by JD on September 2, 2010
Well, I admit, I kinda just needed an excuse to post this classic shot of Ava Gardner, the original “Woman in Waders from filmnoirphotos. Seems like the Hollywood hotties back in those days were a little more willing to get a little fish slime under their nails than they are today. But I digress…It’s time for another round of Ask JD. This one comes from Chris L, who’s looking to emerge from the dark ages :)
JD, I’ve had my current BARE neoprene waders for about 10 yeas now and I think its finally time to retire them. I was looking into getting some breathable waders but don’t know what brand to get. I’m sure you have gone through your fair share and wanted to see if there was a brand that you favor over others. I’m also a pretty big guy (6′7″ with a size 15 shoe) and might need to get some custom made so if you have any recommendations I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Hey Chris…ten years outta one pair, eh? Either you don’t get out much or BARE makes some seriously bad ass waders! [click to continue…]
Shorter oars help in these situations...
JD, I have a 16-foot wide-bottom drift boat. I have 9-foot wooden oars and am considering purchasing new ones. What do you think about 10-foot oars on a boat that size…will they give me more power or will they be too long?
Thanks, Lee [click to continue…]
Hi JD-
I just read the article about your experience at Bruin Ranch – sounds awesome. I’m a big fan of bass fishing on such smaller lakes/ponds with no motor boats and the local example I really like is Lake Francis near Oregon House/Dobbins off Hwy 20 between Nevada City and Yuba City.
I’ve long been looking for something similar to Bruin Ranch or Lake Francis where the bass fishing is good and it’s great for a float tube or maybe my Seyvlor inflatable Fish Hunter with a small electric motor – no motorized boats allowed.
Question: Do you know of anything similar to Bruin Ranch or Dobbins’ Lake Francis, within 150 miles of Sacramento?
Thanks and take care! –Jerry
Hey Jerry, have you ever tried Rancho Seco Lake? Some HUGE bass in there and no motors!
JD, I just moved to southern California and I looking for fishing suggestions at the beaches. I got no problem with getting wet, was even thinking about a kayak. What do you think?
–Damon
Well, there’s some pretty darned good perch, corbina and croaker fishing to be had on the beach right around the Santa Monica Pier if you can believe that. It’s more of a summer thing, but you can get halibut there too. Just north of Malibu are some nice beaches and Leo Carillo is always good. If y ou get a kayak, head for Newport Harbor/Balboa Island for some sweet sand bass action on plastics. Good luck!
JD,
I would like to start a guide service for folks with limitations on Shasta Lake…can you tell me where to start with permits or what is needed to start such a service?
Thank you, Cat
Cat,
Start with a boat, then get a guide license through the Department of Fish & Game, a $10,000 surety bond, insurance and you’re good to go. I don’t think you need a Coast Guard License for Shasta, but I’d check to be sure. Good luck!
by JD on February 16, 2010
JD, What’s your take on touching bait and tackle with bare hands when fishing for steelhead ? People wearing rubber gloves to wipes and sprays. Where really is the fine line at before being wasteful of the enjoyment and the time out fishing ?
–Wade
Wade,
I tried wearing rubber gloves one season…both in Alaska and back home in the Lower 48. All I can say is it was a miserable experience…my hands were a mess! They’d sweat like crazy on hot days and then I would get water in the gloves at some point. Between the sweat and H2O, my hands would end up super white and clammy at the end of the day…and smelling worse to the fish than had I just gone “el natural.”
Plus, tying knots and feathering a baitcaster with Latex on is a royal pain. Nope, not a big rubber glove fan here!
Instead, I will wash my hands in lemon dish soap prior to fishing and then, if the bite is really tough, I may wipe a little shrimp gel between my palms (the wife’s really happy about that one!) to get a little masking scent going.
I agree, if you get too caught up it it all, you start to miss the point…
by JD on January 24, 2010
Hey JD,
Spring hopefully is on the way and I’ve got a question for you. One of my friends is really hot on crappie fishing, so much in fact that we have a little wager going now. He doesn’t fish much in the ocean for lincgod and I have never fished for big crappie before. We are going to go head to head on either of these specie. My question is , where in hell can I find some big crappie and how do I catch them? I have started looking on the internet but then I thought about you. You answered a question I had awhile back about rainbows over 16 inches in the sac system. Can you help me out buddy?
–Craig D.
Craig, well normally I’d say you can catch some huge ’slabs at Clear Lake in February and March, but the fish are in a down cycle there now. Black Butte Reservoir has always been a hot crappie producer, though I haven’t heard much out of there this season. Camp Far West is another good bet.
Find some submerged cover near deep water and drop small live minnows or white crappie jigs (1/34-ounce size). Good luck!
by JD on November 5, 2009
JD,
I’m 13 years old and love to fish for salmon and steelhead. I do most of my fishing on the upper Klamath. The late winter steelhead can be very picky and I was wondering if you’ve ever used pink plastic worms up here?
Thanks, Eric
Hey E,
Many 13 years old and catching salmon and steelhead…sweet! At your age, most of us hadn’t yet graduated from bluegill! Anyway, yes pink worms can be very good for late season steelies. I’m not sure how you like to fish, but I have done well drifting them with a Slinky. Perhaps even better for the upper Klamath, which as you know, can be pretty snaggy, try fishing them under a float. If you can get somebody to take you out in the drift boat, backtrolling them behind divers is also deadly. Good luck! Here’s a video that may help get you started: RIGGING PINK WORMS FOR STEELHEAD
