OuterBlogs - Fishing

Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:48:00 +0000

For everyone tuning in today, Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for stopping by.

Done Already?

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:50:00 +0000

That fishing season went by too quickly. I am a fair weather fisherman so I won't be fishing any time soon until March/April again. Some good maintenance posts will be coming I hope.

The Delaware Canal should be finished around the next season, too!

Cat Fish

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:07:00 +0000

A few weeks ago my buddy Frank and I went night fishing for catfish. He caught 6 and I got 2. My second was about 5 lbs. It was an awesome fight with chicken livers for bait.

May 1, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:54:00 +0000

I decided to take a trip to Peace Valley after our early dinner on Friday. I fished from the Northern middle dock and caught 2 crappies (again). The water was very calm and given the time of day and cloud cover I thought surface lures would rule the evening. I was incorrect. Not a bite at the surface, at least not anywhere near where I was. There are always spots you see fish jumping and say "A small boat would be perfect for access to that spot!"; that being said I think you can surmise I don't have a small boat.

I made my way over to the North western dock, which was the first time this season I visited there, and caught nothing. I have in the past been very successful and both spots but the time of day and time of year were the only variables. Both docks did well for me in the Summer months very early in the morning (any time before 8:00AM).

April 29, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:49:00 +0000

My fishing buddy Frank and I took a trip to Peace Valley Park and did fairly well last Wednesday. We got there at about 9:00AM and started fishing from the southern middle dock (that's what I would call it anyhow) but didn't get anything there.

We made our way over to the south eastern shore where Frank hooked into a little large mouth bass and a school of white perch. I also got a minnow-sized large mouth a ways down the shore. All were released.

We rode over to the mid-northern dock and Frank got a few more white perch and I got 2 or 3 crappies (two, I think). All were pretty small fish and released. We catch and release no matter what the size.

It was a good trip. It started out damp and cold but warmed up as the breeze went away. All fish were caught on lures.

April 24, 2009 Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:34:00 +0000

Friday 4/24 I hit the Delaware River in Philadelphia off of Rhawn and State Roads at the pier. The pier is nice but I think most folks are fishing for catfish at that point in the river. I was the only person fishing with lures, everyone else had their rod(s) propped up on the fence waiting for something to grab whatever they had tied on.

Later that afternoon after dinner I took a ride up to Washington Crossing, PA to try the river there. After about an hour of fishing I finally did some catching instead. I tied on a rooster tail to my ultralight expecting to end the night in defeat and the first cast landed a nice small mouth bass. He took it so quick that when I got him in I discovered he had almost swallowed the lure, it was deep inside latched to one of his gills and he had a steady stream of blood running down his side. I quickly cut the line as fast as I could and released him with the lure still attached.

For those of you who would have done the same, bravo! For those of you who would have torn the lure out, boo! If pulling a stupid lure or hook out of a great game fish would mortally wound the fish, please keep it in them to save the fish. If you go tearing gills or have the fish out of water too long it's going to die. I'm not saying keep all hooks and lures in them, but if pulling them out is going to kill the fish then my vote is leave it there and let 'em go.

Last Wednesday Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:09:00 +0000

My fishing buddy Frank and I get out to the Delaware Canal last Wednesday morning but to no avail. There wasn't much moving since it was pretty cold. We decided to get over to the river instead. The level was up but we still didn't get anything there either.

It was great to get out though. I'm deciding on whether to get out this weekend or not since it will be a little warmer.

Windy Fishing and Otherwise

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:28:00 +0000

I got out on Sunday afternoon fishing at Peace Valley Park in Bucks County, PA. It was great to get out but was very windy and I couldn't effectively control where I was casting. I took a video to show anyone who wants to see it.

My fishing buddy Frank and I are running to the store today to get some lures and fishing line to go to the Delaware Canal in Tinicum Park since it's got water! Too cool. Someone let a bunch of water (and hopefully fish) at some point and they must still be there. We'll see.

Fishing Tomorrow?

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:44:00 +0000

Wow, that would be cool to get out early in the morning tomorrow to one of my favorite spots, even though it's a bit early yet. Trout season opens tomorrow in Pennsylvania, but the lake I would be going to isn't a big trout place.

Reels

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:10:00 +0000

My reels could probably use a cleaning out but I think I'll just respool some new line and leave the reels alone for now.

Pennsylvania Fishing License

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:33:00 +0000

Looks like I'm going to run to my local online store to get my license this year. They stopped making them look interesting with good artwork last year so I might as well print it out on my printer from now on.

Squid Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:44:00 +0000

I saw some guys on television catching a squid and when they get it over to the side of the boat, they jam a nasty hook into it to hoist it up. I'm all over fishing but that seemed a bit brutal especially when the thing screamed. Would my large mouth bass scream if they could? Experts say no since they've tested that part of their mouths barely have any nerves.

Almost Time

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:46:00 +0000

Being only a fair-weather fisherman, it's almost time to get my license this year. I know all you ice guys a thinking "what a whimp!" but I only fish for warm weather species anyhow so that's that.

My favorite spot will HOPEFULLY be opening this year along the Delaware Canal in Erwinna, PA. Once the reconstruction efforts are done both north and south of that section the big large mouth will be back in town.

I'm looking forward to a more active season this year with my buddy Frank since I'm closer now I hope we can get out more often.

Shark Fin Soup

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:18:00 +0000

Illegal fisherman are taking 70,000,000 shark fins per year killing that many sharks. This is decimating the entire shark population in the oceans which account for an entire ecosystem. If you're eating anywhere in the world and you see shark fin soup on the menu, please don't eat at that restaurant. If we don't buy it, they won't make it!

Cabela's

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:22:00 +0000

They have a massive selection of fishing gear at the Cabela's retail store. I would venture to say it's about 1/3 of their store's space. If you don't know what you're buying it may be a bit overwhelming but if you know it's a gold mine. I bet they have at least 3,000 rods alone to pick from. I think they have every lure manufacturer's goods on hand as well as fishing line. You could plunk down 1,000's easy. The prices aren't anything to write about but you get the selection.

Doing Well

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:50:00 +0000

I've caught all but 2 fish this year on lures. The last largemouth bass I hooked was on the surface at about 7:00PM while the sun was shining brightly on the lake. He was about 3 and a half pounds.

Laying Low

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:23:00 +0000

I took the weekend off for Thanksgiving and am back with some sort of throat cold. I'm going to lay low today and hopefully get a few new posts tomorrow.

Be well!

Happy Thanksgiving to All

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:17:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to All - go wet a line before dinner tonight!

Bamboo

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:04:00 +0000

Does anyone still make bamboo fishing rods?

Cabela's

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:57:00 +0000

I received a $10 off coupon in the mail from Cabela's yesterday. For the first time it doesn't have a minimum spend requirement to use it. Too cool. My gaming buddy is coming over this Saturday and I'm going to see if I can drag him over there early to spend my card.

Repaired Reel

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 23:45:00 +0000

I decided to take my ultralight reel apart since I've owned it for well over 10 years and figured it would need a degreasing of the gears along with some fresh oil on the bearings.

I get it apart and back together in a few hours - who would have thought there were 10,000 removable parts in an ultralight reel? I have 2 screws left over and now when I crank the handle there's a clicking noise it makes.

Wee!

25 pounds 1 ounce

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:36:00 +0000

Now there's a big bass!

World record size at 25 lbs+1oz. I'm not sure if I'd keep it or have to let it go. I'm leaning towards a bunch of pictures of it then let it go. I wouldn't have the heart to kill such a great animal.

Ultra light BaitCaster

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:12:00 +0000

Anyone besides my Uncle have the Berkley ultralight baitcasting rod & reel combo? This thing was sweet and I can't find it anywhere!

Fishing Season - The End

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 03:29:00 +0000

No more fishing this year. Considering I went out about 3 times this year it was no great loss. I probably won't get my license again until we're back in Bucks County.

Another Project

noreply@blogger.com (OuterBlogs - Mattman) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:36:00 +0000

I almost forgot about a fishing rod project I need to get moving on. I wanted to build one of those rod kits and since we're rolling into the home-bound Winter season soon this would be the best time to move on that.

Cabela's sells the kits at different levels so you can buy a cheap one for your first project and if it doesn't turn out right it's not so bad. They start out at about $45.00 or so, so I think it's time to pick one up. I'll post some pictures and keep the site posted on my progress once it's started.