[Jason_B]

Cool trip.

I wanted to ask about why using the XL’s. Is it to make up for the extra “body” that the marsh demons have? Or you just like that jighead in general? I usually just tie on the regular death grips but have a few XL’s lying about that I’m wondering if I need to give more attention to.

[Jason_B]

You showed that kid a good time. Thats awesome.

It’s a whole new ballgame bringing those fellas. I’ve learned to prioritize their comfort and happiness, and then after that try to catch a few. All the adults I know who don’t like hunting or fishing say it’s because they used to go with their dads and it was too early, too cold, and too long and boring. My kids know when they come with me it’s party time; unlimited snacks, sprites, Nintendo switch, dog man books, fidget toys, warm clothes, heaters. And when I say “one more cast then we’ll go” I keep my word, and that’s the hardest part. They don’t care as much about 15 in the box as we do so it’s just best to go with what they feel like doing. All that because I want them to want to go next time.

[Jason_B]

Cool pontoon. Thats awesome.

[Jason_B]

“I also look forward to teaching rocket scientists how to catch pea-brained speckled trout. lol”

Or maybe you already have been. Bechtel’s ML2 project had quite a bit of engineering overlap with the oil and gas crowd in the gulf south. Mostly out of Houston but a few of us out of Louisiana.

In any case, I’d put our local oil and gas engineering folks up against the aerospace brains day of the week.

Maybe that’s why we’re so stubborn.

[Jason_B]

Thanks for the report. My biggest fishing challenge is trying to figure out when to deposit or withdrawal “dad equity”, measured in hours. This report helps.

Hope the air was crisp for yall at launch time. Nothing like that first little nippy feeling.

[Jason_B]

@Devin

Do you still like mono for jigging deep in heavy current? Say with a 3/4 or 1 oz jig?

I’m thinking about trying braid on one of my heavy rods for this for two reasons. 1. Less current and wind drag on thinner diameter line and 2. Less stretch since I’ll have more total length of line out there.

To qualify 2 a little more and relate it to something I know about, the equation for total elongation, or “stretch” is PL/AE. P is force, L is length, A is cross sectional area (of the line) and E is modulus of elasticity of the line (how much it deforms when you pull on it). For deep jigging we are naturally increasing L. A moves a little but not a ton as compared to L or E. But E moves a lot from mono to braid (less stretch). So the increased stiffness could make up for the extra length.

I could see braid negating itself once you get a head shaking trout with a 1 oz jighead near the boat though.

About to go get a spool of j-8 30# to find out but bringing the thought to the experts.

And yes, I know HDS is probably preferred in these conditions.

Edit to add background and context. I keep things simple and use 15# mono on all my bait casters and 15# braid on all my spinning reels. Usually when I deviate from that I cuss myself for it.

• This reply was modified 1 week, 6 days ago by  Jason_B.

[Jason_B]

Might be worth studying whatever the impacts were to Cape Canaveral in the 60’s and 70’s. I know that present day wildlife and marine life don’t seem to mind the rockets. The buffer zone doubles as a wildlife refuge and there is a pretty strong fishing community over there.

As far as impacts to people, everyone I’ve talked to from Lafayette is excited about it. But also, every one of them is an engineer whose career will get a boost from it. The fabricators down the road are pretty excited too.

[Jason_B]

The weather is weather. I might go see what’s doing around the southshore of lake p sunday evening in my slickers if the wind lays down.

[Jason_B]

I’ve been checking in on Seabrook lately with a hds and jig before work and talking to people and it’s not quite on yet.

[Jason_B]

[Jason_B]

I think it’s a very well digested finger mullet or similar fin fish. Thickest part of the meat just not digested yet. Can kind of see the bloodline.

[Jason_B]

I’ve caught with rat tails on 3/8 or better jighead in the lake p reefs or seabrook. I think sometimes it’s more about presentation (in the right part of the water column vs. lure action) that counts. If you’re having trouble finding bottom then going from a paddle tail to a rat tail can help you get deeper without changing jighead weights.

Edit: Taking inventory just now, I got a chewed up Dudley rat tail on a 1/2 oz jighead that I need to scrap and retie.

• This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by  Jason_B.

[Jason_B]

Yea, I was pretty sure that wasn’t a novel idea of mine. Thanks for doing the legwork. Looking forward to the finished product.

I don’t know what kind of rapport you have with this guy but the marker 54 lure company was apparently named after a fishing hole inside the Kennedy space center. https://www.marker54.com/aboutus.php?srsltid=AU7gw4VBY9CTf2USanhJ0uCYKUkwQIG2tlKxzGuU-WVf7d1nOzBoVSEV

[Jason_B]

$4.86/gal for non ethanol in my part of town.

[Jason_B]

https://www.amazon.com/Plugger-Wade-Fishing-Gulf-Coast/dp/0896725103