JPSmith29

Huh a file only? Never thought about that I will have to give that a try as for the eye what do you mean a little lead in there will cause it to flash?

I think I will give the 3407 with a sinker eye a try. I like the idea of using those over stainless for the reason you brought up. I appreciate the input!

The mustad 34185 short shank is what I was looking into and wanted to use but I cannot seem to find them anywhere. If you have any hints on where to get them it'd be much appreciated. That is why I was leaning toward the the J hook/sinker eye combo. do you have any recommendation on J hook models or where to get sinker eyes?

I bought a do it jig mold back in the spring for the smiling bill 3/4, 1, 1 1/2 but have yet to use it as I have not been able to determine which hooks to use with it. Im looking for strong hooks as the bucktails will be used for larger stripers or in decent current conditions or boulder fields. Does anyone have any recommendations for strong hooks? I know I may need to modify the mold a little which isn't a big deal. I've heard of people using regular hooks like a siwash and the using some wire or a sinker loop for the eye of the jig, anyone ever do this? Thanks in advance everyone! I'm really looking forward to making and catching stripers on my own jigs

That’s why I’m leaning that way. It just seems like a perfect all around rod for so many different applications and would be more fun to fish than a beefier rod like the 1201M. Plus I have my penn carnage 2 10ft 1-5oz rod that is my canal and my big fish rod right now that I could use if I’m ever fishing a spot that I feel I really need that backbone and think this one would be underpowered.

Have you landed anything of size on it? And if so did it feel underpowered at all or like it could handle more?

That’s not a bad option either! Custom build on the Lami skinner blank, might have to think about that as well

That’s kinda why I’m getting the vsx200 instead of the 250, just seems like the most versatile

L is the way I was leaning since I’m not too worried about the higher end of the weight range. Outside of the canal I think I’ve thrown a 3oz jig maybe once lol. Thank you!

It’s a good point. I was just trying to get some first hand reviews and maybe get the rod in my hands but I may end up giving them a call. Thanks

Useful info only please

Really appreciate your .02. Custom 1201L or 1201M was the other route I was thinking. Get exactly what I want and I can get a feel for it before hand just trying to swing that price tag. Any input on the 1201L vs 1201M if I were to go that route?

That’s why I’m thinking about the custom route, just seems so worth it. The price is the thing though, definitely not cheap. I’ll have to checkout the st croix and ODM you mention

I’m sure it is too I just don’t like the idea of not being able to put my hands on something before buying it the reason I was gonna put a 200 on one of these is that is what Skinner says he used on it for years and recommends on it. If I don’t get one of these then I’m planning on a 10’ for sure. May do a custom GSB 1201L or 1201M but haven’t decided if I wanna spend that much yet. Really appreciate the input

Anyone have any experience with this rod or anyone living in Mass or Rhode Island have this rod and be willing to meet up so I could take a look at it? I will be buying a VSX200 at some point before next season and am trying to figure out what rod to match it with. For the way I fish, plugs I use, and locations I fish this seems to be an ideal rod for me at a reasonable price point and based on his last couple videos seems to have more than enough backbone for any striper application since he's caught and landed multiple sharks on it. My only concern is that I would like to handle the rod before spending that kind of money on it. I am also open to other rod options and am toying with maybe having a custom one built but not sure if I can really spare that kind of money right now. I fish mainly bucktails from 3/4-2oz, all sizes of SS needles, SS darters, SS bottles, pencils, SP minnows, occasionally gibbs dannys, rarely if ever anything over 3ish ounces. Anything from sand beaches to boulder fields and areas with decent current Thanks in advance guys. Any and all input is much appreciated

Gonna be spending a couple nights in Boothbay with my girlfriends family this week and I’m hoping to sneak away for a little fishing at night, won’t be bringing the wetsuit just the waders. If anyone is willing to give me any advice, spots, general reports it would be much appreciated! Not looking for anyone to burn spots but I’m just hoping to get pointed in the direction of access points and fish for a night or 2

I emailed Massachusetts DMF last year to ask about the legality of rigged eels with the new regulations and this was the the response I got. Long story short they said it is prohibited and the only things that are allowed are tube and worm and bucktail and pork rind… ”My name is Jared Silva. Of the several hats I wear at DMF, I serve as the agency's regulatory program coordinator. I wanted to thank you for your thoughtful question and get back to you with a response. The regulation in question is 322 CMR 6.07(5)(f). It reads: (f) Mandatory Use of Circle Hooks. Recreational fishermen fishing from shore or private vessels shall use circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with whole or cut natural baits. This shall not apply to any artificial lure designed to be trolled, cast and retrieved, or vertically jigged with natural bait attached. This language is specific that the use of circle hooks is required when fishing with whole or cut natural baits. Exempt from this is recreational fishing with an artificial lure with a bait affixed that is to be trolled, cast, or jigged (e.g., tube and worm, bucktail and pork rind). It does not make a similar exemption for fishing with a natural bait that effectively functions as a lure. Accordingly, the configuration of the rigged eel that you describe below would not conform with the regulation and would be prohibited. By way of background, these regulations are mandatory under Addendum VI to the ASMFC's Interstate Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which stipulates that by 2021 all Atlantic coastal states with a striped bass fishery require recreational anglers use circle hooks when fishing with natural baits (with exemptions subject to ASMFC approval). DMF was a year early to implement this rule, as we were going in this general direction prior to and independent of interstate mandate. We moved to exempt baited artificial lures to grandfather in popular techniques such as tube and worm and bucktail and pork rind. We viewed the conservation impact of such an exemption as minimal as striped bass strike at these devices and the rate of deep hooking is low. The ASMFC will review all exemptions before the 2021 season. We are optimistic that this exemption will be allowed, however, that is not a certainty. In developing these regulations, we errored on the side of being conservative with our exemptions. The reason for this was two-fold. First, we felt that having fewer exemptions would maximize the likelihood of the ASMFC approving those that we proposed. Second, it would keep the rule simple. Regulating terminal tackle in recreational fisheries as an attempt to control release mortality is a novel concept. Our primary goal is to regulate best practices and get our rank and file anglers used to fishing circle hooks. This was best accomplished by keeping the rule as straightforward as possible and limiting exemptions that could render the rule overly complicated and difficult to comply with and enforce. As we better understand how this rule is impacting angler behavior and what the ASMFC is willing allow, tweaks to the regulation may be accommodated. If you feel strongly that DMF should consider an exemption to this rule to allow the use of baited rigs that function like an artificial, I'd suggest you put that in writing to DMF's Director Dan McKiernan (dan.mckiernan@mass.gov). Given the current rulemaking timeline, it is likely that the earliest any new exemptions could be accommodated would be 2022.”

Oh trust me I would definitely forget so I will for sure be leaving myself some notes lol This is also a great idea that I will have to look into once I put my racks back onto my car but I’m not too sure how well it would actually work. The saddles I have are designed to hug the hull basically and they have a couple rubber pads to grip and keep from sliding so if the yak is upside down it may not sit very securely. On the days I’m not using it though I think I will definitely flip it over so it rests on the gunwales Parking in the shade and loosening the straps is going to be a must for sure!

Hey all, it’s been a while since I’ve been on here and it feels good to be on again. I am going to be driving down to North Carolina to visit my brother for a week mid-end of April and plan on taking my Hobie down with me. My concern though is that I will have nowhere to store it while I’m there so it will have to stay on top of my car all week. I use the Yakima big catch so it has to sit on the hull, not the rails. Will this cause my kayak to warp or deform from sitting on the saddles for so long?

I already experienced the frustration of tangles, hooks, and just trying to fish beyond my capabilities. The day I bought the fly rod I went to one of my favorite spots to surfcast, inlet of a salt pond, to fish the last hour of daylight and into the night and planned on casting pencils with the surf rod for a few Then switching to the fly rod till dark then back to the surf rod. Long story short had people fishing near me for the first time almost ever there and they crowded me like crazy so I couldn’t use the fly rod. They end up leaving after a couple hours before the tide even turned good so I try the fly rod again in the dark and between the two a**hats and struggling with the fly rod I wanted to throw the thing lol after that experience I’m gonna stick to the daytime until I get at least a few outings of consistently good casting on my part under my belt then I’ll try it again. And while I’m doing this and practicing I will for sure be keeping in mind all of your tips! if I’m ever on Long Island I’ll definitely take you up on that offer!

Just read it and oh my does that sound like it works perfect! Once I get comfortable with basic casts during the day I will for sure be trying this at night thank you mike! Jake

That would be awesome if you could find and send me that post! as for catching in close I’ve had that experience many times and it really is eye opening. I actually had that this morning around sunrise, had a a few hits on my darter and my metal lips basically at my rod tip. I can’t wait for this on the fly!

much appreciated!

Exactly why I reached out on here. I wanna nip any bad habits in the butt before they become engrained in muscle memory. I’m a big surf fisherman so I know all about the benefits of night time and once I get a feel for my cast I believe I’ll be able to comfortably fish at night at a few of my spots that don’t require long range

That is exactly why I want to try and get a good foundation now. I tried searching NoBullS but nothing came up. Is there another way I’d be able to contact him?