3/13 - Miss Miss Miss Miss FINALLY!

[Deleted]

Today we were on fish all day long. I have a side scan shot of stripers holding in a creek that blows my mind. I look forward to sharing it once I get a chance.

What I can share now is that I have never been part of so many misses in my 1.5 year mongo pulling career. They were hitting the biggest we had (14 inches). And all I can say is that many stripers today had a very good meal courtesy of Junkee and Yam's hard work. One loss was due to the flouro breaking and hopefully I learned to be more cognizant of checking my line for abrasions. All the other misses? Uhhh... not sure. They were hooked then they were not. No shad left. And these were after good hook sets.  Was it due to tail whips and hooking the fish in their sides? Is this a Spring thing?

And then finally we were reminded why we love this sport so much.

The SWING!



The high five!



The release!



And then the calming and sense of pure satisfaction that follows those moments of adrenaline madness!

Cheers,
Yam

[Live Bait JunkEE]

another great rotation of learning, laughing, experimenting with some catching but most of all having fun with a great friend -- My favorite rotation was going down to the DAM for my first time -- crystal clear water and those cliffs -- will be taking my kids down there this summer for sure just to check it out

See you all in April for one more spring trip!!!!!

JUnKEEEE!!!!

[mwardncsu]

Some muddy water.... hope it clears up a little by the time I get home - but only after it helps to warm things a bit......

Looks like a fun time like always!

[BentRod]

That's a spring thing Yam. To be honest I've never quite figured it out myself - but stingers have helped me BIG TIME - may need to check how you're hooking it up. Also you have to show patience on hooksets, but even then some days you will miss every fish that pulls. Afterwards, I usually just try to break my ugly stik on the side of the boat (never succeed) and then cuss a few times and I feel better...

[johnr]

Don't give up Bentrod.. Those ugly sticks CAN be broken across a gunnel..

[smlmike]

Thanks for the report! Haven't got to fish since December. Can't wait!

[piper]

Mar 14, 2015 1:04:26 GMT -5 Live Bait JunkEE said:

another great rotation of learning, laughing, experimenting with some catching but most of all having fun with a great friend -- My favorite rotation was going down to the DAM for my first time -- crystal clear water and those cliffs -- will be taking my kids down there this summer for sure just to check it out

See you all in April for one more spring trip!!!!!

JUnKEEEE!!!!

Junked...I have a camper in Craddocks/Mitchell's point..bring the kids on down to enjoy the beach and fish away. Very quiet right now but suspect things will be heating up shortly.

[Deleted]

Mar 14, 2015 11:13:10 GMT -5 smlmike said:

Thanks for the report! Haven't got to fish since December. Can't wait!

When are you going?

From what I saw, I wish my Spring Break was next week. There is already prime WTs if you search hard enough. And, even the muddy creeks are starting to produce hits. 

Best of luck to you.

[smlmike]

Didn't get finished up at work Friday, so Monday won't happen. My buddy is off Tuesday, so hoping to get down Monday night. AT is supposed to be mid 70s on Monday and 50s thru the night. Sounds good to me!

[Deleted]

Mar 14, 2015 7:14:10 GMT -5 BentRod said:

That's a spring thing Yam. To be honest I've never quite figured it out myself - but stingers have helped me BIG TIME - may need to check how you're hooking it up. Also you have to show patience on hooksets, but even then some days you will miss every fish that pulls. Afterwards, I usually just try to break my ugly stik on the side of the boat (never succeed) and then cuss a few times and I feel better...

I'm using a HokieChad recommended "Travis Snell" on my J hook and I tie a palomar to to the bottom of the J.

I have thought about just extending the tag of the snell and simply tying a treble to that. However, this seems like it would create too much free leader line.

BTW...now I know why ugly sticks are paramount to bait fishing!!  I sure am glad LBJ didn't slam this rod in his rage phase.



The phases of losing a fish.

• Startled
• Rage
• Bewilderment
• Agony
• Initial Acceptance
• Playback and reasoning
• Final Acceptance

In the picture above, LBJ is in the agony phase.  

[Deleted]

Just wrapping up with some side scan shots that clearly show fish.  

I had my wife look at the first shot and asked her what she saw. She knew these were sonar shots but did not understand what she was looking at. Once I told her to look at the dark streaks and envision shadows of the white streaks, she said that everything all of sudden looked 3D. She said, "It's like looking down on an aquarium." I then immediately commented, "Did you color your hair? It looks pretty!" 

Maybe this can help folks who still don't understand side scan?

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A Rock, some shad and some predators all swimming together as a happy family. This shot told me that I might as well move on because these fish were too docile. That bait on the screen seemed good and the shad we pulled right through them didn't seem worried as well. But....there they are!


More predators in this same area.



A lone wolf! And although he didn't strike, our baits got real nervous.

[jmr04]

Very cool. I've always had trouble reading the side scan. Cpt. Todd always tells me to look for the shadows. I can really see them in your shots especially the loan wolf. Thanks.

[HokieChad]

cool stuff....the lone wolf looks like a bigger fish. The shadow is fatter!