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A late report...
Poor boat... Hasn't been out of the garage in over 3 months! Way to long... The wind being the primary enemy since it seems to blow like mad on the days I have off[:/]
Anyways, finally got a chance to get out there. Surface water temp was 52 when I launched and touched 55 by the afternoon hours. Air temp was in the 40s and tapped out in the low 60s by the afternoon. Almost shorts weather for me! The water level is up 11 feet since the last time I launched.
I'm not a huge fan of trolling but seeing as how all the reports I've read lately say bait is super hard to come by right now trolling was the only option since it is still too cold to get the LMB and SMB out of the depths.
Though I don't have downriggers I know of a few spots that have been productive over the years trolling w/o them and managed to get 11 before 11am. I went off to check some other areas and did attempt to catch a LMB/SMB with no luck calling it day by 1 or so.
Plenty of fillets for the weekend munchies. Already used up about a 1/4 of the catch after I got home with my daughters inhaling the majority... Note to self next time cook more so the cook gets some. lol I attached the batter recipe I have been using the last couple times to cook Stripers in oil. The batter/breading is the lightest breading I have ever seen. So light, crisp and YUMMY on white fleshy fish! My new favorite recipe and my daughters!
Tom
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We munched on Stripers several times for lunch last weekend and still had a bunch left over so I dipped all the remaining fillets/cut up pieces in the batter since I would have to toss it and placed all on a cookie sheet and into the freezer since I wouldn't get a chance to cook them for a week or so. (Didn't want to risk anything going bad being in the fridge well beyond 7 days.) After a couple hours they were solid enough to be bagged to continue to freeze up.
So this weekend I decided to see what my frozen creation tasted like. Not as fluffy and crunchy since the froze on batter is fairly thin verse just being dipped in batter and tossed into the oil. But still really good. Test pieces out of the way...
Wanting to do better I broke out a couple eggs and Panko. I've been dying to try Panko crumbs since a box has been in our pantry for several months and I have never tried cooking with it before. Talk about supppper good. Not sure if it was just the Panko alone or the combination with the froze on batter from last weekend... Regardless, suppper yummy and crunchy finger food. I had enough fillets left over to cover lunch yesterday and today for Madi and myself... All gone [crazy]
Tom
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Good job on the catch and the chef duties.
My main question is what brand and where did you get the rod holders?
Those are exactly the type Ive been looking for.
Thanks in advance for your reply.
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Nice report, what are you trolling? Deep crankbaits or minnows? Something else?
Also, try tempura batter, it comes pre mixed in a box and is dirt cheap in chinatown, just add water. Super light too. My favorite fish breading material is cracker meal. Basically ground up low/no sodium saltine/soda crackers.
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Scotty rod holders/products thoughout the boat.
I use this one for trolling and still fishing with Baitcasters:
[url "https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Powerlock-Black-Holder-Mount/dp/B001M4HT1G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099072&sr=8-1&keywords=scotty+rod"]https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Powerlock-Black-Holder-Mount/dp/B001M4HT1G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099072&sr=8-1&keywords=scotty+rod[/url]
I use this one for still fishing with spinning reels:
[url "https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Baitcaster-Spinning-Holder-without/dp/B004O0DR48/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099072&sr=8-2&keywords=scotty+rod"]https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Baitcaster-Spinning-Holder-without/dp/B004O0DR48/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099072&sr=8-2&keywords=scotty+rod[/url]
And a couple of these for flyrods...
[url "https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Holder-Mount-model-265/dp/B001M4HT3Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099960&sr=8-1&keywords=scotty+fly+rod"]https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Holder-Mount-model-265/dp/B001M4HT3Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099960&sr=8-1&keywords=scotty+fly+rod[/url]
Regardless of either choice be sure it comes with the "newer" styled mount. A TON better/nicer than the older style that one has to slip the rod holder or extension in 180 out and twist to position. Especially when one is using the Scotty extension.
[url "https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Locking-Side-Mounting-Bracket/dp/B001M4HT2K/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099246&sr=8-14&keywords=scotty+mount"]https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Locking-Side-Mounting-Bracket/dp/B001M4HT2K/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099246&sr=8-14&keywords=scotty+mount[/url]
The Scotty extensions are more expensive than a entire holder/mount kit... But worth it to me. If two of us are in the boat I run the extensions on the forward mounts on both sides and keep the rear two holders at gunwale level.
[url "https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Rod-Holder-Extension-Nylon/dp/B001M4HT3E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099077&sr=8-2&keywords=scotty+extension"]https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Rod-Holder-Extension-Nylon/dp/B001M4HT3E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487099077&sr=8-2&keywords=scotty+extension[/url]
Tom
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Semi deep cranks and swimbaits on 1-2oz weighted swimbait hooks.
I have a Tempura mix that utilizes Sprite or 7-Up as the primary mixer along with pancake mix and some other stuff. Super good too but the one posted above, which is kind of like a Tempura, everyone in my house voted for/prefers over that one.
Always options... Club soda can be a pain to get since most corner stores don't carry it and I have to haul tail for Lees or big grocery store to get.
Tom
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Thanks Tom
As always great info!!!
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