I hated those things at first because in the Lehigh I always thought they were a huge trout. After a few fairly large samples abd some hard fighting small ones when I couldn’t scare up a trout I’m appreciating them more. The first one I ever caught was in a reservoir up north. I threw a live baby frog out lip hooked and a monster crushed it. I’m not even sure where the rod came from to be honest but I know I’ll likely not top that monster in my lifetime. Forget how big but 5-6 lbs seems real conservative. As fisherman go I should at least double it but it was so long ago I’m taking the real conservative route. I assumed (sort of still do) that smallies have the potential to weigh the same as huge largemouth but no real knowledge to prove it. I’ve been lucky since to break 2-3 lbs. most are closer to 12”
[Archived] What did you Catch Today?
- Thread starter troutspinner
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HenryDavid
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I get some nice ones out of the Susky, you've got some slammers there, panfish bonanza
pabassman
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The rockie was 9.75". We catch a ton of them at night while bass fishing but this was one of the biggest I've caught.
HenryDavid
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Did you guys quit trout fishing already? Ha ha, nice ones !!
HenryDavid
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Here's my biggest trout of the season, very poor pic but in DHALO you can't mess around, all C&R, plus it's a phone pic since I drowned my camera in Loyalsock Creek a couple weeks ago. A few seconds after this pic he flipped himself back into the creek before I could get more photos. Measurement showed 24-inches, you can possibly see by the pic that it's at least 1/2 the length of the bottom section of the 9-foot fly rod. Video is in another thread.
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MB3
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Went for trout and the bite was off. Fought the wind and cold more than fish. I had a nice Bass on but he bent the treble hook and got away. Caught 5 small Pickerel. Shiela caught a Pickerel and a Perch. Not a banner day but we both caught. Then I destroyed the yard work, now I'm ready for back to back 14+ hour days.
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MB3
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My expertise is chemical production, coming up on 30 years. My real expertise is enduring conditions, hazards and a level of stress most won't. We are short on people so OT is limitless. If I make retirement, I will have earned it. That is a big if though. I have my doubts.
Yep, I walked from being the highest position in a union mill at 24 with 5 years into my 20 making six figures to have a life outside there. 16 hour nights 13 on 1 off as a single parent. What pushed me over besides my GF now wife deciding to move to NC was seeing a guy who had maybe 35-40 in working every scrap of OT living in a tiny studio to “save it all”. Made it 6 mos after retirement and I overheard his son burned through it in 6 mos. I still put in hours that rival that and sometimes weekends but I have many more shortened days and time off.
God bless you if that’s the path to retirement. Pray you can get the most out of the down time. I don’t know if it’s shift disorder or another malady but cognitive ability definitely deteriorates in that environment, much more so long term.
God bless you if that’s the path to retirement. Pray you can get the most out of the down time. I don’t know if it’s shift disorder or another malady but cognitive ability definitely deteriorates in that environment, much more so long term.
MB3
Well-known member
I have a theoretical exit plan in a few years. I made a few stupid decisions with taking on payments for a few things I wanted (the boat is one but $100/month isn't bad). Once I pay for my stupidity I hope to be in a better position to work less, fish more. The money and vacation time is great but not enough to try for 62-67. I'll be 50 this year, I think I've endured enough hard labor to make a change soon for quality of life.
Don
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I grew up on a farm, the days were long. We were family and that made a big difference. Then I became an Arborist and worked 45 hr weeks, no big deal. At some point I became a nursery plant manager and 70 hrs was the norm. Late March through October was a killer. That is when I stopped hunting and fishing. In 2000 I began selling on a national basis and my hours were even worse but much of it was sitting in a car or airplane. In 2015 I counted the number of nights I stayed on the road in a hotel and for that year it was over 115 nights. I was 57. Life was passing fast and I hadn't actually "made it". That is when I cut back, started re-visiting old hobbies and trying to recapture some of what I missed........it can't be done. Wish I had my kids back in the nest but their kids would not be impressed. Two years ago around this time I began fishing again and am enjoying the peace of nature once more in a way I had never taken the time to in the past. Both my wife and I will probably have to work till 70 to afford retirement but we are enjoying life, kids, grandkids more now.
MB3
Well-known member
I won't say much on the subject because the internet is scoured for such things. I'm dead inside with things that have happened, done, not done and been said. It has altered my thinking, personality and the way I view everything. Other than that I love it and it buys me fishing gear lol
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