Jim Elam

Second try on the pic

Nice brownie too! Thanks for the report.

As little as you can get away with IMHO. The flag and anchor are must haves. Probably a net too. Beyond that I would try to keep thinks simple and compact. I try to get everything I need in 1 or 2 3600 size waterproof boxes. LOL! If I were fishing TR from a yak, I think I would take 2 rods. One for an A rig, and one for a Ned rig. Would fill my pockets with zeros and a tube of gel superglue, a few of Dave's jig heads, and a few spare grubs or paddle tail flukes for the rig. Leave the boxes in the truck!

Have used Dave's jigs with the mustard hooks for a month or so now. Really like them. I thought the hook might be a little big and might kill the bait's action but can't see that it does. It is an excellent hook and jig head design, and I think the weed guard is very helpful. Can't comment on paint as mine were unpainted. Shared with a buddy and he loved the 1/8 oz head, starting throwing with a baitcaster and having more success with long casting situations and with deep presentations. He just placed an order. Thanks Dave.

Sunday afternoon: Fished out of Baxter 1230p to 6p Sunday. Fish came in 3s and 4s, lots of unproductive time in between catching. Worked a wart hard in the creek mouth and mid creek on chunk rock banks with and without wood but I must not have the touch, nada. Finally started throwing the Ned in PBJ and catching, but most were shorts. Moved to main lake bluff ends and points and started catching a few keepers mainly on A rig. Fish were suspended in 40-50 ft off of the bluffs and bluff ends and had lots of fun trying to intercept then as they would crash bait balls near the surface with some success. 11 total 4 keepers, nothing over 3 lbs. Did see a guy and his kid with a 5 lb 9 oz LM that was fat and sassy. Watched him catch it near point 20 while fishing a bait ball that the gulls were going crazy over. Was his PB LM and was caught on a cranker. Today: 8 yr old and I got a shot to get away a few hrs this afternoon. Put in at Long Creek, was a muddy mess, went to the dam area to find clear water. Temps 53-54 everywhere. Found fish on bluff ends, Only fished from 230 to 415, 1 keeper K and a chunky 3 lb 9 oz SM. Both came on PBJ Ned. Didn't really get a chance to work a pattern. My son was the focus of today's trip, and when he pulled in the SM he informed me that we were done fishing an he needed to drive the boat a while... That hurt a little, but I took one for the team?

Great report. Sounds like you had a good weekend. Jim

Would not pair micro guides with a leader system. Have tried better profile knots than double uni you will be sorry. get regular guides and you have a reliable and versatile setup IMO. Micros are a hassle in the cold / freeze up is bad. Jim

A lighter setup is great if the caster is experienced and skilled. Lots more fun than the heavier stuff, maybe a little less versatile. I know plenty of guys who can cast heavy flies and lines with a fast 6, but it ain't for everyone...would try a few setups on the lighter and heavier sides before buying. I personally love the 6 wt setup as described, but prefer a fast 6 wt with a fighting butt for dealing with heavier fish in current.

Sorry, Spirex 2500

NW Ontario Sawbill Bay for Smallies and Pike. First year I haven't caught at least 1 over 5 lbs, but still a good numbers year. Lots of fish 18-19 inches, tons 15-18 inches. 3 pike in the teens, one in the twenties, not fishing for pike, all on light or UL gear. Back in June God Willin' n the crik don't rise...

Never use this. In new condition. Will sell for $30 local face to face cash only (Springfield). PM me if interested. Will consider trades of equal value. Jim

Well said.

Interested in trades? Have a few Sage 9 wts if you are looking to go up in size. Also have a few 6 wts if looking down. Jim

Thanks Sac River Jim. Will do.

If you get Lowrance, I would get the elite 5 or 7 hdi. Lots of bang for the buck. Both have 2d and downs can imaging with GPS. I have a few of these I use on kayaks and they are decent units. I have a 5x hdi on the bow of my boat and it is good but wish I had gps up there to mark structure.

I like the idea. Might try making them a little more sparse, and switch purple to the top of the fly IMO

Me too, except I like a 6 foot medium baitcaster. Shorter is better in yaks and canoes during float and wade trips IMO.

A wacky rigged senko works really well in shallow water in winter time. A 4 inch produces well, and is more durable that the standard fluke, but doesn't have the killer side to side action they sometimes want. The wacky rig is harder to overfish than the fluke, which is probably why it works so well. Great point about disturbing fish in the clear winter water. I like the wacky rig because it casts well and can be used with a really small light wire hook that is super sticky. Once a bass strikes you almost always catch him - basically they hook themselves. That is helpful with light gear and current, inactive fish in the winter time.

Those are great looking flies.

Jackson Cuda 12 angler kayak loaded gps color fish finder - $1400 (Lowell) Enter this in the search field on Craigslist Springfield

I will preface by saying I cut my teeth on 5000 C and 4600 CB ambassaduers as a younger man, so anything built lighter than a Sherman tank peaks my interest. That said, I own a revo sx and a few Lews bait asters that are all nice reels, better in many ways than my old dinosaurs that's still fish. Was at BPS today and couldn't pass on a PQ with the 7.1:1 retrieve. Figured I would throw buzz baits with it. Fit and finish were good after I sorted through about 5 copies that all had slight irregularities. Finally found one that was smooth as silk. I spooled it with 8 lb mono, stuck it on a cheapo BPS Extreme medium action 6 ft rod, and took it out today. First 3/8 oz and 1/4 oz jigs on main brake only, no problems. Long caster for sure, similar to the Lews tournament MG. 1/8 oz Ned handled great. Long casts with magnets set at 1-2 were no trouble. Casted this setup from one bank to within 15 ft of the opposite bank of the James near Rivercutt. Okay, let's see what this will really do... To my surprise, I was able to cast 40 - 50 ft in no wind with no backlashes with a 1/16 oz Ned, and a 1/32 oz Ned. Both tended to lose a bit of accuracy and required an educated thumb to be sure, but very doable with no wind. Suspect that would be a different story with a breeze I my face, but I was still impressed for $50. Caught only 2 fish, the rod handled better than expected but can't comment on the reel drag system at this point. Did notice the retrieve was very quick compared to what I am used to, maybe too quick for the Ned in winter. Will have to adjust my retrieve for the reel. All in all, I would have to agree with many here who have bragged about the PQ. It performed better than expected for me today. Who knows how it will hold up, but I paid less for it than I did for my 4600 CBs back in 1984! Doubt it will hold up like they have, but who knows?

Has anyone been able to pull this off? If so, can you give me a few clues on where and how? Thanks in advance.

You will like that boat . Great for river fishing and short lake excursions.

I thought for sure this warmup would make for a hot bite on the James this afternoon...nope. Fished hard for 3 hrs only for 1 short LM and a keeper K. Gorgeous day though. Shorts and a tee shirt in February? Wow!