Okay, okay now that the striped ones and the toothy bastages have headed South for the winter, except for our resident holdovers, the questions are:

1) What are the one or two techniques attempted, tricks mastered, most successful lessons learned from the past season?

2) What are the two most important mistakes or mishaps that the surf/prey/conditions/gear/taught you from last season that you will do differently next year?

In other words, what worked and what didn't work that you set out to improve upon at the beginning of the year?

Based on your review of the hours spent, how could they have been spent more wisely or more "efeeshiently" and what will you do differently based upon that evaluation?

This should be good for googans, like me, and wily veterans alike?

As always, thanks for your thoughts and opinions, ladies and germs :bl: :bl:!

This year I learned alot about the power of the good ole' bucktail and pork combo. I also managed to "crack the code" of one of my most frequently visited haunts. By this I mean that I have gained a much better understanding of big fish movement in this area, which has led me to some good nights.

Nest spring I plan to fish the local river systems longer, as I missed a nice run of larger fish while pursuing weakfish out on the beach front.

Also I am having a nice and powerful 1201m wrapped for next year, because I just hated that feeling of being under-gunned.

For me Eeeeels, by far, was the single most productive thing I learned from last year. Thanks to TT, Nebe, and Skitter Pop for their tips on setting the hook, after the take. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississi...................Also, I had some multiple catch nights with El Sluggo, rigged McKenna style and using my variation of Steve's retrieve. Nothing large yet, but it does turn on the Bite, allright and I have no problem using them as my "go-to" lure.

Thanks to Crazy Charlie, aka the Mayor, i am wielding the release of Booos like a pro, now. And, gearwise, the coolest thang I learned from Tynan/jimmySly?? was the Korkers Modification. I purchased 100 replacement spikes for my Korkers at Home depot for $15, and they will prolly last longer than the screw in tips that were 10 for $15. That was the biggest gear windfall!!! And a nice winter project to do this off season...................

From the arena of mistakes and mishaps, I'll never go uni to uni again no matter how quick it is. I lost a monster last year due to that knot and me bringing her in waaaaaaaaay way too green. that's the other part of my googanity that needs to disappear! Stop horsing in the BIG GURLS, let them play and tucker themselves out................

Something that I learned purely by accident along the Gansett Shores was popping a danny. No more than an hour into first light, i'd set my danny for about 2'-3' below the surface, reeled it in super fast to get it away from a reef and saw it POP, then swim. On my next cast, I repeated that POP, then slow swim.....POP, then slow WHAM! On the next 3 out of 5 casts I C&R 3~~34"-37" stripers that provided some EXPLOSIVE takes!!!!

Dialed in a couple of my spots as well, and that was no accident:musc: :read: :musc: :wiggle:.

My honey cove is gonna be HUGE next year, and I will be ready and patient this time. Its funny you should mention the jig and pig, cause that is my next "adventure" for next season. Am going to log some serious "jiggin' it" hours in. It's the last frontier for me as I have yet to catch on tins or jigs, but that is mostly because I haven't "gone there", yet.

It should be verrrrrry rewarding, and I know just the lobster pots to hammer next July :bl: :bl:

Hi BassDawg,

At my age my learning curve has almost flat-lined. Tne one thing I did for the first time is going barbless. I'm sold. It makes catch and release much easier, quicker and safer.

As to number 2, I guess in the "heat of battle" making a sidearm cast and hitting my new plugging rod that was sitting in a rod holder and breaking off about 6 inches. That sure made my day. :(

Al

Hello, Al.

Good stuff, and thanks for your insights.

Night-time, rocks, big rod, conventional tackle, plugs...........CalcuttaTE 400.

Don't highstick a 1083.

Night-time, rocks, big rod, conventional tackle, plugs...........CalcuttaTE 400.

Don't highstick a 1083.

what does highstick mean? like hockey?

its when you're landing fish and you use the full force of the rod with the tip held high to bring the fish up the rocks instead of sliding the fish in with a wave........i think

I learned that if you just let the seal eat the fish you'll get your plug back. I gave up all hope of dragging the seal in and beating my plug out of his mouth.

Okay, okay now that the striped ones and the toothy bastages have headed South for the winter, except for our resident holdovers, the questions are:

1) What are the one or two techniques attempted, tricks mastered, most successful lessons learned from the past season?

2) What are the two most important mistakes or mishaps that the surf/prey/conditions/gear/taught you from last season that you will do differently next year?

In other words, what worked and what didn't work that you set out to improve upon at the beginning of the year?

Based on your review of the hours spent, how could they have been spent more wisely or more "efeeshiently" and what will you do differently based upon that evaluation?

This should be good for googans, like me, and wily veterans alike?

As always, thanks for your thoughts and opinions, ladies and germs :bl: :bl:!

1. Trolling eels from the kayak is something I attampted (not even close to being mastered).

2.My lesson learned was never turn your back to the ocean. I got blasted off a rock in the the spring. I didnt get hurt, but it scared the crap outa me. Also, when I am in the kayak, dont brign to much gear.

1. Always have a bottle opener of some type in case you want to drink some imported beer.


2.-Cut plastic milk jugs in half and freeze water inside.This makes free ice for the cooler.

1. Always have a bottle opener of some type in case you want to drink some imported beer.


2.-Cut plastic milk jugs in half and freeze water inside.This makes free ice for the cooler.

or 1 liter or 2 liter soda bottles and when they melt you can drink them after washing off the bait, bluefish, or striper slime :).

1. I finally figured out to not cast into the blitz .... I learned to fish for the clean up crew that is following

2. I finally figured out to not cast into the blitz ... Got my first double sea gull hookup .... and managed to release them all unharmed )


I spent a great deal of time watching and reading the water and talking , (and more importantly listening ) to the old timers

Hey Skitter, just so you know.............

The John Hopkins Insitute just published a recent report concerning the ways we come in everyday contact with carcinogens. One of the more prevelant ways according to this report's study was to drink water after having been frozen. They found that the freezing process releases the carcinogens that are inherent to the composition of plastic. Also, heating things in plastic ~saran, tupperware, etc~ the Institute report states possibly releases those same carcinogens.

Just something that you may, or may not, be interested in.........

1.I'd like to say I tried something new but I didn't and that really limited me.

2.NOT checking/changing the leader often enough.I kick myself in the ass every time and I still didn't learn my lesson.:fishslap:

Even though this wasn't a goal,as after thought I would like to add that I did get my first albie this year!

I found my new favorite bluefish lure. Some crappy popper that wont get a sniff from a striper. Also, got into tins a lot more this year and had a ton of success. Always caught a few schoolies on em but this year managed to go large with a bit of consistancy.

biggeest things i learned this year def would be

1. TERMINAL TACKLE. always checking my knots and havnig fresh leaders at all times. Not having the age of my knots on my mind everytime im on is a huge confidence boost.

2. Also knowing my structure and surrounding. going to spots at dead low without my rod and just taking pictures, then going back and fishing the sheet out it and has helped big time.

always carry snag hooks. always.

1. Improved casting distance when fishing w/ eels

2. Fish exclusively at night and the wee hours of the morning

1 - Point Jude wobble heads.

2 - RonZ's

I'm ordering more of both.

rigged eels will often catch when plugs won't and they work about as well as live ones and they are easier to deal with and cheaper and you can keep freezing em and thawing em and they still work and they work well on a pt jude wobble head and they cast well :spin:

oh yeah, mistakes... not sure what the mistake was... but I had problems with my fireline digging in on my 706z and lost 2 good fish in a row. Got a new reel so maybe I'll just sell my 706

I learned it doesnt matter if I tie my left shoe before my right or visa versa . as long as they are tied . it used to be right then left and left then right , then I tried them both at the same time but that took twice as long .

Wouldn't that be 4 times as long, that is if we are adding the "doo" into the equation.