Kemos and Parsons episode of the Next Bite on the Rock River is out. Show is on Waypoint TV app. I made it on the show, that’s my white van watching from the road at the start of the show.

Looks like typical early spring flooding with lots of debris and ice chunks. Water level already made top 10 high. Bait Box is selling bait out of the back of a truck.

Almost that time again.

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Kelly, we’re you getting your boat ready to put away for the year when I drove by or just cleaning it up from catching fish? That’s a nice looking boat.

Is 5 perch consistent enough to call a pattern?

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Hi Jeff, check your messages for my new phone number. Haven’t shared river secrets. I’ve been in the middle of the lake 99% of the times out this year. Getting occasional bonus perch but just 1-3 each time out. Never could get them consistently but they’re all jumbo when we do get one.

Shhh on the Salmo’s, they got most of our fish trolling. I’m not posting our favorite size, type or color though, I’ll save that info for when i next see you. Finally got walleye in the river yesterday also had a triple on big cats, boating two. I horsed the biggest one until it snapped my line, didn’t want to fight a cat for 30 min when walleye were biting.

Nice to hear from you Jeff, yep the fish are in the lake. I actually saw you and your new boat for the first time a couple weeks ago when we were zooming back from the lake but by the time I recognized it was you we were way past you. Still catching fish out there, never without keepers every time out and we fished a lot. We have moved off the rocks a month or so ago and keep finding fish, getting closer to Blackhawk Is now, hopefully they will be in the river again soon -it’s a pain when we have to launch at the bypass a putt putt all the way back from Kosh especially since we loose light so much earlier now.

I can agree the bite in the river never got started for me either since pre spawn. The weather conditions never cooperated when I had time to fish so I reverted to trolling too with the same results as Kelly pulling cranks. Pictured are a couple eaters from this month. Early July we were getting a few jumbo perch with fish like these, by mid month we were pulling in 5-10 lb catfish regularly, now the pike have been the aggressors but still getting a few walleye each time out.

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I got out last Friday fishing by 9:30. No bites until 12:30 then nailed a 16″ walleye on a Mister Twister and minnow. My buddy laid his rod down to start the water flow in the live well and his rod started bouncing. He pulled in a 15″ sauger. Only 2 bites all day. We quit at 1:30. Both fish caught near the green lanterns near Blackhawk Island. Yesterday partner caught a largemouth and one short walleye. One far up river and the other far down river. Didn’t see anybody else catching a thing.

Last Friday it looked like a couple guys were doing pretty good in the trees catching crappies.

I’ve been waiting for rain and cold weather to hopefully get things moving, here it is today! Seagulls have been busy eating baitfish off the surface so the food source is there.

I attempted to yak fish on the Bark River this morning but was completely discussed by the human filth left behind by previous anglers at Burnt Village. Someone caught 10 bluegills and discarded them right in the middle of the boat landing on the pavement along with whole raw chicken legs, garbage, half filled beverages and dog poop. Fortunately it had to have been fairly recent because it wasn’t at full stench yet. Just feet from the mess is a garbage receptacle. Thank you, you’re a disgusting piece of human trash. I’m embarrassed to know you’re a fellow angler.

Jeff, good job with league. Kelly, glad some of my tips helped you out but you were quick to learn. I got 8 walleyes myself between 17-19″ the last time I was out in my kayak then forced to take a break from walleye so I could eat a couple since I was at my possession limit. I used my river break to test out the small local paddle only lakes and got 5 nice largemouth bass on a popper last Wednesday between 17-19″ too. Yesterday it was bluegills as fast as I could keep bait on the hook. Next up smallmouth on the Bark. Variety is the spice of life in a kayak.

My English Pointer had a severe reaction to Nexgard and it nearly killed him. His health spiraled downward very quick until he completely went limp. He started to improve once we got him to vomit but it took days for him to fully recover. Trip to ER, follow-up vet visits, vet canned foods during recovery period, etc. got pretty expensive. He’s now using Frontline. I do find an occasional tick on him but they are not biting him, just crawling on him. I also got him vaccinated for lyme disease prevention.

Dang, it was nice early yesterday morning too before the wind kicked in. We did enjoy a nice Buck’s game Thursday night though. If we wouldn’t have gotten back so late I’d have been more willing to get out early. I probably could’ve fished the tourney today but it’s been a couple years since I’ve fished a full 8+ hour day. If your partner backs out again I’d be willing to give it a go, especially once schools out and my wife and kids are home to dog sit. Good luck with the league, using your new boat or partner’s?

Dan’s rod lengths and actions are right in line with the Mojo Bass specific series rods. The Mojo Bass series is newer than the Triumph series, priced about the same. If you like the Triumph you’ll equally like the Mojo’s, maybe even better as I do. My favorite was my Mojo Bass crankbait rod paired with a Pflueger President Low Profile Reel until I lost it off the side of the boat. I recently down graded my frog rod to a Medium-Heavy rod and my other rods to Medium Fast Action rods due to wrist weakness and carpal tunnel syndrome. I’m now throwing slightly lighter and smaller lures and spinnerbaits with equal results to take the strain or Heavy rods off my wrist and shoulder.

I’ve been happy with my St. Croix Mojo Bass rods for $100 each. St. Croix also has a new line of Bass X rods. Just got my first one a week ago. The Mojo Bass rods are imprinted with intended use. There’s a frog rod, crankbait rod, spinner bait rod, etc. If you don’t want to buy St. Croix at least look them up and look at the lengths and actions of each rod to compare with other rod makers for suggested actions for intended use. I suggest trying Seaguar Smackdown. I’ve never had a fish break off 15 lb test but the line is so thin and easy casting you can easily go up to 25 lb test and still easily cast it.

I cut a piece of styrofoam and shoved it in the gap and wrapped it with electrical tape to completely eliminate my rooster tail. It’s lasted years too.

I used to be a Fireline user but it seemed to deteriorate too fast. Then I tried Power Pro but it wasn’t smooth. I’m now using Seaguar Smackdown and so far I’ve found it easy casting, durable and thin. 15# test has the diameter of 4 lb mono. I’ve never used leader material in the past but do now, mostly for the stretch as a shock absorber using a surgeon’s knot to add about a 6-8′ leader with 8# fluoro. Since I use a fluorocarbon leader line color doesn’t matter, the line comes in green and hi-vis yellow. The green is the most popular and easy to find most places. I ordered mine on Amazon, however, if you can find it, I’d opt for a line you can see and buy the yellow if you can find it. If you don’t want to mess with a leader I’d use a more forgiving rod like a medium action instead of a fast action. I’ve always felt if there’s no stretch in the line I need a rod with more whip to it. The other problem with straight braid is you can’t see weak or nicked line and will only find out your line has a weak spot when a fish breaks it off. With a leader you can see or feel a bad spot and retie as needed.

Thanks KV, I have a few hours open to fish just about every day though now that I retired I’m turning into a fair weather angler. I got out 5 straight days at the end of February in my new kayak and haven’t seen a stretch of weather that nice since except for a week in Florida. Better days ahead.

I’m waiting for pics of the inaugural slim in your new boat.

For smallies I like a 1/8 oz melon Fin-tech (jigfish.com) Title Shot Jig with a 3″ green pumpkin Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw. My go to on lakes too. The wedge jig design rarely snags and easily pulls through rocks and weeds. If they don’t take that they’re not biting or I’m fishing where there isn’t fish. Berkley products are available on their website too with a $10 rebate on 4 bag purchases with free shipping. If I ever feel I need to try something different I’ll try a Baby Threadfin Shad Bomber Square A crankbait B05SLBTS and bounce it off rocks and cover.

Walleyes are a bit harder to find on shallow small rivers but by favorite is an orange/chartreuse 1/16-1/8 oz Fin-tech Knuckleball jig with a live leech.

Northern pike are fun too, try a spinnerbait with Colorado blades or a Rapala size 12 perch color X-rap. My dad’s saying is “It takes a perch to catch a pike.”

For a smallie/walleye rod I use a 6′ 6″ M fast action Fenwick Elite spinning rod with a Abu Garcia Orra SX30 spooled with 6# test Hi-Seas Grand Slam mono I bought on Amazon. The line is smooth and limp but strong for 6# line. The smaller line also allows me to use the same rod for gills, crappies, and white bass. Going up to 8 lb test does help with deterring lost jigs if I’m fishing 8-12 fow with a snaggy bottom.

Nice, you downsized to your retirement boat. You should be able to get in and out of that one easily in your old age. It looks like it’ll catch fish for you with little effort, now you’re going to need a better fillet knife.

Go to a sign or graphics making shop and have them printed on a decal sheet. I’m sure you can find something in your area going a google search. They can match the font and colors used on other lettering on your boat. I used Comac Signs and Designs in Janesville for my canoe. They perfectly matched my Wenonah lettering. I’d bet Comac could do your job by mail if you send them a photo of your boat.

the better half wrote:

Hacksaw Ridge was really good.

Manchester by the Sea had good acting but overall we thought it was boring. Also, the story line was never wrapped up. The movie just ended.

The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch was good.

I have heard that Hidden Figures and the Lego Batman movies are really good too but I haven’t seen them yet.

We regrettably watched Manchester By The Sea last night, not sure what the criteria is for Oscar nominations but that was the worst movie I’ve seen in quite some time. The Martian was surprisingly good. We also enjoyed Bridge of Spies. I found Willam Kelly’s War on Amazon I also liked a lot. We get most of our movies free from the local library so we’re a ways down on the waiting list for Hacksaw Ridge, it must be good based on the demand.

crappie55369 wrote:

thanks watisituya! that looks like a sweet setup. im looking to stay under $800 but if I come across some extra cash ill add that one to the list of ones I want to look at.

I still think you can find a comfortable sit on top for that price. Once I added rod holders and an anchor trolley my kayak ended up just over $600. Paddle was $129 and fishing NRS Chinook PDF was on sale for $65. My kayak is moss camo. Dry under deck storage fits rods and/or gun. I am going back to buy a gel padded seat cover cuz my butt gets a little damp, not as bad with scupper holes plugged, especially under the seat. I also have had back issues. My back is fine in it though my butt got a little sore first time out. The gel seat will help dryness and comfort but back problems are not an issue. Hardest part is standing up to get out after being out a few hours but think I’ll get used to that too, I’ve only used it 5 times so far. I bought my setup from Rutabaga in Monona WI. You can email or call them for advice too. [email protected] or http://www.rutabaga.com. Good, honest people with good advice. Easy one day road trip from the twin cities, done it lots, my son is in St. Paul.

I just made the switch from a 15′ canoe to a 10′ Perception Pescador fishing kayak. At just over $500 I’m surprised how well it tracks and how easy it is to paddle. My advice would be to start small. The ten footer completely fits inside my minivan so it’s a snap to take it out and quick to pack up for home. The advantage of starting small is to form your own opinion on your own needs. I got all kinds of advice. Of course sellers will want to push a $3000+ boat. By starting small you can judge what you like and dislike. I found my small boat seems to completely fit my needs. First time out I landed my limit of nice walleyes on a crowded river but I had no waiting line to leave at a boat landing. Going small and cheap also has the advantage of having a spare kayak to loan to a companion should you decide to get something bigger/pricier later. I’m already considering an additional kayak for my boys to share but doubt I will go bigger because of the ease to handle a 45 lb boat on shorelines.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

You’ll see just as many similar complaints about Frontline, Advantix, etc. Dogs react differently, so if your dog reacts to Nexgard, it doesn’t mean that others will.

So far, so good with Frontline though as suzuki mentioned it’s not foolproof. He still gets a couple ticks on him at times but they don’t seem to dig in or die while on him. Ticks love his black capped head especially. Next trick for us is finding a dog food he loves, firms up his poo, and gets rid of stinky farts. I’ve been feeding him Nutrena Loyall Professional. He never really loved it. I’ve been topping it with a scoop of cottage cheese that seems to have helped his digestion problem a little but still not completely. A few days ago I started mixing in Purina Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Rice. He seems to love it and dives right in, usually before I completely put the bowl down which is a positive change. Only time will tell if it clears up his intestinal tract. I’m getting tired of trying to pick up mushy stinky piles. Sure wish our neighbors would pick up their nicer easier to handle piles. What makes people think that because it’s cold and was dark early they don’t need to clean up after their pets?

https://www.amazon.com/Merial-Frontline-Control-88-Pound-Puppies/dp/B0002J1FOE/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1488469912&sr=1-1&keywords=frontline+plus+for+dogs

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Gregg Pfeifer wrote:</div>
My Pointer pup also had a severe reaction that nearly killed him. Symptoms were similar to what your dog experienced. We switched to Frontline without any more problems.

@databoy A severe reaction to what? Anaplasmosis is a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bites.

I gave him a Nexgard chew and shortly after he got lethargic, weak, couldn’t eat/drink and progressively got worse and worse. He got limp and I had to carry him to the car and cradled him on the way to the ER. My wife drove. Not liking round-a-bouts she took us around one erratically, my almost year old pup threw up on my lap. Part of the Nexgard came up with it and shortly after he rapidly improved in the ER though full recovery took several days while he was on a vet supplied canned food diet. His reaction was not from a tick bite. At 9 mo he got his first lyme vaccination. He’s a Pointer and it’s hard to keep his nose out of the tall grass. I live within the city limits and there’s as many ticks in town as he gets into in the deep woods of Marathon County in North-Central Wisconsin.

404 ERROR wrote:

Found one this last weekend walking my property in Rosemount. After experiencing Anaplasmosis with my GSP, I give him Nexgard year round, just in case. The dog was absolutely miserable for 2 days, couldn’t walk, eat, drink or even stand. He would soil himself while laying down he was so weak. Never again.

My Pointer pup also had a severe reaction that nearly killed him. Symptoms were similar to what your dog experienced. We switched to Frontline without any more problems.