12/27 to 1/3 week of fishing staying at the state cabin

[Deleted]

Jan 18, 2017 9:38:57 GMT -5 Yam said:

Jan 18, 2017 8:49:12 GMT -5 jt said:

Thank you sir, any words of encouragement from the elite fisherman on this forum are highly welcome! Pretty clever floating rig that you posted the other day when you were fishing on your kayak, not sure I would have thought of it. There's a lot I left out in this long story but the time I spent out there on the boat I think changed my life forever. Being on a boat either in a lake or out around the ocean gives me a great sense of adventure and I think I will be fishing for the rest of my days. And I look forward to learning much more about catching gizzard shad

Uhhhh... 4 things.

1. From the looks of that picture from 1988, you are the same age as me. This means I am not a sir. MWard is old... Call him a sir!

2. I am not an elite fisherman. I'm just a few years ahead of a beginner. Bentrod is an elite fisherman.

3. Keep doing things differently. Like you did with dropping the mongo down. Following conventional wisdom too much is no fun.

4. Always have fun!

Ha!!!!!

You must be looking at that blue picture of yourself, which clearly makes you look younger. .... for an old smurf, you do give sage advice ... success in the past does not guarantee success in the future.

[BentRod]

Bentrod is definitely not "elite". I can't hold a candle to most of you guys these days.

However, I do agree that Mward is old.

[mwardncsu]

Humm... 1988 - I was a Junior in High School....... that will make some of you feel young, and some of you feel old but.... you're only as old as you feel...

[BentRod]

I turned 3 in 88.

I'm getting old fast. I was a teenager when I joined these forums or the old forums I guess. I'm now in my 30s - hard to believe.

[ncsportfisher]

What a great read! I started hitting this lake hard just in the last few years and I learn something every time I fish.. (not just here but everywhere!)

[jt]

I'm right there with you mward! I just turned 52 when I was at the state Park cabin! Best present I can give myself is to spend a week fishing for striper!
And I gotta say to you guys that I am glad you are not full of yourselves because arrogance is a terrible thing indeed. But you guys have set the bar and are an inspiration to the up-and-comers who are trying to learn how to catch not only stripers, but gizzards as well. Tip my hat to you guys for inspiring me. I'll be doing a lot of fishing up here at Lake Anna and I will try to give some reports.

[Deleted]

Jan 18, 2017 17:41:14 GMT -5 BentRod said:

I turned 3 in 88.

  I don't even know how to respond to that..... and I'm not near as old as some on here thinks I am......

 
I remember the pic of your birthday cake being posted on the site when you turned 18.... and bigjohn saying our baby is growing up. .....

[lund2]

I'm 24 right now. Anybody on here younger than me?

[johnr]

Jan 18, 2017 17:41:14 GMT -5 BentRod said:

I turned 3 in 88.

I'm getting old fast. I was a teenager when I joined these forums or the old forums I guess. I'm now in my 30s - hard to believe.

Same here. Was barely 19 when I joined the old, old forum. I can't believe it's been 11 years ago now.

[Deleted]

Jan 19, 2017 16:38:49 GMT -5 lund2 said:

I'm 24 right now. Anybody on here younger than me?

    I don't know about younger, but definitely dumber.... I noticed you didn't post in the dumb thread.   surely you can spill the beans on the ole man.

[mwardncsu]

Jan 18, 2017 18:31:27 GMT -5 jt said:

And I gotta say to you guys that I am glad you are not full of yourselves because arrogance is a terrible thing indeed. But you guys have set the bar and are an inspiration to the up-and-comers who are trying to learn how to catch not only stripers, but gizzards as well. Tip my hat to you guys for inspiring me.

JT - a lot of good folks here (and on the "old" forums that existed before this one) over the years have helped a lot of others become better fishermen & women - heck, we have multiple generations of anglers on here that have benefited from this and the previous iterations of this forum. And hopefully those that have benefited have also "paid it forward" in one manner or another. That's what we try to do here. That said, as a general rule most of us won't lay every little detail out - often we'll get the "where did you catch it" questions from some over and over - heck, we could provide all that - and I guess I could just reel in the fish for them too The right questions are usually "why" or "how" - and from that a lot more learning takes place. And putting in their own time & energy leads to a more rewarding experience and one that then creates experiences that they can share from. It's not from a position of arrogance or other that many here are not willing to share specifics - but rather its from a position of respect of other anglers that have put in the time, out of trust that has been built learning which anglers truly have the best interest if the fishery at heart.

We also try to make sure that the new, up & comers understand the issues facing the fishery - and the importance to respecting it. We've all see those out there that load coolers full of fish - or toss that slot fish into the cooler - and haul them off. Information shared here on how to catch these fish unfortunately often enable many of these folks that don't share the same respect. However, my view has always been that I hope that by sharing info - and sharing info on the issues facing the fisheries, we educate and change the views of some - or more - making at least a small difference along the way that benefits the fishery for us all in the long term.

There are a lot of ways to catch fish on this lake. Several of us have a passion for big bait fishing and are willing to spend more time catching bait than actually fishing. Others would rather fish with alewives or shiners - others troll. We don't get enough representation on the reports from those out there trolling lead-core or umbrella rigs or other trolled stuff for whatever reason - I really wish we'd see more from those guys on those techniques - heck - maybe they are the ones that are truly "elite" and pulling in 40" fish on a consistent basis and keeping it totally on the down low Nothing wrong with whatever technique you employ that you enjoy to pursue these great fish.

[Deleted]

 I agree with everything you said.......

   Some folks say there is to much info given out on the site, others say not enough..... Other than giving an exact location, water temp and time of year to fish said location, nothing posted on the site will guarantee anyone catching fish.... about everyone knows the fish move up and down the lake at different times of the year.... will they travel great distances in there movements, sometimes absolutely, but more often than not, there are several spots they will stop at for 2-3 days (if your lucky 5-6, or until water temps move them) on their travels up or down.... with time on the water it will all fall in place.

  Equipment and techniques posted are invaluable, but the thing I can't stress enough is keeping a fishing log, with water temp being the tell all as to where the majority of the fish will be in each season.

[Shadslinger]

I agree. I have never kept a log but decided from this year forward I would give it a try. I've fished and studied sml long enough now that I have a general knowledge of where the fish "should" be at a given time of year, but that log would have invaluable information that I have forgotten or overlooked right there in black and white.

I believe I was in my mid 20s when I found out about the old forums from my dad. Still remember being amazed that he had even fooled with a computer much less made friends from it....oh and in a 1988 I was 6yr old.

[Deleted]

  Rarely will the fish be in the exact same spot (but they won't be far))on a given day from one year to the next, because the water temp is always different. With a detailed log, you can refine your patterns even more. If I know the fish should be in a certain creek or main channel point at 70 deg. water temp, say the end of June, and I roll in there and it's 79, I know the fish have moved, and to start looking down, if not, I know to look up...... it applies to every month,


  Hunter, your dad was an elite fisherman, but more than that, he was a great man.  I remember joining the old site (hadn't been a member but just a few days) and another member was smarting me off, and your dad jumped in with both feet and put him in his place.... he often said, God was the co-pilot of his boat.....


  I am glad, you are back fishing the lake....

[fatdaddy]

Now that the real deal !!