R22
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Posts: 339 
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Post by R22 on Dec 31, 2015 20:48:09 GMT -5
Water temperatures - Mid 50s
Air Temperature - Around 60 with a sky full of wispy clouds
Technique - Planers and an occasional light line
I have been off from work during the holidays and wanted to fish at least 3-4 days this week. Recent posts have referenced bait being a little tough. Just prior to Christmas, I pulled a muscle in my chest and I just couldn't imagine throwing or retrieving a net. I headed to the lake this morning and things were falling into place and I just couldn't resist giving it a try. I didn't leave the house until 9:30 knowing I had to be back at by 3:00 pm. I made my mind up that I was going to work with whatever bait I could gather in shallow waters so not to aggravate that aching muscle. I started in the back of a popular creek and caught a couple dozen 6-8 inch gizzards in 3 to 4 throws. On my way out of the creek I came across a couple of men in a blue Polar that I had seen throwing their net on my way in. They said they had been throwing for a couple of hours but just couldn't get down far enough to collect the bigger bait. I had ordered a new Tim Wade net that arrived just before Christmas and I just couldn't resist giving it a shot. Downscan showed lots of large marks. Bait was suspended at 25 feet in 35 feet of water. Two throws and I had at least 30 large baits. That new Tim Wade net sure worked terrific. I had enough nice baits to share with those two nice gentleman that helped me. They were so excited, you would have thought they just hit the lottery. I am terrible with names but one of them said they were on the forum. He wanted so badly to give me something in return for those baits. Just pay it forward, my friend.
Now it's time to go fishing. I planned to run as many planers as I felt I could watch, maybe a downline and/or a light line or two. I started deploying planers and while my second board was moving into place, it shot backwards. With what must have been a 14 inch gizzard in hand, I dropped everything to collect that fish. I only measured 2 fish all day. My first went 31 inches. By the time I got back to what I was doing, I realized that gizzard I was ready to hook never made it back into the bait tank. It was on the deck and was pretty much worthless. After I got four lines out on the bankside, things went slack for about 30-45 minutes. I should have eaten the sandwich I packed because I ended up not eating it at all. From noon until 2:30 when I quit, there was steady action. I ended up bringing in all lines except the planers because I just couldn't keep up with everything.
I almost didn't go today. In the end, it was one of my most fun days on the water. I usually fish by myself so I don't take many pictures. I usually make marks on a piece of paper for each fish along with a length for the DGIF fishing record. Today, the activity was constant so I just estimated the lengths. I caught one fairly large fish, the second one I measured and weighed, 35.5 inches and just shy of 15 pounds. I had doubles on three times, lots of tangles and I am not even sure how many fish I actually boated. I know I missed or lost as many as I put in the boat. I had 11 marks but it sure seemed like more.
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Post by mwardncsu on Dec 31, 2015 21:03:53 GMT -5
Pretty sure that would have been Gary / ReadytoFish...... he's paid it forward to many others in the past - glad he had a chance for it to be returned....
Glad you went - and hope the Tim Wade did't re-injure the chest.... sounds like great day of catching!
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R22
New Member
Posts: 339
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Post by R22 on Dec 31, 2015 21:08:55 GMT -5
Pretty sure that would have been Gary / ReadytoFish...... he's paid it forward to many others in the past - glad he had a chance for it to be returned.... Glad you went - and hope the Tim Wade did't re-injure the chest.... sounds like great day of catching! I have met Gary, great guy but not him this time. |
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Post by mwardncsu on Dec 31, 2015 21:12:36 GMT -5
ahh.. small world - I know he was out this morning as well..... also has a blue Polar.....
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jmr04
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Post by jmr04 on Dec 31, 2015 21:30:47 GMT -5
Great report. I had the exact same kind of day. What are the specs on the Tim Wade you used to catch the deep bait? I need to order one and would love to know what works. I was thinking 10' 1.2 lbs per foot 5/8 mesh. Thanks.
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R22
New Member
Posts: 339
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Post by R22 on Dec 31, 2015 21:48:16 GMT -5
Great report. I had the exact same kind of day. What are the specs on the Tim Wade you used to catch the deep bait? I need to order one and would love to know what works. I was thinking 10' 1.2 lbs per foot 5/8 mesh. Thanks. I have several 8'- 5/8 and none that I have will catch big bait that deep. I also have a 10'- 3/4 at 1.5 lbs. It works decent but still slow for the larger, faster gizzards. On downscan, I could watch it close a fair amount by the time it reached 25 feet. I talked to Tim and shared my experience and what I saw and he suggested moving to a lighter mesh 10'- 1 inch, at 1.5 lbs. I only threw it twice today, neither time did I watch it on the downscan but the results were spectacular. I have never had that level of success with a single throw at that depth and today the results were great in both throws. |
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Post by mwardncsu on Dec 31, 2015 21:52:24 GMT -5
The 1" just falls right through the water with little drag - certainly compared to 5/8". For deep bait, speed is to as critical as the net staying open. You can likely drop to 1.25 or even 1 lb/ft as a deep-water net - less weight will also keep it closing up as quick - but with a 1" mesh I'm not sure it matters a lot..... If you want it also for a shallow net in Spring/Fall, then go with the 1.5 lb to get it down through 0-15' fast when the bait is faster (and will also spook that shallow)
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jmr04
New Member
Posts: 320
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Post by jmr04 on Dec 31, 2015 21:56:43 GMT -5
I'm just hoping anyone tells me less than 1.5 or 1.7 per foot. I love the 5/8ths cracker 10' but it weighs 17 lbs. it's killing me.
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Post by mwardncsu on Dec 31, 2015 22:48:20 GMT -5
I'm just hoping anyone tells me less than 1.5 or 1.7 per foot. I love the 5/8ths cracker 10' but it weighs 17 lbs. it's killing me. You're in luck - as I told you that above  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2015 23:00:24 GMT -5
Great report. I had the exact same kind of day. What are the specs on the Tim Wade you used to catch the deep bait? I need to order one and would love to know what works. I was thinking 10' 1.2 lbs per foot 5/8 mesh. Thanks. I have several 8'- 5/8 and none that I have will catch big bait that deep. I also have a 10'- 3/4 at 1.5 lbs. It works decent but still slow for the larger, faster gizzards. On downscan, I could watch it close a fair amount by the time it reached 25 feet. I talked to Tim and shared my experience and what I saw and he suggested moving to a lighter mesh 10'- 1 inch, at 1.5 lbs. I only threw it twice today, neither time did I watch it on the downscan but the results were spectacular. I have never had that level of success with a single throw at that depth and today the results were great in both throws. If you can be methodical with your throws, the light mesh 1" is the best! Get a little excited and throw at a blip without knowing the area... You are playing with fire. That light mesh can't handle snags at all. It's hard to change to another net when you have the butter in your hand. Then before you know it, the butter gets melted. My butter is sitting at Uncle Tim's right now. I can't wait to get her back. I never found any use for a 5/8 other than keeping the Xmas Tree ale party to a minimum when throwing on lights in the summer. |
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KB
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Post by KB on Jan 1, 2016 12:41:28 GMT -5
Glad you had a great day on the water with a boat full of bait and a successful test on the net ,no better way to break it in then a net full and i also hope you didnt re injured your chest. Great report
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lund1
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Post by lund1 on Jan 1, 2016 15:16:40 GMT -5
Quick Q about the nets...when you say 1" mesh, do you mean it squares out to 2"....correct?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2016 17:58:19 GMT -5
Quick Q about the nets...when you say 1" mesh, do you mean it squares out to 2"....correct? Quick A to your Q... Yes. |
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R22
New Member
Posts: 339
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Post by R22 on Jan 1, 2016 18:07:38 GMT -5
Quick Q about the nets...when you say 1" mesh, do you mean it squares out to 2"....correct? Quick A to your Q... Yes. If I understand your question correctly, it actually "squares out" at 1 inch. The 2 inch is the stretch, whereas, should you stretch the corners it equals 2 inches. |
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Post by mwardncsu on Jan 1, 2016 19:18:52 GMT -5
Quick A to your Q... Yes. If I understand your question correctly, it actually "squares out" at 1 inch. The 2 inch is the stretch, whereas, should you stretch the corners it equals 2 inches. Correct! Be wary of quick answers  Especially from a professor |
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Especially from a professor