Are you putting pics in these reports cause for some reason they aren't showing on my end ?

Good thing you caught it. It might have starved to death with all that plastic in it.

- Keith

Buck had a belly full of plastic worms...

I was super stoked to get a text from Steve about trout fishing last night.  I checked Google and it looked like the park opened at 7:00, so I'd meet him then.  At 6:20 I hear my message alert on my phone and KNEW right away that it had to be Steve and the Lake was probably open at 6:00.  My assumption was 100% correct.

Plan was to fish before the rains got here and we met up at one of the many go-to spots I have at this point at the Lakes.

Steve locked down my favorite spot, so I had to alter my set up since he was here first so got top choice of rod holder placement.



It was actually quite beautiful out soon as the sun started coming up.  We had no bites but a few missing worms I believe.

Then My SI drops like a stone and I'm on!  Definitely a really nice colorful Rainbow! 

I immediately cast out my "spare" rod just in case that one had a buddy around.  Soon as I finished getting the Rainbow in the cooler I look up and the rod I just casted was on again!  I had my drag a bit tight for 4#, but it was another really nice quality fish!  I almost thought I saw Steve going for his knife to cross my line, but  it was just me imaging things.  LOL



We got a few small bites, but the wind kicked up really strong.  It was tough trying to keep our lines from bowing and then the rains started.  We started packing up but I left the last rod out until the last minute...

and...

It worked again, even if Squatch was dismissive.  LOL



My first Pond Chicken of the year.  hahaha



That was it for us.  It was great fishing with Steve again and you need to come back down Steve-O!  You need redemption!

Well, back on the job hunt, so untilnext tide... or next puddle trip....

I decided my wife was going to eat good for Valentines Day.  I still have no job, so I have no money to take her out.  I figured a big dinner the night before, a great breakfast and a bomb V-day dinner should do the trick.

I started with a Yellowtail Volcano. 





I butterflied the tops and stuffed it with seasoned crab.  I also made some crab cakes and some chilled seared yellowtail with a dipping sauce.



Next morning... It was Ultimate Breakfast Bagels!



Then for V-Day dinner... just the straight up Surf-N-Turf!



I think I have enough brownie points to get out fishing again.  LOL

I've used the hercules and it's not bad.  I've switched up a few different brans but also have liked the Beyond Braid 8 strand.  Probably my go to brand as the last 3-4 years.

I've bought like 30 spools of this suuuuuper cheap braid called Gevicont over the past 7 years or so. A 1000m spool of multi-colored (every ~36') 8 strand braid was like $45. I don't think I have ever had a failure from it once and it's on over 20 of my reels.

Yesterday I went to buy another 1000m for a Tiagra 50W I just picked up and their whole Amazon store is out of stock. Makes me wish I would have gone ahead and bought even bigger spools in bulk just in case they went out of business.

Hoping they come back around or some other nonsense Amazon store decides to sell their stock but I'm pretty bummed. I get deals on PowerPro but PowerPro doesn't have 8 strand color coated line, and even with the discount it would definitely be more expensive than Gevicont.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HRB4TWS/?colid=1GIABNQW3T5ZF&coliid=IJBR5P9QNRMS4&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_pab

Looking at Hercules braided line on Amazon. It's not quite as inexpensive but it might be the same quality. Thinking about ordering a 100m spool and testing out breaking strength and knots and stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/Hercules-Braided-10lbs-200lbs-Superline-Multicolor/dp/B0791CZC6F/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

Ribs are great, labor intensive sometimes, but always worth it when you need more that one napkin to get the sauce off of your cheeks, nose and ears !  

Quote from: jrodda on February 13, 2026, 05:48:19 PMProbably seals. Frustrating.

Those Santee Seals are the worst 

Tuesdays are for Tacos and Fishing, I like it