Friday Fishing Tips – Jeff Gross

by Jeff Gross, feature writer

Photo: Brady & fish

With the fish biting well from Maine to Pennsylvania, it is time to mention an often-overlooked aspect of fishing. Having more than 1 fishing rod in possession.  It is always the case in this writer’s life that if something can break or go wrong it will. 

While out Pheasant hunting one time, and my Golden Retriever was flushing birds left and right, the stock of my shotgun broke. Needless to say, that ended that hunting trip that day. My Golden looked at me as if to say: “what do you mean we are heading home? The birds are flying everywhere!” 

Needless to say, I now carry a backup shotgun just in case. (Note: Said Shotgun is in a hard case and locked). So, when the fish are biting like mad it helps to have a secondary rod and reel on hand. Also, under RI law one is allowed to fish with 2 rods at one time. This columnist will put bait on one rod and use a lure with the other to get an idea of what is on the fish’s menu that day. Also, one can have a lure on the other rod, instead, to alternate back and forth between lure styles to accommodate changing conditions. 

Tip 1 – Carry a second rod with you as the first can break and that will inevitably happen when the bite is at its best. Brady who caught many bass a few days ago (including the 19″ largemouth pictured) did not need a secondary fishing rod. Brady apparently has much better luck than the author.

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For you fishermen that trailer your bass boat alone like this author does: Side arms for the trailer are recommended. July 4th they went under sea trials and the side arms performed well even in windy conditions. Backing the trailer down the boat ramp is also made easier.  The side arms normally mount on the top of the trailer rail.  Due to the design of my trailer I needed to install the side arms underneath the rail. 

This is where Metal Supermarkets (177 Chestnut St, Warwick, RI 02888) comes in. Needed were specific size aluminum plates to mount the arms securely under the trailer rail.  Shivani and Kyle were extremely helpful in getting the parts fabricated and the outstanding detail to point out is they had the parts ready in 30 minutes. It took longer to drive from Tiverton (on the other side of the state for you West Bayers) to pick up the parts, than it did for them to produce the parts. Outstanding job folks! Metal Supermarkets’ prices were slightly cheaper than contacting the side arm company and then waiting 2 weeks for delivery from the side arm company.

Tip #2 & #3 – If you trailer a boat alone or with a friend, keep trailer side arms in mind and if one needs metal parts for any project: Metal Supermarkets is the place to have them made. Note: Just before publishing this article it was found out that numerous friends have had great success with Metal Supermarkets as well.

Good fishing weather this weekend… good luck! Send us your fish-pix – [email protected].

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Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.

Jeff is the Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”. 

Jeff is a RIFGPA Legislative and Legal Officer, Freshwater Chairman, NRA Liaison.

His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, and Whimsical.

He can be reached at: [email protected]