Gear Time part 1

I have been wanting to post a list of gear that I have been using and how I use them for a while now. Finally getting around to it. This is just going to be a list of my spin fishing gear, the fly fishing gear will be in the next gear post. So let's get started.

I have several spin fishing rods that I have accumulated over the years of fishing. Even with all those rods, I have my go to rods that I've been using for my Bass adventures lately.

Fishing Poles / Rods 

   Brand                              Model                                Length               Action                   Pieces              Abu Garcia                       Super 7                               7.0 ft             Med Heavy                  1
   Abu Garcia      Harold Ensley Signature Series         6.0 ft                  Med                         2


Reels

Brand                                 Model                              Line                              Test
      Shimano                          FX2000FA         Shakespeare Xtra Tough            6lb
   Guangwei                          GSO25                        Power Pro                         10lb


Baits


Brand                          Style                             Type                         Color                                  
Strike King            Soft Plastic                     Worm                Watermelon red/ green/ pumpkin
Spro                            Frog                        Bronzeye 65          Leopard/ Midnight Walker
Snagproof                  Frog                                                          Green / White

Hooks

Brand                         Type                          Size
 Eagle  Claw        Wide Gap Worm         2/0-3/0




So that is a list of my go to spin fishing gear as of lately. It's been producing a lot of results.
            
I've been rigging the worms weightless and weedless. I toss it out and let it sink to the bottom. Then I give a couple of quick jerks and let it sink back to the bottom and repeat and so on. This really produces a lot of fish for me. However, they seem to be a little smaller than the ones I get on the frogs lately.
The Spro frog I use a couple of different techniques. I cast it out and on the retrieve I either "walk the dog" or work it almost like a popper. A couple good tugs and let it sit for a few seconds, give it a twitch and a couple more tugs. The Spro seems to bring out the biggest fish for me. The Snagproof frogs I only work as I would poppers. 
I also carry an ever changing and random assortment of swim baits.

Random gear list
I always have my head lamp on me when I'm fishing just in case. I have the Petzl Tikka Plus. It's been with me for several years now. They really take a lickin'. I've never had a problem with it other than being to forgetful to change the batteries regularly.

I always have a pair of needle nose pliers with. Ya never know when you'll need them to unstick that hook.

I  have a scale with me as of lately.

Polarized sunglasses are a must!! Spend some money on some good glasses. They say it makes a difference. So when you go out and buy some, let me know if it does lol  I always buy the $5 sunglasses from walmart.

I always have my weather radio on me. A poncho, small first aid kit, good hiking shoes, fishing hat and SEVERAL POCKET KNIVES. I don't know why, or when that started.

Here are some pictures,

Spro

These have been working the best for me

Snagproof

Random swim baits for today

Got this guy today

using this guy

Alright that's if for this post. Till next time
Tight Lines,
 Woolly Buggin

I hit the magical mystery pond again today. Got there around 7pm, it was roughly 85 degrees out and we had a front coming through later on at night. Thought it might be good fishing today( like I always do lol)............. and I was right. I got there and someone was already fishing in the spot I like to start at. So we talked a bit and then I went down the way a bit. I got about ten casts in and I hear him yell my name. I run over and he has on what turned out to be a 13in crappie! Pretty solid!! He was using a wacky rigged worm. I took a couple pictures on his phone for him and then we fished together for about five minutes and he left. I still hadn't caught anything. I started tossing out a Spro Frog and within an hour and a half I landed 5 largemouth. One was landed on a plastic worm and the rest were on the frog. I love top water action. Anyway the one on the worm was 13". I got 2- 17" and realized that I left my camera in the car when I caught the first one but was too lazy to go get it. I caught an 18" and decided if I catch anymore I need pictures cause no one's gonna believe this. So I went all the way back and got the camera. (Think its time to upgrade and get a camera phone) I got back and there wasn't much light left at this point, but 4 casts later I landed the last fish of the night. The best part is, it was 20" , just 5 lbs. And I got pics  :-D   Always a good way to finish out a day!!!

The SPRO Frog really seems to bring out the bigger fish

20"    5lbs

Till next time,
Tight Lines,
Woolly Buggin

July Fishing

So, I have been out fishing quite a bit lately. I haven't  had a whole lot of time to write. So today I decided to take the day off from fishing and catch up with whats been going on.I have been pretty faithful to fly fishing since I first started in the spring of 2010. I've seriously only taken out the spinning gear a hand full of times since then, with the exclusion of ice fishing. Well, I have kept running into to an old friend of mine the most random places and we have been talking about fishing for a little over a year now. Well a couple  weeks ago we finally got around to it and we have been fishing together almost everyday since. The first time we went out I took out the fly rod and he brought his spinning gear. I have to say, I was re-enthused about the spinning gear. So since that day I've been leaving the fly rods in the car and trying out some new techniques with the spin gear. For instance, I've been using an assortment of top water frogs. I never fished with them before now. I have to say it's a lot of fun and frustrating at the same time. I miss more than I catch this way. But when I actually land them, It's been worth the frustration. Seems like these frogs really bring out the bigger fish. I have caught several fish in the past couple weeks, but since I've got back to spin fishing the fish have gotten a lot bigger. Ok, enough rambling. Here are some pics

Just so you know, the bass to the left and the bluegill below were both caught on a size 6 popper I tied. So, it isn't a small bluegill, just a big fly. Greedy little fish

I caught a birthday cake fish too since I last wrote

I also did a little bit of skateboarding

Just thought this was cool. There was a natural rainbow effect in the cloud

And this is the fatty of this season so far.

This fish put up and awesome fight.

I guess that is it for now. I'd like to talk about the gear I'm using soon. So, maybe that'll be in one of my next posts.
Till next time, Tight Lines,
Woolly Buggin

A Family Hike

A few days ago, I took Noah and the Wifey to the Forest Preserve for a quick hike. We had picked up a baby carrier backpack about two weeks ago and had been wanting to get out and try it. I was really hoping that the little guy would like it. I bought the carrier from a guy at the flea market a couple weeks ago. He bought it at the flea market that day and walked around with his daughter in it for about a half hour. She wouldn't stay in the carrier any longer than that. I offered to buy it from him. We agreed on a fair price and the carrier was ours!!

  So we went out to Rubio Woods in hopes of a nice short hike. We get there and the it was nice and overcast. Thought it would be perfect. I took out the carrier, put Noah in it and we all hit the trail. However, in my excitement I forgot to put insect repellent in the Jeep. Only got to hike for about five minutes on the trail and decided to head back to the Jeep. Mosquito's were pretty thick and very hungry. If it was just me I wouldn't really care, but since the wife and the baby were with it wasn't cool. Anywho, took a couple pictures and here they are.........

 They are all pretty much pictures of Noah,
Getting loaded into the carrier and getting carried with the exception of the one family shot.

If you can't tell, I'm a very proud pappa

The only family shot we got that day that Noah would look in the direction of the camera

On the trail for just a few minutes

Well I hope you enjoyed this,
Because I sure did even though we were only out for a little while.
Till next time,
Tight Lines-Woolly Buggin'

Weekend Trip To Camp Kellogg in Woodland, MI

  Howdy!!
    Time for another installment of Woolly Buggin'. I've been meaning to post this up, but I've been super busy. This trip was actually last weekend. We left for Michigan on Friday the 17th and came back home on that Sunday. I didn't get as many pictures taken as I had originally planned, but I think I have enough to make a decent post. So, this was the first Camping/Fishing outing for my whole little family. That's right, It was the Wife, the little guy, my sister and me. We got off to a little bit of a late start due to my adventurous idea that I could load up my sisters truck with everyone's gear with no problem. The problem was that my sis offered to transport a mini fridge to Michigan on the way up. So it was a tough time packing. However about an hour and a half later two tie downs strapping a cooler to the roof and a seriously full back end of a Trail Blazer and we were off!! Ended up getting to the destination well before dark. I got the tent set up in a few minutes and it was time to let the weekend of relaxing begin.
   Anna and Kim host several camping functions on their land every year. There are 187 acres of beautiful country they own in Woodland, MI and they are gracious enough to share it with all who would come. A truly great couple of people I feel very blessed to have the chance to know. They really couldn't be more welcoming. I could go on  and on about them, but I would like to keep this story rolling. There are three lakes on the land at Camp Kellogg and there are plenty of fish. They have a variety of boats for all to use whether  it's a pedal powered pontoon just to go out for a nice ride on the lake at sunset, or the large pontoon with a quiet trolling motor for fishing - to Kayaks and john boats they have it all and don't mind sharing. There are a lot of fish in the lakes on their land. I lost count of the Largemouth Bass and Bluegill I caught just because there were so many. I used some new poppers I tied on the ride out there, and they were awesome!! Very pleased with them. So much, that I think I am going to start selling them on eBay.
  I went out the first night just from shore and didn't get any action. But got up early Saturday morning and took out the pontoon with the trolling motor and it was game on!  Got several Bass in the 12" to 15" range, and one 17 incher. I even had some crazy bluegills attacking my size 6 popper. That was pretty funny. I don't know what they were thinking. Anywho, all in all it was a great trip. Noah loved sleeping in the tent, being on the boat, playing in the grass, sitting around the campfire and just all around being outside. On the other hand I probably should have been a little better prepared/equipped with gear to make the trip a little easier on Liz. I don't think she had as much fun as Noah and me because of that. But I know for next time what I should bring.
   Well it's that time again for pictures. I hope you enjoy them!! Wish we had taken more. Oh well, here they are..................

Noah and Me shortly after arriving at Camp Kellogg

The Family on the pedal pontoon

First catch of the trip

Noah taking a dip in the lake with Me

There were a ton of fish just waiting for me

And I was happy to catch em!!!

The Bass were really going bonkers for my poppers

Literally just gobbling them up!!

Part of the camp grounds were being used by other people in campers

Just a nice shot of Lake number 1

The wife took some pictures of me fishing

I did pretty good in the Lilly pads

Noah wanted to watch me fish too

Campfire on night #2

                    
                           As always, all fish were released to be caught another day when they are bigger!!

Last fish of the trip

 So, on the way home we decided to take some pictures. Just happened to see a really cool 50's RV on the road and had to snap a few shots......

I thought it was really cool

The Fam on the car ride home

Also stopped in Pullman, Michigan at the Dutch Farm Market.

 Normally when we stop in Pullman it's later in the season and we get THE BEST peaches ever!! I seriously think they might grow the best peaches on earth............  I'm just sayin.............
But with that being said, we come to the last pictures of this adventure.  We stopped at an A&W/KFC in Chesterton, Indiana for a bite to eat cause the little guy was hungry.  And we had a little fry eating contest...............  

Noah & Me about t have a fry eating contest

 Of course Noah wins!!!

 Well, I hope you have enjoyed!! Thanks for reading!!
Until next time.......... Tight Lines,
Woolly Buggin'