I drove past you guys, next time I'll give you more of a Heads Up

It's been quite a while since I fished with Dave, and he was up for trying some trout at the puddles.

It was sunny first thing in the morning and not as cold as I was expecting.



I stopped for a minute to figure out why there was a set of dress socks just sitting in the grass.





Well Dave arrived and it took a bit for him to tie up and get a bait out, but was ready for a big Lightning Trout!



I was first to strike!  I thought it might have been a decent trout, but the little whisker trout fooled me on the noodle rod.



Dave denied me any gloating for a little whisker.  LOL



I saw a few trout hiding from the cormorants along the shoreline but couldn't get any of them to take my offering.  Finally, just before I was about to leave, I got a little guy!



Really tough fishing and it definitely wasn't trout weather.  Well, at least I got a few to fillet and have some carcasses for lobster bait.

On a side note, I'm not sure where these trout are from, but the meat was pretty bland looking.  The worst meat color out of all the trout I've caught here and pretty damn small also.

On the anniversary of the maiden voyage of the kayaks, I wanted to ask how often have they used them since.
I'm experienced with kayak fishing. I've gotten three over the past 15 years. First one took out about 15 times and bought a better one with a fishfinder. Used that one about 5 times until I got a truck which wouldn't fit it. Then bought an inflatable which I've used a dozen or more times.
Kayak fishing is a lots of fun but a bit more work. You need the prep time and paddle time to fish in or out of the harbor. Fresh water is easier since lakes are easier to fish.
Cheers to those who put in the extra effort.

- Keith

Quote from: jrodda on January 24, 2026, 08:46:33 PMIt is pretty hilarious that you would rather just let a fish get off than let them see you catch it.

Sacrifices have to be made for the greater good.

Nice variety and cool to see some gaff worthy bonito still out biting. Maybe he thought the name was an invite to join in curmudgeonliness.

It is pretty hilarious that you would rather just let a fish get off than let them see you catch it.

Quote from: sasquatch on January 23, 2026, 05:54:35 AMIt was funny as hell walking up on Verne, asking him all the questions. He didn't even turn his head. Then I said Hi Verne.

I swear that's what I do also.  My boat couldn't have a better name.  LOL

Quote from: Tim524 on January 23, 2026, 07:17:06 AMThat shoulder is going to drive you crazy until you just bite the bullet

Rolling into an interview in a sling and saying you can't work for a few months during the peak hiring season is more like "taking" the bullet.  I might just do what you did and postpone it until the end of the year and hopefully, I'll be employed by then.  That and maybe the out of pocket will be much lower.

That shoulder is going to drive you crazy until you just bite the bullet, kinda like Pontoon window shopping 

Another good day of solo/undercover fishing, nice variety

You seem to attract all the curious fishermen

It was funny as hell walking up on Verne, asking him all the questions. He didn't even turn his head. Then I said Hi Verne.

Looks like a fun trip.

I've been going crazy what to do with my shoulder as there are 3 options... The PRP is less invasive but won't totally heal the tendon and I would still risk a total tear which would put me in for surgery for sure!  I'm losing my mind because I also don't want to be incapacitated if a position opens up somewhere, so I needed to give my mid a break.

Unfortunately, I've been hounded by a few people to take them out fishing but I just want some solitude.  On social media, I mentioned I was out on a buddy's boat just to bypass the drama, but we all know that was a little white lie.  I also needed to burn off some old gas since it's been sitting for a few weeks in the driveway.

Plan was to look for gamefish, then potentially look for bass or anything that might come home to visit my freezer.  I'm not making a paycheck, but I need to at least put food on the table.

Headed out to fog... Visibility about 1/2 to 1 mile.  It was much worse on the drive down to the ramp.



I was heading out the inlet and there were perfect arches everywhere on the sonar. 



I was hoping they were bass or bonito, but after throwing a little iron quickly found out there are a ton of macks in the bay!  I kept a few in the live well just in case....

I saw where everyone was heading and fishing for the bones, but I went out to where I was getting them the last time I was out.  I was metering bait balls and definite fish boomerangs, so I started casting the 43-gram colt sniper with custom willow blade hook I put on.  Well, the bones were there!



The problem is they were really spread out and only in small groups.  There were a ton of BIG macks though and I caught quite a few for lobster bait.  I kept plucking away on the small jig.



I switched to casting the Yozuri troller since it was a fast sinker, casted well and had a great wobble at any speed.  Ironically, it worked the best for jigging!  I would cast out to meter marks on the sonar about 50' down and rip it in 10' and let it drop 10 feet.  Ended up getting my limit that way!



After that I ran closer to home and went to try some of the structure near the inlet.  I couldn't get bit to save my life at any reef on the way back until I found a cloud of Whitefish!



I wanted to get my limit really fast and was making short work of it.



I was just about there... but other stuff was getting in the way like a few CPR sheepheads.





Funb stuff on the spinner!



Then Jackass made a 90-degree turn and ran full steam at me.  I had a fish on but did the rod down and acting like I didn't have a fish.  The guy didn't catch sh!t all day and asked how I was doing.  Told him I didn't catch sh!t all day either.  I hate when joe shmoes just come over to have some conversation about how sh!tty they were doing.  No one ever comes over to tell me what a great bite they are on, so I won't give them anything for coming over hot and trying to jump into any bite that I'm on.  (I know, just a rant but really... really pisses me off)

Well, the fish magically disappeared for some reason.  Not sure that guy actually scared them away, but whatever happened, they were gone.  I made a small move and caught a few calico before calling it quits and heading in.



Not a bad day overall and I now have fish for the freezer and carcasses for the bugs. 

I'm definitely going to come up with a shirt for these clowns.  When I think it might only be me, I'm reminded of when Squatch rolled up on Verne out fishing and Verne gave him the cold shoulder until he realized it was Steve.  So I'm not alone... or I actually may be.

Thanks for reading!