Breakin' in the 4wt
4
Managed to get out for a few hours this evening to check out a local pond for the first time since the floods. Glad I moved up from a 3wt to a 4wt for my panfish rod. I was after crappie but hooked into a nice 17.5" LMB.
I also tried using a stripping basket for the first time. Works well after you cast out and lay the line in from retrieving. If you strip it in from the reel at first, it's laying the wrong way and will tangle. Definitely a good addition to shore fishing - less damage to line on the ground, longer casts, easier to move from spot to spot without having to reel up line.
Fish were caught on a small chartreuse/white orvis clouser, small pink/white gotcha, and a white/red gotcha. Lost all three flies before it got dark & cold. Hooked a few carp, either lip or snag, but they popped off with quick bolts before I could play them.
Oh, pay no attention to the white stuff on my fingers with the perch... Looks like the spawn is near.
I also tried using a stripping basket for the first time. Works well after you cast out and lay the line in from retrieving. If you strip it in from the reel at first, it's laying the wrong way and will tangle. Definitely a good addition to shore fishing - less damage to line on the ground, longer casts, easier to move from spot to spot without having to reel up line.
Fish were caught on a small chartreuse/white orvis clouser, small pink/white gotcha, and a white/red gotcha. Lost all three flies before it got dark & cold. Hooked a few carp, either lip or snag, but they popped off with quick bolts before I could play them.
Oh, pay no attention to the white stuff on my fingers with the perch... Looks like the spawn is near.
