Anyone fish from shore recently?

[Gordon]

Ihor, I use 17 lb. braid and 12 lb. leader. I bought two rod/reel combos from cabela's last year- Cabelas Pro-Guide 3000 spinning reel with 2 piece 9' MH action rod. I checked the website, they still have proguide combos for $70, but do not list the larger rod, looks like it might be backordered and I don't think they're doing the discount any more for the larger outfits. It is not in the same league as some of the equipment Ken mentioned, but for $70 I have no complaints so far. I should add part of the reason I went with heavier rod was to cast sawbellies from shore for walleyes. For spoons, you could go lighter like Ken mentioned- Gordon.

[KenH]

Ihor.
You probably will see me around. I'm usually shore fishing in the winter months
as long as the spoon doesn't bounce off the ice. Another reason not to go at the crack
of dawn in the winter time. 
Although... this year it may not happen.
As for the best line for casting, again your personal preference. Being old school, I used
nothing but Ande tournament green 6lb mono for decades. I then went to Stren magnathin
and now to P-line CX co-polymer. The cop-polymer is far more sensitive to strikes than mono because of the non-stretch properties. In fact if ever the manufacturers ever came up with a truly flexible strauight fluro that didn't fly off a spinning reel spool, I'd probably give that a shot as well.
For the same reasons if you prefer braid that's good too particularly because of the small diameter. However I'd recommend a fluro leader if casting for trout.
Ken
 

[Montrose]

All good advice pescador.  The only thing I can add is along w/ sunny afternoon days, fish into the wind.  Not as comfortable for you , but the windward side of the lake will have churned warmer water along that shoreline and even a 1-2 degree change can spark more bites.

I agree about windward fishing, it works under many different conditions. But I went out for a couple hours on Friday afternoon on Kensico and cast into the churned up waters (from the west bank into the windward side of the area I was in). I had a AMAZING follow by a HUGE laker or brown that I can only describe as a slab. My heart was pounding! He followed my kroc in very slowly. I tried to slow my retrieve down and the spoon stopped and fell to the bottom on a boulder. The fish took one more lazy pass and swam off. Try as I might, I couldn't raise anymore interest or hits, but I imagine I had at least the luck of seeing my quarry because I was in the "warmest" spot I could find. I also figure he was the only laker up on the shore---I would have KILLED for a live shiner under a bobber at that moment, hahaha. At this point, I'm just gonna wait for ice-out in mid March though.

I love that rush Brooklynite.  I find a fraction of a second pause and then a wrist jerk to speed the spoon up will initiate a strike more than slowing the spoon.  I guess it mimics the bait panicking when it realizes a predator is near.  Browns are spooky, but I have had the lakers respond to a quick 90* turn or figure 8 near the end of the retrieve with longer rods as well as a last ditch effort on followers. 

[Ihor]

Thanks Gordon, Ken

This fishing can get a little complicated so I'm just going to try and kep it simple.  Thanks for your advice and I'll experiment with your suggestions.  Just wish I had more time to go fishing.

Ihor

[Cny]

anyone going out tomorrow?

[John USAFvet]

Missed the great weather earlier this week. Will try to be casting Kensico this Thursday or Friday.
Yes, keeping it simple is always best.

[shawnhu]

Ken,

Did you catch the crazy sale from Dick's for the Shimano Stradics?  They were on clearance.  Upset that I was late, and they were sold out.

[KenH]

No I wasn't aware that Dicks ran a sale on them. LOL

[johnjav]

Is Dick's sporting goods fishing section any good?  I've been to a bunch of these stores and never am really impressed with what they have. 

[westputrout]

 its spotty the 1 up on rt 9 is ok  better than danbury sometimes     Wallmart is good  and Kmart

[westputrout]

 4  to  6  lb green TRYLINE  XL and a size 12  14 barrel swivel   BINGO

[KenH]

Dickl's opened up recently in White Plains as well as Ridge Hill Yonkers.
I've been to both. I think are both much better (more inventory) than
Sports Authority.

[westputrout]

 the sports authurity in dabury  mostly has good stiper and bass stuff   staff always says  [should have been here last week ]    lol

[Montrose]

Stopped for 30 min. this eve at a NYC lake.  Lost 1 brown on a rapala and had a follow on an in-line spinner and caught a huge fallfish that tricked me into thinking I had hooked the follower on follow up casts.  Just an FYI.  I think the front had them feeding. 

I saw both browns in case anyone asks how I know...Not huge, 16-18" or so.  Amazing how they can spit a 2 treble lure. 

Nothing on the krocs, so don't be afraid to switch...

[John USAFvet]

It all shows to persevere on shore fishing... hits will occur to the patient.  See you there!