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I have caught some of my larger LMBs when it is hot and humid. The fish are not affected by the humidity.

There are a lot of good vineyards in Virginia. I like going to them in October (Virginia wine month) and there is a great wine festival at Long Branch with some really good wineries. You pay $10 to get in and then $5 for a wine glass and a wrist band to sample the wines. You can then buy a bottle to drink on site and kick back and listen to the bands, check out the antique cars, stunt planes and hot air ballons. It is a real good time and there are also craft tables for people that are into that. Check out the link below, it's a good time. If you are a wine drinker in the area this is a must attend. http://www.historiclongbranch.com/balloonfest/index.htm

I just bought a used boat at the end of June, I purchased a 1998 Lowed 1605 bass boat with a 1998 Evinrude 25hp motor, Bill Dance trolling motor and a bimini top. This boat has been a lot of fun this summer and I have been able to launch every where I want to go. I purchased this strictly for fishing, not for any other reason. I would recommend you buy a used boat first use it for a year or two and then buy the boat you really want. The only problem with a boat like mine is the tournament thing, I can't enter it in tournaments, to that I say big deal, I am fishing because I love to fish and don't need to enter tournamemnts to have a good time bass fishing. Just my opinion.

Welcome to the madness.

I convinced someone that caught a 2.5 llb LMB from taking it home to eat. I did not want to see that fish sacrificed for someone's dinner. The father and son were afraid to take the hook out so I did it and I showed the kid how to hold the fish and remove the hook. I then had him take it out of my hand and hold it and then watched him release the fish. After he held the fish for the fist time he was pretty psych'ed. It was cool to see the expression on his face. The dad was going to step on it and yank the hook out. Of course I had to explain to him that it is not cool to do that and I informed him that he needs to learn how to handle fish if he plans to take his kids out fishing. The kid caught the LMB on a live minnow next to a floating dock and near the beds of Hydrilla.

Nice catch, great picture, thanks for sharing.

I catch them, take a picture and then release them. I even had some folks laugh at me the other day for taking a picture until I explained that I only catch and release bass and that is why I take pictures.

Welcome there are a lot of people willing to help you become better at bass fishing. I know I am always learning new things.

Thanks, I just read it and I am going to try it with my new zara spook lure that I bought last night.

Ok I have heard this term thrown around a lot and I am clueless as to how to use this technique when retrieving. How do you walk the dog?

Nice fish, I haven't caught one of those since I was a kid, about 30 years ago.

Yes we did, he filled the void as my wife and I are now empty nesters. Our kids have graduated college and moved out of the house. The dog is our newest kid. But like I said he is really good in my boat when I ake him out and he lets me fish. My boat is nothing special but I think he feels more comfortable in it because of the spots he can lay down in.

I could try that suggestion and she if it helps but she normally does not like to go out much on the boat. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have insurance,both life insurance and boat insurance. My wife would be fine financially if something happened to me. I told her that she just needs to get over it because she is not going to stop me from going on this trip.

Nice fish, I have never seena rainbow trout that big in my life. There are some serious fillets there.

Anyone here have a problem with their spouse when it came to taking your boat out at night for the first time? My wife is all ticked off that I am going to take my first night fishing trip and says that she will be up all night and will be unable to sleep worrying.

He does like going out with me the only problem is he wants to sit in my lap while I fish when I rent boats. He is much better when I take him out in my fishing boat because he has a place to lie down and rest.

The question is can the Redskins beat Dallas. That is going to be real tough for them as Dallas has been lighting up the field this year. The other question is how many more years will Gibbs want to coach if he doe not make it to the superbowl this year?

The lake is 218 acres in size, relatively small. The contour of the lake shows a band around the lake less than 5 feet deep followed by a band 10 feet, 15 feet, 20 feet and then some pockets that are 25, 30 and 35 feet deep. The deep pockets are near the dam and there is also an island on one side of the lake . There are various fish in the lake (LMBs, Muskie, Walleye, Catfish and Bluegill) and it is stocked by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. They have pulled some LMBs as big as 10lb (average sizes are 3 lbs to 6 lbs) some Muskies in the 20 lb to 25 lb range and one over 4 feet long and some Waleye in the 4 lb to 7 lb range and one as large as 8 lbs 12 ounces. I am really excited about the potential to pull a trophy fish out of this lake. What do you folks think? Should I try the deep water first or work the coves or around the island in the middle of the lake. The VDGIF recommends fishing the willow weed beds across from the boat ramp. I have only tried fishing from the shore in the past because of the motor restrictions, I can launch my boat if I only use my Bill Dance trolling motor, no gas motors allowed. I have to diconnect the gas line and tilt the motor up out of the water. This has kept me away from this lake but I just can't pass this up because of the restriction any longer. My only concern is the trolling motor lasting long enough, I don't want to get stranded out on the water. I may go out and buy a second trolling motor battery this week as a precaution. I guess if the battery didn't last I could put the gas motor back down to get me back to the ramp but I just don't know if I want to chance being written up for the violation.

Here is my best friend and fishing buddy. He was named after Tedy Bruschi of the New England Patriots Out of respect for Tedy we chose to spell it Brewski. This is from our trip to Lake Orange in Orange County, Virginia.

That would be "hail to the deadskins" to me. I am a diehard Pats Fan!!!

I always prepare a fishing plan and give it to my wife before I leave. It contains the ramp location, the departure and return times, cell phone number, boat registration number and a map of the lake with marked locations that I plan to fish. I always carry an coast gaurd approved kit with me (4 PFD's, 3 wearable and 1 throw), a flare gun, a weather radio, a flashlight, a boat ladder and I have a latern for light. As for preperation I always check my lights, horn, bilge pump, plug, electric and gas motors and my live well for proper operation and I charge the trolling motor battery before every trip. Oh and I do have a set of oars as a last resort.

Thanks guys, I will just use all of the same techniques and lures that I do during the day. I guess I was just trying to think about this to much. I do have a fish finder so I will be able to get an idea where the fish are since I have only fished this lake from the shore in the past. This will be the first time fishing this lake in my boat. Ron

I am going bass fishing at night for the first time. Is there anything I need to know when fishing for bass at night? I figure that I will use plastics (rigged and not rigged), swimbaits, and cranklbaits. Will bass bite top water in the evening (late night)? If they will bite topwater lures I can use my spinners and my Rapalas. Thanks for your help in advance. Ron

I tried them and I am also extremely disappointed in them. They do melt together if they are in a takle box and it is hot outside, even though I keep them covered in the boat as to not allow them to get direct sunlight. I have never so much as gotten a hit onthese things. I think they are the worst investment I have ever made for my bass fishing. They are definately not worth the money, go buy some worms instead. I challenge Doug to prove that they will work in the Northern Virginia area, I think they will not.