this young man!
Doubling down and oh so serious. LOL!
Fishing with kids is just too much fun!! Especially when the Largemouth are biting!
I guess we like to fish, just a little bit.
WB
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Salmon in Michigan.
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Robert Carroll Jones
born September 9, 1940 Kingsport Tennessee - died March 2, 2016 Leesburg Florida
Hey Steveo, Did someone order the large mouth bass?
This is a minnow compared the 13 pounder he put on the wall. My dad was the best fisherman I've ever seen. He could "put em on the bank" or "put em in the boat" better than anyone I have ever seen. Me and my two older brothers would catch 2 or 3 and he'd catch 10, every time.
He loved fly fishing on West Virginia trout streams, bass fishing in south Florida and sitting on the bank late at night catfishing.
He was talking about doing some sort of charter with me and my son right up to the day he died. I will miss having the opportunity to spend time with him. Rest in peace dad; I miss you.
-Ernie
re: Fishing is now my obsession
Wow, sorry for your loss, Ernie! Sounds like he was a great man and an excellent fisherman! Cherish the memories.
WB
re: Fishing is now my obsession
How about that, Ernie -
my dad was from Kingsport, too!
He passed away in 1986.
I'll bet they're up there fishin' together right now.....
re: Fishing is now my obsession
LOL that's a great thought Randy. Maybe they are.
Thanks WB
re: Fishing is now my obsession
"He was talking about doing some sort of charter with me and my son right up to the day he died. I will miss having the opportunity to spend time with him. Rest in peace dad; I miss you. "
re: Fishing is now my obsession
"Hey Steveo, Did someone order the large mouth bass? "
re: Fishing is now my obsession
OK so wife's cousin rings and says do I want to go fishing next week, sounds good.
Today I dig out the fishing gear, unused for a few years, buy my license, check rods and lures. Problem, all my hooks have barbs, Manitoba fishing is a no barb province.
Go to the store to buy some barbless hooks, sorry we only sell barbed hooks....Duh!
Have to buy a pair of fine point side cutters to cut off the barbs and a file to smooth down the remains. Now have weakened hooks.
Welcome to Canada.
Hopefully I will catch something, probably a cold.
re: Fishing is now my obsession
My son has arrived from Australia and we'll get a couple of days fishing.
I haven't fished for a year or two, hopefully the gear is still OK and the old arm and knees survive the trip!!
re: Fishing is now my obsession
I'm hoping to get a couple days of fishing in as well -
we will be camping for 4 days this coming week.
My family camps to camp - I camp to fish!
Stampin' & campin'.....!