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My local lake inlet

Seems a little odd to separate this out, but the nearby large lake I hardly ever fish. It's well known and does produce good fish, but I don't really care for it as a kayaking lake because it is so big and popular with waterskiiers in the summer time. In a lot of respects it is similar to (and actually quite near) my home lake, but I gravitate to the other one. This lake does have stripers (haven't done well; big…

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Added by Andy is OptiMystic on January 16, 2015 at 1:47pm — No Comments

My local flow

This one is about the river I have fished most in the recent past and will likely fish a lot this year. I have done very well in raw numbers and I am convinced that there are bigger ones. I won't say exactly where and for the most part it doesn't matter. There are a couple of other nearby flows I also fish, alternating because of proximity to other things or seasonal fish (I only have to go a little east to get into some sea run shad and stripers in the spring) but the character is much the…

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Added by Andy is OptiMystic on January 16, 2015 at 1:33pm — No Comments

My "home lake"

I am avoiding names in the description even though it will be really easy to figure out. This blog is about my panfishing quest and I don't want to get sidetracked or hijacked into a long discussion about it here. Be happy to elsewhere and often do.

It's a medium sized lake - about 4000 acres - in the NC Piedmont. Max depth is about 40' or so and it is shaped like a fat check mark with the main channel in the long side. Lots of rocky bottom, some drowned timber, some shallow side…

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Added by Andy is OptiMystic on January 16, 2015 at 1:22pm — No Comments

What I will usually fish with and in on my 2015 panfish quest

I will take 3 rods - a UL, a light rod and an emergency backup (yes, there is such a thing as a fishing emergency). So I will only have 2 rods out for fishing at any given time.

The UL will almost always be my primary rod, but I will usually rig both. The light rod is light but short and has some backbone and 10# Nanofil (or similar if I replace it; small diameter but strong). If I don't have a specific plan for the light rod, it will probably have a medium sized lipless crankbait or…

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Added by Andy is OptiMystic on January 16, 2015 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

2015 - Fishing with a goal

New year and trying to step up my game a little in the fishing department. I have been fishing for about 50 years and caught all sorts of fish, but panfish have always been one of my favorite. I think a lot of it is that I enjoy actively catching fish more than I do stalking elusive ones. Bream have a reputation of being easy to catch and that is often the case, but not always. It certainly isn't true with the larger trophy sized panfish.

I am setting a goal of getting a NC "Master…

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Added by Andy is OptiMystic on January 16, 2015 at 11:20am — 15 Comments

Trophy Cats to Largemouth to Panfish

I really enjoy any type of fishing. Outdoors with all the stresses of life that can drag you down, can just disappear with one fish. It's truely a blessing. I come from a family that brought me up to really enjoy large trophy catfishing on the Mississippi River and other large lakes/rivers. Then later in life I started the fetish with going after those LMB, tackle boxes packed full of lures even though I normally only used my three to five favorites. Now I've got my eyes on the excitement of… Continue

Added by Snakebite on December 27, 2014 at 8:10pm — 4 Comments

Missed Surface Strikes - A New Thought

Here's a little something I read tonight that lot a lightbulb over my head. See what you think:



"Either sunken or floating, your flies are most apt to be taken while sitting, between pulls. Start and stop retrieves are effective for both bluegills and bass.



Another thing to remember is, if you have a hit on a floating lure and miss, return it quickly to the same spot.



Big bluegills (and sometimes bass) can't stand to see something that seems alive, sitting… Continue

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 13, 2014 at 8:57pm — 6 Comments

How fish see lure colors

Series of 4 short vids on lure colors in the water

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpQTh_tnJ6c

    

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTi5nJqEzvo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTqyVX3oZk0…

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Added by Steve Wilson on December 4, 2014 at 9:44pm — 1 Comment

Float Tube Fishing Forum Quarterly Magazine Issue #3

Our most current issue and the last of the year is now online for all to read.  I have had fun publishing this for the year, and I think it went very well to say the least.  Now there is much work to do for 2015, we have a lot of growing to do and improvements are going to take place for 2015.  So be sure to watch us as we help grow the world of float tube fishing one issue at a time.

http://joom.ag/JMzb

Added by Jeff Bernier on November 28, 2014 at 10:28am — No Comments

Next Float Tube Fishing Forum Quarterly Magazine issue

Man I really need to change the name of our magazine.... So this issue will be out for viewing before Black Friday.  There will promotion of some great fishing items you might be interested and also some really good articles to read.  I do have some room for advertising in this magazine if you know of anyone that might be interested I can offer a pretty good discount for getting involved before this issue goes out.  The over might change if an advertiser wants the cover but it should stay as…

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Added by Jeff Bernier on November 6, 2014 at 2:06pm — No Comments

Have you seen my online Magazine

I figured I would try this out an online magazine dedicated to Float Tube Fishing.  We have done pretty good so far take a look and let me know what you think.

http://www.joomag.com/en/newsstand/the-float-tube-fishing-forum-vol-1-issue-2/0035687001399486031

Added by Jeff Bernier on October 28, 2014 at 10:10pm — 16 Comments

Flatfish, The Lure

I won a couple lots of used Flatfish lures on eBay recently.

I ended up with 26 of them, in various colors and designs, for $20.

Sizes range from F7 down to F3's (medium to small), and just a little spit and polish was needed to clean them up nice.

I tested one out today.



What a neat little lure! It is a slow bait, in that you can't run it fast or it twists and spins instead of wiggling on the retrieve. This can actually look like a fleeing prey, though, in short… Continue

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 26, 2014 at 7:30pm — 17 Comments

Haven't been fishing in a month at least

Sorry everyone - I have been tied up with work, college, and a few other things; therefore, I haven't been able do any fishing and contribute any photos lately...but maybe soon!

Added by Ben Seay on October 14, 2014 at 8:54am — 4 Comments

The Boat Pole

I made one to help get in and out of the canyak.

Works great - no more tipping over getting out!

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 12, 2014 at 6:33pm — 1 Comment

The Fish Finder Works

Got the P-Max 170 installed in the Blue Beast the other day. I added an omni-directional, flat faced transducer instead of the directional one that comes from the factory. Because of the flat, disc-shaped face, I was able to silicone the transducer hard and fast to the flat bottom of the hull. None of the usual bedding usually seen, the flat puck sounder stuck wit a thin well squeezed out layer of silicone. My hope was there would be no bubbles or air pockets, and it appears I achieved…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 12, 2014 at 5:42pm — 11 Comments

Radiator repair

Was smelling coolant from my wife's car yesterday and found a cracked radiator. The new plastic heat shedders can't be repaired like the old style, but they are an easy drop in replacement. Ordered yesterday, delivered today and installed by midday.
Shame of it was, it ate up my Sunday fishing. It happens that way sometimes, but dammit man! What did I do to anger the fishing gods?

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 5, 2014 at 6:06pm — 4 Comments

Not a bluegill, but...

Probably a few hundred bluegill went into growing this hulk, so maybe that counts?

It's the infamous Northern Snakehead (26", 8 lb), my first time to catch one. It's too big to fit in a selfie!

I was doing my usual thing, walking a jig with short cranks under a bobber. The bait was a little more aggressive this time: a three-inch storm shad instead of my…

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Added by Michael Stockelman on September 29, 2014 at 8:17pm — 10 Comments

No fishin in two weeks.

Im startin to go into detox here.  Life has conspired to keep me home. Well I got caught up last night and decided to work on my kayak console.  Its looking nice so far but I have to hit the pause button now. I was cuting a small base plate last night and without thinking I reached out to clear a scrap of wood from my table saw.  I got lucky; I only needed two stitches. 

 

Next project will be more push sticks and some cutting sleds.  Also blood does not make a good stain for…

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Added by Brian Jones on September 29, 2014 at 9:50am — No Comments

Mad River Canoe Adventure 14

September 20, 2014

Took the Mad River Adventure 14 'yakkanoe' out again. As I mentioned before, it takes 21 days to make a habit stick. That said, more trips are definitely needed!

EQUIPMENT NOTES

My Secret Fishing Trousers - Try cotton sleep pants for fair…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on September 20, 2014 at 4:30pm — 14 Comments

Skunked In Sparkleberry

I finally got to go back to Sparkleberry Swamp.  My plan was to paddle deeper in and find some of the creek channels. Yesterday I loaded up my Yak with my ultralite rod, crickets, and some snacks.  Figured I would take my dog Sam; I wanted to see what kind of fishin partner he would be. I was on the water by 11am and figured the overcast would help bring on the bite.

I found out the sat image and the maps are almost useless.  On the sat images you can see what looks to be the creeks…

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Added by Brian Jones on September 15, 2014 at 5:25am — 8 Comments

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Latest Activity

John Sheehan added a discussion to the group Lure History
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Discontinued Lures

Some of my favorites I can't find anymore: Acme Fash King Flutter Spoon, Eppinger Flutter Chuck,…See More
15 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
18 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
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25"+Spoon Pick

"25+inch Pickerel was best of the 13 Fish caught today a day after the Worm Moon. Two Bass and the…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
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"1/16th oz., good!"
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
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"These are my last build. I added more colors."
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
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"No Jon I went with the 1/16 oz jig heads so I could have a larger hook for crappies. It's a #4…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
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"Colors are great !"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
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"Thats a good Crappie size! Are they 32nd Oz Jigs?"
Monday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
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"They are right at 2" long."
Monday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
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"I Can see Crappie and Bass chomping on them, Dick!"
Sunday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
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"I made these up for crappie in mind. They might be a little big for gills unless it a bigger gill."
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
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"What Species you got in mind for these great Minnow ties , Dick?"
Sunday
dick tabbert posted photos
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Sam k.'s group Trout Bums
""Trout Season opens April 6th 2024 in New Jersey. Waters are runnin' high for…"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's status
"An Instrumental Guitar recording of mine to commemorate. …"
Sunday
John Sheehan posted a status
"Trout Season opens April 6th in New Jersey. Waters are runnin' high for stocking."
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
"My favorites through the Years: Manns Jelly Worm, Manns Auger tail, Charlie Brewers 4" on a…"
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
Sunday
Troy Dorman commented on Troy Dorman's photo
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"Thank you, Jeffrey!"
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