71Rig

X2 on the POR 15 if it's surface rust. If it's a "hole" or serious penetration into the metal I would replace the metal. The structural integrity of the trailer is the most important and the fancy paid job is secondary.

The dead shad make perfect sense considering the spawn...When I was living up in the northern most midwest we would catch steelies on flesh flies when the salmon were dying off after the spawn. That is a lot of energy spent on reproduction and that combined with concentrated numbers of fish it would look alike a large kill but statistically "normal" for a population that size. I know it makes the gulls happy. Ron, did you have that cat on in the wood in the first cove up rez from Lake Ridge. I saw you in there when I relaunched with what I thought was a doubled over rod. That area holds some nice fish later in the summer for sure. Glad to hear I'm not the only one with problems...thought I lost it for a minute . Might get out one day this week but most likely on Saturday. Maybe see some of you guys out there. Tight lines.

Yes, a lot of dead shad. I was figuring that they were busted up by feeding bass but not sure. I saw them on both the Occoquan and up Sandy Run. I saw the same thing down on the Appomattox about a week ago also. So I wouldn't think it's a water quality issue. That's it, I didn't catch many since all the bass were full on shad!

Went out on the reservoir on Saturday. Had a hickup in the morning with the motor acting up so pulled out and then re-launched about 1 hour later. Ran into Rondef and JCrzy4Bass as I was taking out my crippled rig. I took the run up Rez past Fountain Head (to run the motor out) and managed one big arse black crappie on a spinner bait. Then took a small break to be checked out by Game and Fish. Passed the safety check (wearable PFDs, throw able, fire extinguisher...) proceeded back down rez. Found one 1.5 LMB on some wood near deep water and one more about the same side on a main lake point. Other then that I had a dink up on Sandy Run. Was marking fish suspended and threw the lot at them with no luck. Has the rain with the spawn blown it out this weekend? Has anyone been catching much out there? Rondef and JCrzy4Bass any luck?

Are you talking a navigational map or a true Topo as put out by the USGS?

I was out yesterday morning (SAT) and stayed just till the wind ticked me off enough to go home around 3ish. Landed a total of 8 or 9 most of which were dinks. Did manage one that went just over 4 lbs on a tiki stick wacky rigged on sandy run. Then two in the 1.5 lb range came on spinnerbaits. Was my first day out this year so I was throwing everything and anything. Need time to get back into the swing of things. Was having some outboard issues (time to rebuild the carb) so I didn't go that far. But you can motor all the way up the occoquan river to Prince William Parkway but Bull Run I'm not sure of. That was my plan yesterday till my motor decided differently. But once I have full power back I'm going up to smack some smallies up there.

Hey Kayak, There is Jon boat club in Hampton Roads, Virginia that has a pretty good website (http://www.bassjons.com/mycustompage0025.htm) with modifications of different small boats. Lot of good ideas there. Check out some of the links too. I used it when decking out my 1436.

Pic didn't post...

I run a Lowe 1438 and still have the bench seats installed with pedestals mounted on top plus a deck (low) in the center and a raised deck in the front. When running I put the rods in some 1.25 inch PVC pieces that are screwed into the vertical of the bench seats. This keeps them out of the way as long as all baits are secured WELL. When I'm sitting up front I will sometimes keep a backup bait in the vertical holder behind me. When fishing two to the boat we will keep the rods along the side straddling the two benches. I have had up to 4 rods each (fishing one each with three in reserve each) and had little trouble with it. Just have to mind your feet and remember that the water is only inches away when you take out another man's favorite flipping stick tip. Was thinking about adding a small section of 2-3" PVC on each side as a rod tip protector for each side but haven't lost a tip yet...famous last words ;D.

Raw shrimp on a circle hook will out catch any bait known to man besides dynamite.

Yes, please spare us the photos of the post eaten trout. We all know what those "brown trout" look like already. As for baits I would try little cleo's in 3/4 oz. blue with silver. I fished Lake Superior run browns with them and they really rip them up. And also try the Rapala Jointed Minnow in firetiger, perch, and just silver/black or gold/black. You might not get 10 pound fish but it will better your chances and keep the smaller fish off.

Looks like a snakehead fish or something in the Channidae family. I think you are right jrhennecke, probably a released fish that will wreak havoc on fish populations in local waters :'(.

Just realized that's a Saturday so count me out. I will be down there the 6th & 8th of that week. Actually, I will be down there at least twice a week from now till November and will be trying to fish either the Upper James or the Rap at least once a week. Mostly afternoons since traffic sucks going south late. This week I will be on the Appomattox down in Petersburg but will be working and not fishing . I will post reports as I go.

Smoke them with a light wood smoke like grape vine or alder. When done, scrape the meat off the bones. You can prepare this as a salad (like tuna w/mayo, onions, celery, etc) and eat cold or hot as in a melt on an english muffin. Or whip it with some cream cheese and spread on a nice a big fresh bagel with a little salt and cracked black pepper. This can also be done with other "rough" fish. Takes the boneyness out of the equation. But smoking is your best bet as it adds some flavor. As for he heavy metals and chlorinated compounds just take off the fatty tissues prior to cooking (bellies, pectoral fins) and keep consumption to a few fish a month.

Will give it a look and let you know. Will probably get out there sometime mid next week. Thanks for the info.

Two Rivers area? Had a good friend that would fish around that way. I used to fish up north for the Superior run fish. Mostly the Brule River and Bayfield Peninsula streams. Glad to see they are still a health population.

Nice fish. What streams/rivers are you fishing? Or general part of the state? Are these lake run fish?

You guys got any tips for the Pony Pasture? I'm down in Richmond twice a week with a lot of time to kill. Looking for general info, pools, upstream/downstream, parking, sizes of fish to expect? I will post reports with each trip so you will get a return on your investment ;D.

The gizzard shad are in the Occoquan now and I've seen one hickory shad this weekend. Went out this morning and got one hit but nothing else. Snagged a few gizzards yesterday. I think in a week or so you will start to see them running in the Quan.

Both fish came from above the 28 bridge. I took the leisurely stroll up the stream today instead of beating a path down stream. But I do just as well (sometimes better) when going down stream. And before I get called on it I did look at my math again and it didn't add up. I think I added one too many mid 1lb range fish. . But I did catch 6 in all.

and another....

Fished Bull run today and again, had the entire stream to myself. Managed 6 total. 5 smallies and 1 largemouth. The largemouth was a fat female and ran just about 2 lbs. The largest smallie was 2 with one other just under 2, two in the mid 1lb range and two dinks. They were hitting 1/4 oz spinnerbaits in white and chartruse, Yum Dingger (4" on 1/0 EWG) in junebug, and 2.5" Yum Craws in crawdad on a 1/8 & 1/4 oz. tube weight. I'm bad at self take pictures but here a few.

I would go a bit heavier for blues. Maybe a 8 or 9wt. with a large arbor reel. The 5wt. might be a little too light and wouldn't want to risk snapping a perfectly good rod or running out of line on a larger fish. Plus you might have some trouble hauling those larger flies on a small rod especially with wind. If you are going to pay $200 for a rod better to spend it on a second rod then replacing one you broke.

Two flies for still waters/ponds/lakes - Woolly Buggers and Muddler Minnows. These will cover about 75% of the trouts diet in these waters and are pretty easy to fish. Trout in still water like to "cruise" depths more then wait and ambush prey. So the first thing to do is cast out then strip back in. Try to vary the sink times to get your fly to different depths before stripping. Also vary your strip speed (strip 6-10" stop, strip, stop). Once you get bit you should keep fishing that depth and speed. Always keep some drys with you too should you get a hatch. I would stick with generic patterns before getting into specific flies. Try an adams, black ant, black gnat, elk hair caddis, bivisible dun, etc... but only fish while they are feeding the surface or you will just be wasting time. Hope that helps.

Best bet is an 1/8 oz jig head in chartreuse, white, yellow, pink...with a twist tail grub. I rig them like a dropshot about 1-2 feet apart. 4-6 Lb line on a 6'6" ultralight rod. Run two different colors for best results. Cast and reel back steady or with a little jigging motion. The fish will tell you when you get it right. Nice to hook up on two at a time. Poor man's tarpon!