rps

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Falcon_Cara_Spinning_Rods/descpage-FCNS.html

Smithwick Top 20 Rogue is an outstanding trolling bait for times you need to go deep. The vintage Smithwick with lead wire wrapped around the middle treble so it would suspend was THE original jerk bait. Somewhere there are pictures of great stringers taken on it.

Put a 3/8 ounce slip sinker on your line, then tie on a small barrel swivel. Tie on a 18 - 24" length of line to the other end of the swivel. Slide on a float bead (I use chartreuse), then tie on a #6 octopus hook. Look up Lindy Rig to see one. Once out on the water, nose hook a night crawler and gentle cast behind the boat. Use the wind, a trolling motor, or oars to SLOWLY move the the rig along the bottom. Fish the long gravel points or inside bends of the channel. Something edible will eat it.

Good starter rig, but consider how stripers fight. They run, hard, down and away. Surges, with comparatively little head shake compared to bass. However their surges are very strong. I would suggest that, for trolling, you do not need a rod that could throw the rig. I have found that for trolling you need a more moderate action rod to absorb the lunges and surges without ripping the bait from their mouth. Yes the rod will bend with the drag of the weight while trolling. Even so, there will be flex enough for the strike and from there on you rely on that flex and your drag to absorb the fight. In other words, patience, not winching is your ticket. Bass Pro has a 8'6' Berkley Lighting trolling rod with a 1/2 to 1.5 ounce bait rating, medium heavy, rated for 20 pond line for $60. Later you can upgrade if the concept works. I have one of your reels that I use for lead core line. They have good drags, can load a lot of line, and don't break under stress. Stick with it. Find 20# Metered PP line and avoid the cost of linecounter reels that really don't work well (unless you want to spend $400 for the Shimano) Last of all, make sure all the jig hooks have the sharpest point you can put on them. Consider making your own jigs with high quality Owner or Gama hooks. Stripers have a great deal of bony parts in their head. You need something that will penetrate. Think on these things, and good luck.

Congrats. What kind of rod/reel are you using? What hooks are you using? Both can make a difference when trolling and keeping fish on. I learned that the hard way.

This time of year, the farther you go above Leatherwood, the higher the percentage of females will be. The girls are hearing the call of the spawn.

Read the history of Senate bean soup.

queso with chorizo for dipping tortillas or chips homemade hummus artichoke spinach Parmesan dip for veggie dipping

It has been many, many years since I had a country ham. My great aunt got hers from Arkansas.

https://www.seriouseats.com/maple-glazed-city-ham-recipe

Been a while since I added to the blog, but here tis. https://www.ozarkrevenge.com/2022/12/hearty-bacon-potato-leek-soup.html

Bacon, potato, and leek soup tonight.

Sounds good. https://www.ozarkrevenge.com/2017/04/frank-stitts-low-country-red-rice-with.html

Low country red rice.

MM are almost always handsome fish. And great to catch. I never caught one more than 16 inches, but they all punched above their weight class.

Beans/no beans - it's all good. I would pass on the beans (no pun intended) and have a green salad.

I am NOT a Christmas person. That being said, tonight we hosted family for a Christmas cookie making evening. I made the dips and chips and stayed out of the way. During the evening my family helped my wife set up the tree.

You are right! The last one before this, I stuffed with figs and feta.

I took the left over egg rolls out of the freezer. While they thawed, I made sushi. Spicy crab with avocado and avocado cucumber. Asian night in this household.

Craison and bacon stuffed pork tenderloin with stuffed twice baked potato.

Talk about a meal without curb appeal! This comes from a New York Times recipe. Chicken Stroganoff, Brazilian style. Darn tasty. It needs some tweaks and a beautification.

Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying the salt.

I have posted this dish before, but, like stew, it never comes out the same. Pot roast:

My walleye friends who fish these cut off the two solid hooks at each end. They rely on the treble, and hang up far less often. When they do, they have a chance to jiggle free without engaging other hooks.