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Grandito posted:Does anyone have any tips for fishing in suburban ponds? For catfish, try worms, and fish after dark. For sunfish, try small spinner baits in the ~45 minutes right before dark.
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Oct 20, 2020 22:53
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| # ? Jun 6, 2024 10:35 |
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Try other ponds too. There is one spot near me that I’ve fished multiple times (out of hellbent frustration) without so much as a nibble, while at another nearby I’m pulling fish out nonstop.
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Oct 21, 2020 08:56
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I also will fish out of spite tbh
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Oct 21, 2020 09:11
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titties posted:I also will fish out of spite tbh I “refused to be defeated” but all it got me was multiple lost lures
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Oct 21, 2020 09:16
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Grandito posted:Does anyone have any tips for fishing in suburban ponds? Worms or crickets are virtually guaranteed to get something biting. In my experience, those doughball baits are next to useless. Stocked cats will go fuckin' nuts over raw shrimp though.
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Oct 22, 2020 04:14
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Throw a chunk of hotdog in there and see what you get 
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Oct 22, 2020 04:43
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King of Bees posted:Throw a chunk of hotdog in there and see what you get
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Oct 22, 2020 20:34
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I played hooky and hit the South Platte today. It was freezing, but extremely windy and very little moisture (side note: Grand Lake suffered severe damage from the Troublesome Creek fire and they’re currently evacuating Estes Park. I’m also worried about Rocky Mountain National Park. It has fires on two sides. Please send positive vibes to the Front Range. We desperately need moisture.) I got on the river around 9:30 and decided to try my newly acquired New Zealand indicator kit. It’s a bit fiddly relative to The first spot, just after I said aloud, “I don’t think there are any fish in this run.”  A #22 green top secret midge did the trick.  another one. Spot two. Same midge.   Hand for scale. New Zealand Wool. Good stuff.
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Oct 22, 2020 23:41
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Dangerllama posted:I played hooky and hit the South Platte today. It was freezing, but extremely windy and very little moisture (side note: Grand Lake suffered severe damage from the Troublesome Creek fire and they’re currently evacuating Estes Park. I’m also worried about Rocky Mountain National Park. It has fires on two sides. Please send positive vibes to the Front Range. We desperately need moisture.)
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Oct 23, 2020 02:42
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Nice fish!
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Oct 23, 2020 04:15
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crazypeltast52 posted:Nice fish!
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Oct 23, 2020 17:09
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Dangerllama posted:
I'd have eaten that fucker
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Oct 24, 2020 14:59
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Hi all, I'm new-ish to this whole fishing thing. I figure it'd been two decades since I last had my Dad cast for me, plop the rod into my hands and then run off to try to keep my sister from tangling her line in some trees. The recent smoke-apocalypse on the West Coast forced me to find a new low-cardio outdoor hobby, and since I live across the street from a lake fishing seemed like the way to go. Picked up an ugly stik, and started ordering every shiny looking lure I could off amazon. So far all I've caught are bass, though I've been skunked several times going for channel cats, and more recently been skunked waiting around for trout. Ideally I'm fishing to harvest meat, but local parks asks that largemouth go back, so that's what I do. If there are any folks in the SF Bay who want to link up and socially distance fish feel free to let me know. So far all I've fished is Lake Chabot north of Castro Valley. This one hit on a white 2-blade spinner  And this feller went for a Strike King 1.5 KVD 
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Oct 26, 2020 02:19
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Woof that second one is enormous. Hell yeah!
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Oct 26, 2020 03:03
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Gooch181 posted:Woof that second one is enormous. Hell yeah! Yeah, I was pretty stoked on that one! This lake definitely carries a few honkers, the record is 19lb. https://www.westernbass.com/article/19-pound-largemouth-shatters-chabots-lake-record I don't think that's one I'm gonna catch from shore though.
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Oct 26, 2020 18:21
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Canadianjerkey posted:Yeah, I was pretty stoked on that one! This lake definitely carries a few honkers, the record is 19lb. https://www.westernbass.com/article/19-pound-largemouth-shatters-chabots-lake-record you absolutely could though. bass like the bank just as well as open water
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Oct 26, 2020 20:40
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Ghostnuke posted:you absolutely could though. bass like the bank just as well as open water Well I guess I'll just go ahead and keep my hopes up then! I had figured they hung out in deeper water, but thinking about it more they don't get big if they don't eat. And most of the food seems closer to shore and veg. When I wake up early enough I can usually get 45 to 1hr in weekday mornings before the family wakes up, so maybe I'll catch a monster through consistency. If'n I do y'all can be sure there will be photos. Without photos you can be assured that it jumped the hook and doesn't count, regardless of whatever tale I tell.
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Oct 26, 2020 23:03
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Quick update for those waiting with baited breath, but I triangulated my interests and settled on a 2500 Penn Battle III so I can get back into some lure fishing in the surf as well. Figured this reel would be small enough for my lighter rods in freshwater but I could still throw some plastics and lures into the surf as well without worrying about corrosion. Looking forward to getting back to it and thanks for all the suggestions yall.
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Oct 27, 2020 02:26
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Canadianjerkey posted:Yeah, I was pretty stoked on that one! This lake definitely carries a few honkers, the record is 19lb. https://www.westernbass.com/article/19-pound-largemouth-shatters-chabots-lake-record When bank/shore fishing for bass always start with a few parallel casts on your right and left. I've had massive bass slam my bait 2 feet from shore. If there's riprap or heavy vegetation even better.
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Oct 27, 2020 14:17
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Untrustable posted:When bank/shore fishing for bass always start with a few parallel casts on your right and left. I've had massive bass slam my bait 2 feet from shore. If there's riprap or heavy vegetation even better. Good advice, that syncs up well with what my experience has been so far. There are a few docks along the western shore of Chabot, right close to the marina, that set one up perfectly to crank along the deep side of vegetation. I've also had a few hits cranking or spinning along a steep rocky face, though only time will tell if that was a one-off or a reliable spot. The unfortunate amount of trash and abandoned line tells me I'm not the only one curious though. There is also a reservoir about half an hour from me, Lafayette, which has an area that looks like a bay of grass that I want to throw jigs around in. All of this of course is distracting me from trying to catch fish that I can actually keep! Once my local opens up again, and the fire danger is lower than "extreme" I plan on getting out with some bobber setups, trout magnet grubs, and a book. Oughta learn me some patience.
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Oct 27, 2020 23:48
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Fishing is the ultimate patience builder.
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Oct 28, 2020 12:54
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Canadianjerkey posted:Ideally I'm fishing to harvest meat, but local parks asks that largemouth go back, so that's what I do. If there are any folks in the SF Bay who want to link up and socially distance fish feel free to let me know. So far all I've fished is Lake Chabot north of Castro Valley. I am out towards the Valley and I regularly hit up Los Vaqueros and Del Valle near Livermore. I believe both places have begun planting trout again, or will soon. I know Bethany Reservoir near Tracy/Mountain House definitely has big stripers in it. I was there on a relatively windy day a few weeks ago, and a giant one splashed right near shore just as I was on the phone with my buddy telling him nothing was really biting that day, lol. Unfortunately, it seems that bass that have survived that long are savvy enough to leave alone a simple chunk of chicken liver on a circle hook. Maybe the Ned rig is worth a go?
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Nov 1, 2020 03:23
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Pulled my limit of trout today, on the feathered dickspoon found only at Kobolds Workshop
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Nov 2, 2020 00:34
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istewart posted:I am out towards the Valley and I regularly hit up Los Vaqueros and Del Valle near Livermore. I believe both places have begun planting trout again, or will soon. I've seen a bit on norcalfishingreports with folks pulling some monsters out of Del Valle! https://www.norcalfishreports.com/fish_reports/166764/20#-striped-bass-at-lake-del-valle.php Now it's just a process to make the time to get out to lakes other than Chabot, and explore some other shorelines. I think it'd be worth it to get a saltwater setup as well, given my proximity to the coast. My Dad lives up in Fort Bragg as well, so I'll need to do some scouting up there.
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Nov 5, 2020 00:22
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Probably answered before, but anyone tried Aliexpress for packable ultralight rods/reels? I’m thinking about a ultralight packable system for next summer, hiking to alpine lakes and streams. I’ve got tenkara for it, but would also like something for some of the larger alpine lakes I’ve seen, where I can’t quite cast all the way out to larger fish I see.
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Nov 6, 2020 15:45
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So I thought our licenses were in my stolen tackle box, opened my wallet for cash for the first time since maybe march, turns out they were in my wallet the whole time  not sure why, never kept them there in the past, thanks past me I guess.
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Nov 7, 2020 04:58
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gamera009 posted:Probably answered before, but anyone tried Aliexpress for packable ultralight rods/reels? I have not fished with it, but I bought a 5wt rod from AliExpress for similar reasons. It seems decent, but I’m not really the best at assessing that. The shipping time was pretty quick. I ended up finding a St Croix rod on CL because I didn’t think it was going to arrive in time for a trip we had planned to Bend. It showed up, but that was the week Oregon was on fire and then was no fishing that trip. If you want to give it a shot I’d sell it for the $20 or I paid.
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Nov 7, 2020 17:31
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Grandito posted:Does anyone have any tips for fishing in suburban ponds? Hello fellow texas fisherman, and hello thread I didn't know existed. I have fished in Texas/Oklahoma my entire life. What part of Texas are you in? I live in the DFW area and generally the ponds in the suburbs are what you would mostly call "highly pressured", meaning they get fished a lot. They are also small enough that the pond running out of fish is definitely a thing. Don't despair, if there is fish in those ponds, I can tell you how to catch them. Live bait is the best and is generally really easy to find. Nightcrawlers from Walmart or gas stations that sell bait is a great choice. You can also refrigerate worms that you don't use. I would NOT use dead shad or the "stink" bait that is generally advertised as catfish bait in those stores. They suck, are extremely messy to deal with, and you basically have to throw away what you dont use right away. You can also go to your nearest lake and catch bait with a cast net for both fun and free bait, but this is generally something you shouldn't dive into right away unless you like the thought of it. I find the simplest method to start out with is the old fashion bobber method. I put a bobber stop on my line, then a slip bobber, a very light bullet weight (or called a slip sinker) that is 1/16 or 1/32 ounce , another bobber stop a leaving plenty of space bellow the bobber, and then a hook.  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bullet-Weights-USBW116-24-Ultra-Steel-Bullet-Weight-Size-1-16-oz-15-Fishing-Sinkers-per-Bag/16889118 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Unique-Bargains-6pcs-Black-Cylindrical-Shaped-Fishing-Float-Stoppers-Sinker-Floater-Bobber/702122622 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Thill-Fish-N-Foam-Floats-Cigar-Slip-Peg-Fishing-Lure-Float-Red-White/17127127 The only caveats is that the bobber has to be big enough for the weight and the hook so it doesn't sink, while also not being too big to make it awkward. This setup is also light enough to be easily castable by your shakespear spinning rod/reel. The hook is also a big decision as it could lead to a few different outcomes. The smaller the hook, the less bait you can use and the small fish you leave yourself open to catching. Sometimes going smaller is better for city ponds as smaller things are what fish are use to foraging on. So using a smaller hook and pinching off parts of the nighcrawler to put on it means you are doing to catch more but sometimes smaller fish. Its just plain effective. Going bigger with the hooks means you need use more bait and also means that you might rule out a lot of the fish that are in the pond. It will also mean that you can handle larger fish much easier when you finally get one on the other end though where a small hook might bend or they shake off easer. Its all a balance. Using a bobber also means that you need to deal with the wind. When you cast out your bobber and the wind is blowing the opposite direction, you are probably going to have to recast a lot. The best part of catfishing is sitting on your rear end and not doing a lot of work, so finding the side of the pond to cast the bobber out so the wind is blowing it out is usually a better time. If the day is calm, it doesn't matter. Once you actually start catching fish, then its time to switch things up to catch bigger fish or to target catfish more specifically. Its better to crawl before you walk though. It also builds confidence in catching fish of a lot of species vs not catching anything while trying to target one. Hope this helps!
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Nov 7, 2020 21:31
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DFW fishin buddies! Sadly I haven't fished any ponds in DFW, but I have fished lake arlington, joe pool, fork, tawakoni and then a handful more lakes out in east texas. I kinda miss 'em. 
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Nov 8, 2020 01:46
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Elmnt80 posted:DFW fishin buddies! Sadly I haven't fished any ponds in DFW, but I have fished lake arlington, joe pool, fork, tawakoni and then a handful more lakes out in east texas. I kinda miss 'em. I am mostly limited to lake grapevine, lake lewisville, and the random trip to texhoma. Next year I am going to hit up the east texas lakes come spring time. Tawakoni has been on the bucket list for a while and I haven't gone out of some planning.
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Nov 8, 2020 02:05
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Its been a while since I've been back, last trip was 5+ years ago and was caddo, monticello and bob sandlin for 2 weeks. Caddo is gorgeous launching from the state park and heading up the river towards government ditch.
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Nov 8, 2020 05:06
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If you have a kayak doing a overnight float on the Brazos/Trinity River is really fun and a great way to see some nice parts of the country and catch fish from low pressure areas.
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Nov 8, 2020 06:00
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If any of you get back to the east texas area please post. I'll come meet you and we can have a buddy fishing day
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Nov 8, 2020 14:46
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Sickening posted:Hello fellow texas fisherman, and hello thread I didn't know existed. Thanks. I actually am in DFW, and have mostly been trying to fish at Oak Point/Bob Woodruff parks. The high pressure is I think what I'm not used to dealing with. I grew up in a rural area and would catch bass in farm ponds and it was never that tricky to do, I even thought I was good at it. I tried again right before daylight savings using nightcrawlers instead of the store bought bait as you and someone up thread suggested, but no luck yet again. I'm planning to give it one more go this weekend, though. Would I have a better shot of getting something on a hook by taking a trip out to one of the lakes and bank fishing? I hate that it feels frustrating instead of fun and relaxing like I remembered.
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Nov 9, 2020 20:34
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Grandito posted:Thanks. I actually am in DFW, and have mostly been trying to fish at Oak Point/Bob Woodruff parks. Its very possible , especially with live bait. Going to a lake from where I suspect you are is going to be a little bit of a drive though. People like the fishing barge in lake lewisville, which might be a better alternative to bank fishing but honest that is all I know, lake-wise without a boat. Fishing is either going to be amazing or total poo poo right now due to the seasonal changes. So patience and trying new places and trying new things is kind of required. I have been a kayak fishermen most of my life but now I own boats. A cheap kayak to fish out of gives you way more options. Just something to think about. Keep in mind that getting into fishing near winter might leave you frustrated more so than spring.
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Nov 9, 2020 20:50
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I want to reiterate my best fishin ponds are the ones most people are gonna be too lazy to get to Find some that are off the beaten path with google earth
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Nov 9, 2020 23:11
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Yeah, fishing pressure directly leads to frustration at bad fishing. You got to go where the dumb fish live, not where all the dumb ones were already caught and only the smart ones now live.
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Nov 9, 2020 23:38
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rap music posted:I want to reiterate my best fishin ponds are the ones most people are gonna be too lazy to get to rndmnmbr posted:Yeah, fishing pressure directly leads to frustration at bad fishing. You got to go where the dumb fish live, not where all the dumb ones were already caught and only the smart ones now live. Smart fish eat live bait. They just do. It is good advice though. The best fishing holes aren't public. They are private ponds nobody has fished in years. You are better searching the country roads and asking permission.
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Nov 10, 2020 01:09
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Even if it’s public find one that is unkempt and you have to wade thru a little brush to get to. I swear to you most people will spend hours catching nothing at a terrible spot that’s easily accessed rather than deal with the slightest inconvenience to fish a gem
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Nov 10, 2020 01:17
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rap music posted:Even if it’s public find one that is unkempt and you have to wade thru a little brush to get to. I swear to you most people will spend hours catching nothing at a terrible spot that’s easily accessed rather than deal with the slightest inconvenience to fish a gem Its true. I find that a light kayak and a pond an extreme overgrown bank is very good.
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Nov 10, 2020 01:58
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