Project Reclamation: Week 1 in the Books

 

My Notes:

Date: March 7, 2026

Theme: Consistency is the Compound Interest of Fitness

We talk a lot about "getting back to it," but actually doing the work is a different beast. This week marked the official start of Project Reclamation 2026. The goal is simple but demanding: I want to look and feel like the version of myself I remember before COVID hit, and the first goal is to stay consistent through the end of April 2026 and see if I can maintain the great habits from the past.  We have to show that committed and driven attitude.

The Foundation: Discipline

It’s not just about what happens under the iron. This week, I implemented a strict rule: No alcohol, Monday through Friday. Clearing out the mid-week fog has made a tangible difference in how I show up to the gym.

The Weekly Log (March 2 – March 6)

Every session this week was built around a solid cardio foundation, typically 30–60 minutes of incline or flat treadmill walking, followed by targeted lifting.

Monday: The Wake-Up Call (night session)

Cardio: 1 hour (Treadmill)

• Tricep Pushdowns (Hi-pulley): 4 sets (Progressive overload)

• Bent Over Single Arm Rows: 4 sets (35–50 lbs)

• Finishers: V-bar and Rope pushdowns (lighter weight for volume).

• Shoulders: Single Arm Inverse Flies (15–20 lbs).

• Note: This session honestly shocked my body. I was yawning because my body was used to going to sleep at this time ;)

Tuesday: Bench & Biceps (night session)

• Cardio: 55 mins (3.0 – 3.3 mph)

• Barbell Bench Press: 4 sets (up to 225 lbs)

• Superset: Dumbbell Curls (30–35 lbs) with Bench Press.

Wednesday: Active Recovery (night session)

• Cardio: 55 minutes of steady-state treadmill work.

Thursday: Shoulder Reclamation (night session)

I haven’t worked shoulders consistently in a year or two. I kept this controlled—no need to blow them out yet, just getting blood into the muscle.

• Cardio: 30 mins (3.3 mph)

• Military Dumbbell Press: 6 sets (20 lbs → 45 lbs)

• Standing Dumbbell Shoulder Flies: 4–5 sets (20–30 lbs)

Friday: The Volume Session (night session)

• Cardio: 30 mins (3.1 mph)

• Chest Fly Machine: 3 sets (slow, controlled, focusing on the squeeze).

• Dumbbell Bench Press: 4 sets (up to 85 lbs).

• Superset: Hexbar Shrugs (100 lbs).

• Back/Arms: Lat Pulldowns, Close Grip Cable Pull-downs, and Preacher Curls (50–60 lbs).

Key Takeaways

1. The Mind-Muscle Connection: I’m focusing hard on the concentric and eccentric phases, especially on chest days. I’m chasing the pump, but with form first.

2. The "Slow Start" Strategy: Reintroducing shoulder work gently was the right call. I didn't exhaust them crazily; I just woke them up.

3. The Feeling: The lat pulldowns and preacher curls felt really good this week. That physical feedback is exactly what I need to keep the fire going.

The Bottom Line: Five days down, plenty more to go before end of April 2026. If you’re on your own reclamation journey, let’s get it.

The Christmas Eve Gift: Cracking the Winter Code

Date: December 24, 2025

Location: Neighborhood Pond

Conditions: 57°F, Overcast, Light Wind

Water Temp: Low 40s (Cold!)

There is a specific kind of stillness that settles over the Midwest right before a weather shift. Today, Christmas Eve, felt like a gift from the atmosphere. While we should be shivering, we’re sitting in the middle of a strange, beautiful warm front. It hit 57 degrees today with heavy gray skies, and they’re calling for 67 tomorrow. But I know the deal—the "real" winter is lurking just behind the weekend, waiting to drop the hammer.

I knew I had a small window, so I headed down to the neighborhood pond for a solo mission. This pond can be notoriously tight-lipped when the water temps are in the 40s, but I wasn't just there to fish; I was there to learn.

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The Experiment: The "Dying Dance"

Lately, you can’t look at a tournament scorecard without hearing about the jighead minnow. It’s the darling of the Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) world, but I wanted to see if I could make it work from the bank, purely on feel and intuition.

The Rig:

• Jighead: 3/16 oz 6th Sense (90-degree eyelet).

• Plastic: Zoom Fluke in the 'Houdini' color.

• The Connection: A Loop Knot.

I can't stress the loop knot enough. If you tie this bait tight to the eye, you kill the soul of the lure. The loop knot allows that jighead to swing and pivot, giving the fluke that erratic, shimmying action that looks exactly like a shad on its last leg.

The Technique: I’m still far from a pro at the retrieval. It’s a delicate balance—you want to retrieve it slowly through the water column, but you incorporate these specific, quick "pops" of the rod tip. The goal is to make the minnow do a "dying dance." It’s a struggle, a flutter, and then a glide.

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Two "Love Taps" and Two Big Bass

In water this cold, you don't get bone-jarring strikes. You get feedback. I was working the fluke through the gray water when I felt it—not a hit, but a "love tap." It’s that subtle weightiness that tells you a bass has just inhaled the bait and is sitting still.

I set the hook and realized quickly that this wasn't a dink. For a neighborhood pond, this was a tank—a solid 2 to 3-pounder. A few casts later, almost an identical scenario played out. Another soft take, another heavy fight.

To land two bass of that caliber on a day when the bite is this sluggish? That’s more than just luck. In the 40-degree water, they weren't chasing, but they couldn't resist that Houdini fluke dancing right in their faces.

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Reflecting on the Eve

As I packed up my gear to head home for Christmas festivities, I felt incredibly fortunate. There is something soul-cleansing about being alone on the water on December 24th. No noise, just the rhythm of the cast and the challenge of a new technique.

These two fish were a reminder that even when the conditions say "stay inside," there’s always a way to crack the code if you’re willing to experiment. I’m heading into Christmas Day with a full heart and a little more confidence in the jighead minnow.

Merry Christmas to me.  Merry Christmas to You!  Tight Lines!  If you would like to learn more about the Jighead Minnow techniques I have a good video from a Youtuber I like to follow below!  Check it out!

Successful Minnow Fishing (What You May Be Missing)

The Tin Horse Monty Fishing · 2.6K views

🍂 Late Fall Magic: November Bass on Underspin and Swimbait

 

Sunday, November 16, 2025 – The Pond Report

There’s something truly special about those late-season days when the air is crisp, but the sun is shining bright. Yesterday, the calendar said November 16th, but the weather felt like a gift. With the air temperature sitting at a pleasant 57 degrees under those classic bluebird skies, I couldn't resist a quick run down to the neighborhood pond.

The conditions were prime for a successful late-fall hunt. The water level in the pond is noticeably UP, a great sign, with several drains either completely submerged or only half-showing on the banks. The water clarity was decent, sitting at about 2–3 feet of visibility. While I didn't get a water temperature reading, based on the recent mild days, I’d bet money the surface temp was holding well above 50 degrees, keeping those largemouth active and feeding.

The Stealth Game: Bank Fishing Secrets

As always, the focus was on the venerable Largemouth Bass.

A critical part of my strategy when fishing from the bank in clear, neighborhood ponds is stealth. I made sure to stay far back from the water's edge, using the higher banks and available cover to keep a low profile. Trust me, if you think fish can’t see you walking up to the bank, you're mistaken. Those drain-dwelling bass are experts at spotting shadows and movement, and staying way back is a simple but effective "secret" to getting an extra bite or two.

💰 The Winning Setup: Swimbait & Underspin Power

This time of year, as the bass begin to group up and transition to deeper holding areas, their feeding becomes very focused—they want a substantial, easy meal. And once again, two confidence lures absolutely dominated: the Swimbait and the Underspin. It’s truly amazing how effective these two presentations are in the late fall, perfectly mimicking the dying shad and baitfish.

Combo 1: Underspin System (The Flash)

For the flash, I used a precise combination that the bass couldn't resist:

• Underspin/Hook: The Owner Flashy Swimmer Single Bass Hook with CPS (3/0 Hook, 3/16 oz), featuring a Black Chrome hook finish and a Silver Willow blade.

  • Link: Owner Flashy Swimmer Single Bass Hooks with CPS 2-Pack

• Trailer: The Keitech Swing Impact Unrigged Plastic Swim Bait in the Bluegill 04 color.

  • Link: Keitech Swing Impact Unrigged Plastic Swim Baits

This underspin setup was deadly! The bass were so aggressive that more than once, I pulled in my lure to find the Keitech swimbait’s tail completely bitten off!

That kind of damage clearly shows how committed and hard-hitting these late-season fish truly are, even on a slower retrieve.

Combo 2: Rigged Swimbait (The Bulk)

My second deadly combo for a slightly bulkier, but slower, profile was:

• Jighead: The Z-Man Trout Eye 3/16 oz Jighead (Red).

  • Link: Z-Man Trout Eye 3/16 oz Jigheads

• Swimbait: The Crush City Mayor 2.5-in Unrigged Plastic Swim Bait in a shad-imitating color.

  • Link: Crush City Mayor 2.5-in Unrigged Plastic Swim Bait

The Technique

The key for both combos was a super slow retrieve. I was reeling just fast enough to get that tail action and keep the blade flashing, and then BANG! The strikes were incredibly aggressive, often happening right near the bank as the bass followed the lure all the way in before committing. This tells me they were a bit sluggish in the slightly cooler water but couldn't resist an easy, slow-moving meal presented right in front of them.

The One That Got Away... and Broke My Heart (and Line!)

Of course, no fishing trip is truly complete without "the one that got away." I hooked into what felt like a truly phenomenal fish on the Crush City Mayor swimbait. It immediately took some serious drag, making a strong run for deeper water. I slowly worked her closer to the bank, feeling confident, when suddenly—SNAP! My 4 lbs test line gave way right near the knot, leaving me with nothing but that sickening slack. I went back to the truck and found the evidence of the battle in my truck bed:

—a clear indication that a big fish had swallowed that swimbait deep and simply overwhelmed the line at the critical moment. You win some, you lose some, but that one will definitely haunt me until next time!

A Reflection on the Season and Family

While the fall fishing has been stellar, the best part of the day was the backdrop. My son, a junior in high school, was putting in work on the nearby sports field, running drills for his offseason football program. There’s a beautiful contrast there—the quiet, focused effort of the angler versus the high-intensity, grinding effort of the athlete. Every time I landed a respectable fish, I'd hold up my "trophy catch" for him to see while he took a quick water break. Sharing those small moments of success, even when we’re focused on different goals, is truly what makes these days special.

There's a stillness in the air you don't find in the summer heat, a peaceful silence that allows you to focus purely on the cast and the retrieve. It’s a moment to reflect on the season past and the promise of the hard water ahead.

🎣 November Solo Mission: Burn, Kill, and Catch the Late-Season Bass

 

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Journal Entry: November 14, 2025

It’s always a treat to hit the water on a weekday, especially in the late fall. Today, November 14th, 2025—an unbelievably warm Friday—was one for the books, proving that the colder months can hold some of the most aggressive fish of the year. It was a successful solo mission spanning two key spots: the local neighborhood pond and the nearby strip pit lake.

☀️ Conditions, The November Vibe, and the Warmth Factor

The conditions were far from typical for mid-November. The air temperature soared to an astonishing 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This unseasonable warmth was a massive factor. There was strong wind that created a nice chop and current, and it was the heat that kept the water temperature elevated. I think it kept the fish active on this day.

The Warmth Effect: This warmer water is why the bass were keyed in on a moving bait. The warmer water meant their metabolism was higher than normal for this time of year, making them willing—even eager—to chase down a fast meal.

My mood out on the bank was peaceful. Mid-November fishing offers a unique sense of solitude and peace. The lack of fishing pressure this time of year opens up the possibility of a good number of catches, and on this day this was no exception.

⚙️ The Winning Gear Setup

When the wind is blowing and the bass are keying in on moving bait, confidence is everything. What I was using:

• Rod: Abu Garcia Veritas Micro Guide Series rod. It provides the sensitivity and backbone needed to detect subtle bites and handle a good fight from a cold-water bass. This is my "Go To" for just about anything.  It is versatile.

• Line: Spooled up with 10 lb test monofilament—I use this a lot.  I am a bit old school. I use mono for most of my everyday fishing exploits.

💥 The Hot Lure & The "Burn and Kill" Retrieve

The key to unlocking the bite today was speed, a surprise tactic given the time of year, but maybe answered by what the weather was doing on this day. While I occasionally utilized a slow and steady retrieve, the true producer was the "Burn and Kill" technique. I would reel the bait with a faster retrieve and keep the bait at the top of the water column waiting for the sudden thump. For November in Illinois, having bass chase down a bait burned back to the bank is a fun bite!

⭐ Successful Lure Combination: Underspin and Finesse Trailer⭐

Product	Specs Used	Why It Worked
Jighead	Great Lakes Finesse Sneaky Underspin (3/16 oz, Silver)	The small blade kept the bait high in the water column during the fast retrieve and offered that critical flash on the "kill" pause.
Trailer	Keitech Swing Impact Sight Flash 3" (Blue)	The subtle blue tint was perfect, and the Keitech's legendary tail action gives off a powerful vibration even when retrieving quickly.

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🛒 Product Notes & Links

For my records, and anyone else looking to put this setup to work:

• Great Lakes Finesse Sneaky Underspin 3/16 oz Bait

  • Find it at Academy Sports: https://www.academy.com/p/great-lakes-finesse-sneaky-underspin-3-16-oz-bait

• Keitech Swing Impact Sight Flash 3 in. Unrigged Swimbait (Blue/Sight Flash)

  • Find it at Academy Sports: https://www.academy.com/p/keitech-swing-impact-sight-flash-3-in-unrigged-swim-baits-10-pack

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Another productive late-season trip is logged. The quiet of the outdoors, the aggressive strikes spurred by unseasonable warmth, and the knowledge that the pressure is off make November fishing truly special.

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