Looks can be deceiving because by

[Got Stripers]

the looks of this picture, you'd think this girl could catch bass.....more to come.

[img="http://www.rgsiroisco.com/juls.jpg"]

ps: By the way one of those (smaller) was on the end of my line, nice double.

[Got Stripers]

Yes Juls caught the biggest striper, but there were not many linesides coming over the back of the boat this morning, yet that's not the real story. I'm telling you that girl is chasing the wrong species, because there isn't a soul alive that can hold a candle to her pollack catching abilities. She's a pollack magnet, poppers, cochahoes, grubs, it didn't matter; like the entire pollack population was following her around today.

[img="http://www.rgsiroisco.com/juls1.jpg"]

I was doing real well on the stripers up front and eventually ran out of my favorite plastic, but Juls was amasing me with the pollack clinic she was putting on in the back of the boat. Some people fish, some people cut bait and then there are those that fish for bait. FW's new handle should be PQ, because she's the Pollack Queen...lol.

Ok Juls, I'm going to let you up now...lol. Had a great time this morning, good fishing and good company. Guess you will have to take those cochahoes back into the murky Boston Harbor.

Tight lines.

[Fisherwoman]

Yes I must admit that GS got the best of me on numbers today as far as the stripers go, but he can't hold a candle to this Pollack slayer, even had a few double headers. But GS did tell you that I got the biggest Striper, what he didn't tell you was he got the BIGGEST POLLACK!!!! LMAO

Had a great day too GS, thanks again for the trip TB (Turbo Bob)!!!! I'll be heading in for a shoulder transplant next week, LOL, I guess that beautiful pristine water down there just had me off my game for sure. Next trip will have to be in the murky waters of Boston for a rematch on my home turf!!!! Then again, I'll hit the shore again with you anytime. Seroiusly, thanks for a fun day, had a great time. We will be seeing you again soon.

[Got Stripers]

All kidding aside (for the momment), there are some lessons to be learned here.

When in Rome......I still think the big difference today was what was on the end of the line. You gave my hook, rigging and plastic a very brief trial and did catch a bass or two before going back to your stuff. I think you made two mistakes today and I say this only so others might learn something. First you didn't switch over early enough and when you did, you didn't stay with it long enough.

Horizontal vs vertical......The major difference in what was on the end of our lines is that your jig head/plastic combination works horizontally ONLY if your retrieving it, but it works more vertically if you stop the retrieve. My method of weighting, which is lighter to begin with, results in more of a horizontal presentation especially when the retrieve is stopped. You watched me successfully tease several stripers near the boat, but a number reacted in a similar fashion 50 feet away. I worked the bait in a twitch-twitch-pause tempo, but the key is how the bait falls when I pause. It's a slow horizontal glide or spiral and not a vertical drop.

Water clarity is a key consideration when fishing for stripers. This was brought home big time today. You are used to fishing the murky Boston harbor waters and white/pearl/chartreuse might be your go to colors. That is because visibility is down and those colors help the fish see the baits. I can see bottom in 15-20 feet of water and these fish need to be approached differently. That means more subdued (reads translucent) colors, quiet approach (trolling motor), long mono or flurocarbon leaders, a more horizontal presentation (reads more natural) and sometimes a painfully slow approach and presentation; especially when the sun comes up.

Next time you come out with me, the best thing you can do is bring your rod only and leave all your gear at home. The rod you had was just perfect for what I fish, but the IN YOUR FACE (colors/teasers) stuff was a bit much for these clear water stripers. This is for others that might want to learn something from this.

Hopefully I will be able to adapt well, come time to fish with you and Bill in the inner harbor. Not sure I would change much, maybe a heavier wrap on the hook, darker color, maybe bigger bait (more movement of water=vibration for the fish to sense), more noise possible (glass rattles pushed into the plastic), but I'm still a jerk.......bait man.

Tight lines.

[Fisherwoman]

Point well taken GS, but as I said this morning the arms just weren't cooperating and just couldn't do that twitch twitch thing as comfortable as I would have liked. Should have changed earlier, but not used to fishing this type of structure. I promise next time I will give your JERK BAIT MAN a little longer go. Maybe next time I won't be so beat to sh##, LOL. As for the teasers I have used them many times on the cape in very pristine water and never had a problem, but you could be very well correct, time will tell!!!!!!!! We shall see how you do in my zone next time, do you really think you could give up those home made jerk baits for something else??????

[Got Stripers]

Tomorrow I will give the teasers another try for at least an hour or so, but only after I confirmed location and bite for a good number of bass. I've had it on off and on this spring and have yet to have anything take it. I'm 100% sure it works or you wouldn't be tying up so damn many every winter and I wouldn't see them dangling from everyones rods.

I just know they haven't been the ticket for me yet, but now that the bass have settled in for the season, maybe it's time to give it a more serious test. My concern is that it detracts from the "LOOK", the "ACTION" and more importantly "THE DROP" on my hand pours. That little bit of extra line, the fly and resistance really hampers the subtle action I want in my baits. So far I've only worked your bait along with a 3/8 jighead and cochahoe, because I'm always looking for another hot bait. Ironically, I've only caught pollack on the cochohoe....lol.

Got to do some work to catch up on what I missed yesterday and then pour some baits to re-stock. Next time out maybe we will switch styles for a solid 2-3 hours, me with your jig/teaser rig and you with my jerkbait sans teaser. Yes I can give up the jerkbaits, just show me a better bite on something else and I'll be tying it on. I've tried a lot of hard/soft baits in "MY" waters and found nothing that comes even close to working as good. If "YOUR" water isn't jerkbait friendly, you won't see me fishing them long, I'd much rather catch fish. Good luck down on the Cape this weekend.

[Fisherwoman]

Hey GS, I agree with you on how that may hinder the action of the suttle approach I watched you use with your home poured slammers yesterday. Sometime teasers take a little getting used too, now I never take them off, unless fishing for those toothy critters. It was a pleasure seeing that beautiful water yesterday, will have to give that a go again on maybe not so much a hot day. I agree with your theory as to the way you have learned to fish that area, must be a very light touch, and you were definatley working it well to say the least. As with the jerk baits, or any other lure, you have to change colors, I should have tried that with the teasers yesterday. A nice brown and white might have been very productive in that clearer water, who knows.

Just a little info for you, as we were showing a client some areas last night, there as a hug school of fish and birds working off of nantasket beach right about high tide before sundown. Too bad we weren't on our boat, LOL!!! Too far to cast. and yes the teasers were working pretty good last night. Hope you get out again this weekend. We have a full schedule. Good luck if ya go!!

[Got Stripers]

Thanks for the heads up, do you think they might have been mackeral? Man I'd love to get into some tomorrow, but only after I've got a few dozen bass under my belt. I've got my old bud from Scituate coming and he's got a nose for mac's/blues, maybe he can sniff them out for me.

I better fill up the old tank, which by the way Larry says wasn't covered in any type of defect program, so I don't have to worry about a lack of fuel. I have to get that fixed or it will drive me crazy.

[JohnR]

FW - that was the massive school of mutant minature pollacks heading north...

[Jenn]

Did I hear someone say that FW aught the LARGEST??? hee, hee , hee...... and that GS caught the MOST???? was that mt prediction?????

[Fisherwoman]

JohnR, you will never be able to catch Pollack like that, so get over it!!!!! LMAO

Jenn, Yes you called it pal, right on the money!!!! How have you been doing?

[Jenn]

been doing ok,but not GREAT....I need to get out and fish! My life for the past month or so has just been crazy-busy! working 6 days a week I want to just crash on sundays, if I have free time it is instantly gone , and a death in the family. Does it ever end?

I really need a break because I just feel so burnt out right about now....planning for next weekend to the Cape, but havent recieved confirmation of the reservations .... with the way my luck has been....they are probably booked.

Glad you asked now??? sorry for the depressing words......I needed to vent.....thank you...

[JohnR]

You can vent whenever you want Jenn. I'm very sorry to hear that you lost someone close. There never is an easy way past that. Also, youneed to remember to take care of number one - you... ( then #2, the hubster....)

Good luck to getting out this weekend - go slam some fish...