Recently the gf and I have been going fishing to relax on our days off. I've been keeping a pair of leather gloves in my pack for handling the fish while I remove the hook. Back when I was a kid I got stabbed by a bluegill's dorsal spines so I'm not looking to repeat that ever. The ultimate goal here is to catch us dinner here and there, but not all the fish are big enough, or are outside of the local advisories. I've been doing a lot of reading up on humane practices for catch and release, and saw that handling the fish without pre-wetting whatever you handle them with can damage their skin slime. Do you think leather is sufficiently non absorbent once pre-wetted to avoid this? Thanks!

--
by Kriskodisko13

The wife and I went out for a couple hours this afternoon fished till after dark. Had 4 nice Smallmouth and a 3 pound Largemouth. Both of didn't take phone so I didn't get any pics. The fish were holding shallow over 12 to 15 ft of water in the back end of coves. They were all holding on blow down trees and blasting a buzz bait reeled on top over the trees. With the clear water here we could see them coming after it and that's always fun. sorry about the no photos I'll be sure and pick up the phone next time.
While we were coming back, in the dark she ask how I could see to run in the dark? told her I guess I been doing it so long now I've developed an internal sonar. Don't think she bought it.
Wind is starting to pick up here off hurricane Sally, they're calling for up to 30mph tomorrow.

When i fish the surf

1 11 foot 6 to 16 ounce baitcaster rod for heavy water like 8 foot surf.

2 11 foot 4 to 12 ounce spinners for fishing at night and backup

1 11foot 4 to 12ounce baitcaster which is my goto rod for surf

1 10 foot 1 to 4 ounce spinner for throwing most plugs, metal and jigs.

1 11 foot 2 to 6 ounce spinner for throwing 4 ounce plus plugs

1 7 foot mh spinner for close in fishing like speckled trout or sea mullet. Also good for light spoons.

They all go in my cooler rack and in a pinch will just fit inside my Tahoe for security if I don't have a passenger

Decades ago, I ran across this while visiting the VietNam Memorial at Angel Fire, New Mexico. The memorial was built by the efforts of a Father whose Son was lost in the War. It was his way of paying tribute to his Son, who fought alongside a good friend of mine. The following was left there by a visiting Veteran...unknown. As Memorial Day approached and remembering that Viet Nam was a war fought primarily by teenagers, I felt compelled to post it on OPP. I am posting it again, here on FS, just as it appeared at the Angel Fire Memorial.

'LOSS OF INNOCENCE'

We were children.
Patriotic, brave children.
Innocent of Honor.

All too soon,
We were forced to grow up,
To face danger and bloodshed.
Terrors, real and imagined,
Waited there in the dark.
But, grimly determined,
We stood our ground,
Though the reason got lost
In the fight.

And we were proud!
Then we came home....
Some of us whole and some of us not,
And no one cared.

All these years we've stumbled along,
Bewildered and lost, remembering,
And lonely...
Scorned, ridiculed and ignored,
For something out of control.

And now we're men...
Hardened and inside ourselves.
But it's not too late,
Won't you try and understand?
We were just children.