Running Ape

Maybe I am being too harsh. When I step up to pickerel fishing, I use braid.

I've tried braid for trout and here is my conclusion: unlike striper lure fishing where braid has multiple major advantages such as strength, fine diameter, hook setting power at a distance due to lack of stretch, improved reel capacity, etc, the hassle of tying a thin leader to thin braid is not worth it for trout. 2 or 4 lbs mono is my go to, I tried fireline and thin power pro. I had no improvement in hook ups and maybe a very small increase in casting distance. In retrospect, I feel more fish were lost due to trout's reverse gear (they can swim backwards a bit) with low stretch line than with than straight mono.

The main cape areas where they have been caught are areas that I frequently fish. There was a 7 year partial hiatus in there from 2008-2015. From fall 15 onwards, I have viewed that area multiple times per week year round. Late in the '16 albie season I noticed a few surface feeds in the area that involved activity of fish with a more elongate body than an albie. Two evenings I lost epoxy jigs on the strike. Usually with blues give a tug before biting through. 2017 was good and 18 better. In 2007 and 2008, I saw a few jumpers.

Mink are nasty! Back to bass: I love chumming them up. If I can locate very fresh mackerel, then throw a nice chunk in a decent spot, I almost always see a bass eat it. They appear out of nowhere when its good. Often it is very tough to get one to hit a piece with a hook even when they are nailing free pieces.

Its a favorite for sure. Mine has major good mojo at this point.

The only thing it won't do is set large hooks on heavy lures well. This should not be a shock. When I use large lures I reach for a different rod.

I've used mine for two years hard, taken keeper bass, kayak albies, jetty blues, etc. It is fully intact. I have battled some good sized albies to the boat without being too careful. Small (5") sp minnows fly, and no other rod I have ever used throws 1/2-3/4 ounce metals further. It is no slouch casting soft plastics either, I like it for albie snax better than my other rods.

Trs86mhf2 or trs86hf2 make good great schoolie or fluke rods. 3/8 jig heads work fine with the mh. With the right payload it casts very far.

Glad to hear musky rods as a suggestion. Some of the cape shops have some in stock. Those large low profile reels may be the ticket.

This year I will be doing more boat fishing. I have trolling stuff, along with light rods. What I don't have is a rig for daddy mac swimbaits, the larger sebiles, and large swim shads. All these lures are from 3-8 ounces. For at least part of the season I want to have a conventional setup rigged with one ready to go. Reels will likely have 65 lb braid. All reasonable suggestions appreciated.

Anyone ever bag a shore or yak haddock, in recent years? I have been tempted to try. I have caught them well within 3 miles.

If I had a large enough boat....

Building a 17' boat in my garage. After truly enjoying fishing the sound for years and years, I am going to focus on the bay this year, looking for surface action, trolling, maybe try jigging for pollack if The weather is nice.

My daiwa bg10 (old style) is great- a favorite

Anyone here build a lumberyard skiff, brockway or ladybug skiff?