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Sign in to chatFishing threads live and die on detail. Water temperature, clarity, time of day, and what the fish refused are worth more than a photo of the one that ate.
Use this board for gear questions, species ID, knot arguments, and trip reports. If you are new, say so — this is a good place to ask the basic question you got tired of googling.
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9 threads in Fishing
- EZEZD· 8/11/2026
Old Harbor, Alaska fishing — what actually worked for us
Focused fishing post from the Kodiak trip out of Old Harbor. We fished from a skiff and off the beach and the two experiences could not be more different. What worked: - Heavier gear than I would normally bring. Fish out there are bigger and the water is not gentle. - Simple presentations beat clever ones. Fresh bait and good depth control did most of the work. - Tide timing mattered more than lure choice. - A good pair of gloves saves your hands over a long day. What I would change: bring a backup rod, more leader material than seems reasonable, and a real fish bag rather than trusting coolers on a small boat. Anyone else fished Kodiak? I want to hear what you throw and when you go.
#alaska#kodiak#saltwater#trip-report#gear0replies - GRGraniteGus· 7/27/2026
Cheap rod, expensive reel or the other way around?
I put a decent reel on a $60 rod and it fishes better than the $300 combo I bought years ago. Where does the money actually matter to you? For me it is drag smoothness above everything.
#fishing#gear#budget2replies - IRIronRangeIvan· 7/27/2026
One lure to fish an unfamiliar lake all day
For me it is a 3.5 inch soft jerkbait on a weightless hook — I can fish it shallow, on a fall, or twitch it over grass. It has bailed me out on lakes I have never seen before. What is your one-lure answer?
#fishing#lures#bass2replies - CECedarCreekCarl· 7/6/2026
Water temp beats time of day almost every time
Kept a log for two seasons and my catch rate tracks water temperature far more closely than sunrise or sunset. Fifty-two degrees on a spring reservoir has been the magic number for me. Anyone else logging temps?
#fishing#tactics#data0replies - CUCutbankChris· 6/16/2026
Ice-out lake trout: shallow is not a myth
Caught three lakers in under eight feet of water in the first week after ice-out, all on a white tube jig. By June they were 60 feet down and much harder to find. Timing is the entire game with that fish.
#fishing#lake-trout#seasonal0replies - TATamarackTess· 6/10/2026
Backpacking rod setups — what survives the pack?
My four-piece packs fine but the tip section has broken twice getting stuffed under a tent body. Started carrying it in a hard tube strapped outside and the problem disappeared. Curious what everyone else uses on multi-day trips.
#fishing#backpacking#gear0replies - CECedarCreekCarl· 6/1/2026
Fly vs spin on small streams: what I actually carry now
After three seasons I gave up carrying both. Ultralight spin with tiny spinners outfishes my fly rod on tight brushy creeks by a lot, and I say that as someone who loves casting a line. Convince me otherwise.
#fishing#fly-fishing#trout0replies - QUQuietWaterQuinn· 4/23/2026
Switched to the FG knot for braid to leader and never went back
It takes twice as long to tie but it passes through guides without a click and I have not had one fail. The Alberto was fine until I started throwing heavier lures. Anyone still tying a double uni for anything serious?
#fishing#knots#braid0replies - HEHemlockHolly· 4/21/2026
Help me ID this fish from a Montana tailwater
Heavy shoulders, faint pink lateral stripe, small scattered black spots concentrated toward the tail. I called it a rainbow but my buddy says cutbow. Posting from memory since the photo did not survive the wading incident.
#fishing#trout#id0replies