Fishing

[Mushroom]

@u.w. Thanks for sharing all of these updates. Somebody's gotta keep those lines tight!

I love catching Brookies. They have such cool colors and patterns, so I always enjoy catching them.

I wish the catfish fishery was better here in Mass. but we don't have much more than a few different species of Bullhead. There are some areas where channel catfish have been introduced but I haven't ventured out to target them yet.

Carp is another one that I still really want to target. I can only imagine how much fun it was to land that giant on an ultralight setup. Congrats!

Bloke used to share his carp fishing experiences on here and it really made me want to try. I know a few local spots but again, I just still haven't taken the time to target them. I always get too wrapped up searching for bass...

@vivi Good luck! Definitely report back on how the fishing goes.


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I was in Florida recently for a wedding and couldn't leave without fishing. Fished mostly around the Orlando area but I did make it down to Tampa to try my luck in the saltwater for a few hours. No luck in the saltwater but I did catch a bunch of small largemouth in the ponds around Orlando.




All around that same size.

My cousin caught a really nice Coppernose Bluegill -


Funny story about the wedding day - It was a Disney wedding, which is a story in itself, but when we walked in to the wedding pavilion I noticed a charter boat fishing behind it. Right as we got there, the kid on board caught a nice largemouth!



It looked decent from a distance. I would guess somewhere between 2-3 pounds, maybe better. Made waiting for the ceremony to start that much more entertaining at least.

[vivi]

did some browsing today and grabbed this for my hiking & camping trip in the mountains next week.



seemed like it covered all the basic needs for $30 and had good reviews. I've got some extra line, hooks of all sizes and bobbers at home that I can round out my kit with. Will probably just dig up some worms for bait and hope for the best.

Going to pick up a larger ugly stik for use around town. Saw a few models that caught my eye. Just wanted something really light and compact for while I'm hoofin it.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

@u.w. Thanks for sharing all of these updates. Somebody's gotta keep those lines tight!

I love catching Brookies. They have such cool colors and patterns, so I always enjoy catching them.

I wish the catfish fishery was better here in Mass. but we don't have much more than a few different species of Bullhead. There are some areas where channel catfish have been introduced but I haven't ventured out to target them yet.

Carp is another one that I still really want to target. I can only imagine how much fun it was to land that giant on an ultralight setup. Congrats!

Bloke used to share his carp fishing experiences on here and it really made me want to try. I know a few local spots but again, I just still haven't taken the time to target them. I always get too wrapped up searching for bass...

@vivi Good luck! Definitely report back on how the fishing goes.


--------

I was in Florida recently for a wedding and couldn't leave without fishing. Fished mostly around the Orlando area but I did make it down to Tampa to try my luck in the saltwater for a few hours. No luck in the saltwater but I did catch a bunch of small largemouth in the ponds around Orlando.




All around that same size.

My cousin caught a really nice Coppernose Bluegill -


Funny story about the wedding day - It was a Disney wedding, which is a story in itself, but when we walked in to the wedding pavilion I noticed a charter boat fishing behind it. Right as we got there, the kid on board caught a nice largemouth!



It looked decent from a distance. I would guess somewhere between 2-3 pounds, maybe better. Made waiting for the ceremony to start that much more entertaining at least.

Heck yeah Nick, next time you go to Fla. if you focus on a largemouth PB it will more than likely happen because there are some monsters to be had…btw Disney has some giants and that’s a really nice bluegill your cousin caught

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

did some browsing today and grabbed this for my hiking & camping trip in the mountains next week.



seemed like it covered all the basic needs for $30 and had good reviews. I've got some extra line, hooks of all sizes and bobbers at home that I can round out my kit with. Will probably just dig up some worms for bait and hope for the best.

Going to pick up a larger ugly stik for use around town. Saw a few models that caught my eye. Just wanted something really light and compact for while I'm hoofin it.

Good choice and Good Luck

[Mushroom]

@vivi Solid choice! That should handle everything you're looking to do no problem. Good luck!

Heck yeah Nick, next time you go to Fla. if you focus on a largemouth PB it will more than likely happen because there are some monsters to be had…btw Disney has some giants and that’s a really nice bluegill your cousin caught

Thanks Salty! I definitely want to go back on a fishing only trip. My PB is a few oz over 5 lbs so I'm confident I could break that down there if I tried. I'd also love to catch some Peacock Bass; They look like a lot of fun to target.

I've seen some videos of people fishing in the lakes and ponds around Disney World property and I was tempted to watch and take notes on how they accessed them. Wasn't in the cards this trip but maybe next time.

My cousin and I were catching those small bass cast after cast and he said the bluegill fought harder than all of them. I actually like targeting bluegill because they're always willing to bite and they put up a surprisingly strong fight once hooked. Especially in the dog days of summer when the bass won't bite a lure even if you drop it on their head.

[Pacu0420]

I took my grand daughter fishing this afternoon. We got totally skunked. I did however get a good pic of my newest Spyderco. Lol

[u.w.]

Went out again this morning to try my luck.
Caught a Channel Cat & a Brook Trout.
Brookie ~11.5" long, Channel a bit longer.
Brookie is dinner tonight :-)



Still carrying the BBB 15V Mili2.

I went [fishing] last weekend after my run and landed nothing, lol.
I did manage to set the hook into something very big and very strong, but I never saw what it was.
I did even fight it long enough to turn it twice, but my hook straightened and I did not see or land it.
That day (last Sunday) I did not have fresh fish for dinner, lol.
Still though, a super Grate Day, with a super exciting hook-up and fight. Zero complaints coming from me.

u.w.

[u.w.]

Happy Bicycle Day to any friends out there who like riding bicycles

I went out again this morning (super, super windy) to try my luck.
Luck was with me again :-)
Caught 3 Channel Cats. Biggest ~19 inches - Dinner -



Still the BBB 15V Mili2 in pocket

u.w.

[Mushroom]

@Pacu0420 That's how it goes sometimes. I've been skunked pretty much every time I've gone out this year. Great shot though! I also resort to taking pics of my Spydies when the fish aren't biting.

Happy Bicycle Day to any friends out there who like riding bicycles

I went out again this morning (super, super windy) to try my luck.
Luck was with me again :-)
Caught 3 Channel Cats. Biggest ~19 inches - Dinner -



Still the BBB 15V Mili2 in pocket

u.w.

Happy Bicycle Day, my friend!

Bummer to hear about losing the big one. Any ideas of what you thought it might have been? Also, sorry if you mentioned already but what kind of body of water are you fishing in? Seems to support good numbers of healthy fish. Keep hammering them!

[Pacu0420]

@Pacu0420 That's how it goes sometimes. I've been skunked pretty much every time I've gone out this year. Great shot though! I also resort to taking pics of my Spydies when the fish aren't biting.

And thats why it's called fishing, not catching I haven't been getting out as much the last couple of years. Now the grand daughter is going on 7 and she loves fishing. Gives me a good excuse to bust out the fishing gear.

[Mushroom]

And thats why it's called fishing, not catching I haven't been getting out as much the last couple of years. Now the grand daughter is going on 7 and she loves fishing. Gives me a good excuse to bust out the fishing gear.

Absolutely - the best excuse! My nieces are similar age and they love fishing and crabbing. They're excited to go anytime I ask and I'm happy to bring them.

Hopefully we both have better luck next time we go! Tight lines!

[u.w.]

Happy Bicycle Day, my friend!

Bummer to hear about losing the big one. Any ideas of what you thought it might have been? Also, sorry if you mentioned already but what kind of body of water are you fishing in? Seems to support good numbers of healthy fish. Keep hammering them!

If I were to guess on what it was, I'd guess a big'ol Carp. I never saw it, I sure didn't land it, but man-o-man was it a ton of excitement for a little bit there! No complaints coming from me.

As to the body of water, it is one that's close to home (~25 mi each way), and it's called Armistead Pointe Pond. It's a [Hampton] city pond right next to the Boo Williams Sportsplex and is stocked by the state. Trout four times a year from mid-ish Nov. 'till the end of March; and Channel Catfish once a year at the end of May. There is also Largemouth Bass, Crappie, and various Sunfish in that little pond. I didn't know there were Carp in it until I hooked and landed one. The catfish are holdovers from years past, and the trout are about out - between the Fishermen, Cormorants, Ospreys, and rising temps of Spring into Summer.

Thanks for posting up your Florida photos. I'd never heard of a Coppernose Bluegill (of which that one was freakin' gorgeous), and laughed when I read about the guy holding up the Bass in front of the kid in the red hoodie, LOL!. Chillin' at a wedding, random kid on a random boat lands a Largemouth Bass - Nice Fish! - Love it!

u.w.

[Mushroom]

If I were to guess on what it was, I'd guess a big'ol Carp. I never saw it, I sure didn't land it, but man-o-man was it a ton of excitement for a little bit there! No complaints coming from me.

As to the body of water, it is one that's close to home (~25 mi each way), and it's called Armistead Pointe Pond. It's a [Hampton] city pond right next to the Boo Williams Sportsplex and is stocked by the state. Trout four times a year from mid-ish Nov. 'till the end of March; and Channel Catfish once a year at the end of May. There is also Largemouth Bass, Crappie, and various Sunfish in that little pond. I didn't know there were Carp in it until I hooked and landed one. The catfish are holdovers from years past, and the trout are about out - between the Fishermen, Cormorants, Ospreys, and rising temps of Spring into Summer.

Thanks for posting up your Florida photos. I'd never heard of a Coppernose Bluegill (of which that one was freakin' gorgeous), and laughed when I read about the guy holding up the Bass in front of the kid in the red hoodie, LOL!. Chillin' at a wedding, random kid on a random boat lands a Largemouth Bass - Nice Fish! - Love it!

u.w.

Thanks for sharing but you didn't need to give up the honey hole like that! Just looked it up on google maps to see the pond and noticed it's relatively close to the Chesapeake Bay. Do you ever do any Striper fishing, when they're in season? I think you guys might call them "Rockfish" down there.

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Finally got on the board with some trout this season and they were good ones! Had to fish low and slooooooow with the smallest lure I can cast. I was going so slow that thought I was dragging along the bottom half the time.

Two browns and two brookies. The browns were too lethargic to swim off, so they're going to be dinner. The brook trout swam off fine and escaped the oven.







Brook trout are probably my favorite to catch because of their colors and patterns. Put up a decent fight too.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

If I were to guess on what it was, I'd guess a big'ol Carp. I never saw it, I sure didn't land it, but man-o-man was it a ton of excitement for a little bit there! No complaints coming from me.

As to the body of water, it is one that's close to home (~25 mi each way), and it's called Armistead Pointe Pond. It's a [Hampton] city pond right next to the Boo Williams Sportsplex and is stocked by the state. Trout four times a year from mid-ish Nov. 'till the end of March; and Channel Catfish once a year at the end of May. There is also Largemouth Bass, Crappie, and various Sunfish in that little pond. I didn't know there were Carp in it until I hooked and landed one. The catfish are holdovers from years past, and the trout are about out - between the Fishermen, Cormorants, Ospreys, and rising temps of Spring into Summer.

Thanks for posting up your Florida photos. I'd never heard of a Coppernose Bluegill (of which that one was freakin' gorgeous), and laughed when I read about the guy holding up the Bass in front of the kid in the red hoodie, LOL!. Chillin' at a wedding, random kid on a random boat lands a Largemouth Bass - Nice Fish! - Love it!

u.w.

Thanks for sharing but you didn't need to give up the honey hole like that! Just looked it up on google maps to see the pond and noticed it's relatively close to the Chesapeake Bay. Do you ever do any Striper fishing, when they're in season? I think you guys might call them "Rockfish" down there.

-----

Finally got on the board with some trout this season and they were good ones! Had to fish low and slooooooow with the smallest lure I can cast. I was going so slow that thought I was dragging along the bottom half the time.

Two browns and two brookies. The browns were too lethargic to swim off, so they're going to be dinner. The brook trout swam off fine and escaped the oven.







Brook trout are probably my favorite to catch because of their colors and patterns. Put up a decent fight too.

Let’s Go Nick! I’m a sucker for a pretty brown but man the colors on a brookie are amazing, like stars in the sky

[JestersHK]

Beautiful Brooks and brownies. I got a nice surprise today as a year or so ago I had a big snapping turtle start hanging out with me at my local pond I fish at pretty much every day.

She got to the point she'd watch me fish and one day I hooked a small bluegill really deep and it wasn't going to make it so i fed it to her. From that day on whenever she saw me she'd swim over and follow me up and down the bank like a dog. I'd feed her a gill or small bass every now and then, and then saw her floating one day and barely moving.

Not sure if she was injured or sick but thought she died until she popped up today and swam right over to me.

I fed her a small bass and she was content to hang out and watch me fish. Have some great videos of her eating, need to figure out a way to upload them somewhere.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Beautiful Brooks and brownies. I got a nice surprise today as a year or so ago I had a big snapping turtle start hanging out with me at my local pond I fish at pretty much every day.

She got to the point she'd watch me fish and one day I hooked a small bluegill really deep and it wasn't going to make it so i fed it to her. From that day on whenever she saw me she'd swim over and follow me up and down the bank like a dog. I'd feed her a gill or small bass every now and then, and then saw her floating one day and barely moving.

Not sure if she was injured or sick but thought she died until she popped up today and swam right over to me.

I fed her a small bass and she was content to hang out and watch me fish. Have some great videos of her eating, need to figure out a way to upload them somewhere.

Wow what a cool story, first time I’ve ever heard of a symbiotic relationship between a human and a wild snapper…sometimes when I’m bush hogging there is a hawk that follows me around and feasts on the field mice that go scurrying after I’ve made a pass but to have a snapping turtle follow you around like a dog is crazy.

[JestersHK]

What's crazy is she'll only swim up if it's just me. If a friend or one of my kids is with me she keeps her distance. I do fish this pond everyday just about. I also typically wear a white or light colored fishing hoodie so I guess she's patterned me for a free meal.

Yesterday she saw me and swam all the way from across the pond and posted up at my feet. A neighbor came by with his dogs and she moved further away until he left...

[u.w.]

That's super cool JestersHK! Thanks for sharing.

I went out this morning to see if anything was biting. Caught one Channel Cat, which is my dinner this evening.
Had a few "takes" but not hook sets. Hooked & landed a few small panfish on trout magnets. No photos of them, and they're right back in the water. Still lots of fun though.



I'm one of the few(er) who picked preference of the Police (4LW in my case) over the Military(s), and my K390 P4LW is happily back in my pocket for a while.
It's got a bit of patina going on it too.

u.w.

[u.w.]

Thanks for sharing but you didn't need to give up the honey hole like that! Just looked it up on google maps to see the pond and noticed it's relatively close to the Chesapeake Bay. Do you ever do any Striper fishing, when they're in season? I think you guys might call them "Rockfish" down there.

-----

Finally got on the board with some trout this season and they were good ones! Had to fish low and slooooooow with the smallest lure I can cast. I was going so slow that thought I was dragging along the bottom half the time.

Two browns and two brookies. The browns were too lethargic to swim off, so they're going to be dinner. The brook trout swam off fine and escaped the oven.







Brook trout are probably my favorite to catch because of their colors and patterns. Put up a decent fight too.

WooHoo! Those trout are beautiful man! Congrats to you!
Do you think that second Brown might be a hybrid? It almost looks like it might be a Tiger Trout (they stock those down here sometimes). I so stoked you finally caught some trout man!

Yes, I fish the Bay and Atlantic for various fish sometimes, when they're around. Stripers, Blues, King & Mackerel, Sheepshead, Spadefish, Taug, Flounder, Reds, Trout (Speckled/Spotted & Gray), Skates, Rays, Cobia, etc...
Tons of fun for sure (especially when the bite is on!).

u.w.

[u.w.]

Drove up this morning (sunrise, and a beautiful one it was too!) to see if I'd have any luck and maybe catch my dinner.
Luck was indeed with me, and I am Grateful
Got another "eatin' size" Channel Cat, which has since been cleaned, cooked, and eaten for dinner.



same fish



Then on my way home, in my neighborhood, I saw a schmedium-ish sized Rat Snake crossing the road in front of me. I stopped to let it cross and it stopped, lol. I hopped out to shooosh it on across, it coiled, lol. I gently picked it up by it's tail and set it down in the grass off the road/street.
Guy across the street (watching it all, unbeknownst to me) opens his door and tells me "Good Job" and "Thanks for taking care of the good snakes", with a smile and kind tone.
Pretty cool morning!
I bid him farewell, smiling and a wave, and drove the two blocks remaining to my house. I think that's the first time he and I have ever spoke to each other, though we wave on a regular basis.

Knife today (and yesterday) is one of my absolute favorites: Spyderco Resilience LW. This one w/ the 8cr blade, uncoated. I have the blue handled S35VN, and coated 8cr blade ones as well.
Such a great knife! Easily in my top three...

Hope everyone has a Grate Day today, and May the 4th be with errra-one mañana

I own zero black and white Spydies (or any knives), but definitely hope to see many of them posted up for the day (tomorrow)

u.w.