5bass

If it's late in a tournament and I need a fish or two to make my limit,I go to the spinnerbait and cover alot of water.Fishing well known fish-holding places only (docks,laydown brush,deep brushpiles) you will eventually run across an aggressive fish at one of those places. This strategy applies only after the water reaches at least 50-52.

I am in the market to buy a new/newer boat.Right now I have a '00 Ranger 522 DVX with a 225 Merc Optimax....I bought the Ranger after selling a '99 Gambler 2100 DC with the same Merc outboard as the Ranger. The Ranger is supposedly the "class" of the field but I can say first hand that the Gambler was a faster,better handling boat. Anybody have suggestions about a good handling boat that I should try out? Opinions anybody?

Buck Brush,from what I know about it is little bushes that line the banks.....in certain places....maybe 2 -3 foot tall.And when the water gets up in the "buck brush",that's where the fish will be.(If the water temp is right,of course)

I have to agree with roadwarrior on this one.(Except during the spawn)....up until about 8-9 years ago I was a shallow water bass fisherman.Yes,I caught my share of fish but seldom any over 3-4 pounds.....I got a wild idea and ordered some DD22's and a couple of Mann's 20+ from Bass Pro.When they arrived,I immediately headed to the lake and started throwing them.Almost instantly I was hooked on the deep water bite.Usually if you are throwing a DD22 and get bit,it will be a quality fish.I fish deep 90% of the time now,mostly with a deep crankbait and a couple different color Ledgebuster spinnerbaits.You can cover a whole lot of water in a short peiod of time. I am a firm believer that the bigger bass are in deeper water.

If the water is in the bushes and on the banks,I'd definitely go shallow with a spinnerbait first.Then I would tone it down to a Carolina Rig,casted upstream of course,into any current breaks you can find.And don't rule out a rattlin' crankbait if it's real muddy(like it seems it will be)....good luck man.Be sure to post a report.

I live in Va. and get the pleasure to fish the New River and also the mighty James River.On the James it's usually floating in a jon boat and stopping to wade in certain spots.The smallmouth fishing is great and that is ALL DAY LONG.Those fish pay no attention to how high the sun is,they tear it up all day.It's more of a numbers game rather than size but generally you can catch at least 1, 4 pounder during your trip.75-100 fish days are not uncommon.The New River is bigger and has lots of deep holes and long deep stretches.The smallmouth are bigger there and are a little harder to catch.But it is not uncommon to pull a 5 pounder during an 8 hour trip.If you get the chance to fish either one,take some 4" Zoom Dead Ringer worms in green pumpkin.....and a tiny torpedo.

Get a buzzbait and throw it parallel to the bank.Reel it just fast enough to keep it on top. And don't set the hook until you feel the fish pulling!It's real hard not to jerk when you see the first explosion but keep your cool and just keep reeling.If he is actually on there,then you will know when to set the hook. I would also try some plastic worms.In natural colors.You really cant go wrong with a plastic worm in a pond. And in the majority of ponds that I fish,the main meal for the bass in it, is minnows and/or bluegill.Any type Rapala floating minnow should get you some action. Be sure to change it up,let the fish tell you what they like.

I am a big fan of fishing points.I would definitely hit the points touching the main channel first.....with a spinnerbait. Then with a Carolina Rig Then with a crankbait Then with a jerkbait Then with a jig and if no bites.....then back to the ramp ;D

1.Jig 2.Spinnerbait (black,silver scale and white skirt & tandem nickel blades) 3.DT 10 (probably bluegill pattern) ....and if we had to pick a fourth,the winner is....smoke Senko

I fished last week myself and got bit on a Carolina Rig,a Sutton spoon and a Ledgebuster spinnerbait.All were fished EXTREMELY slow.The Carolina Rig would probably be your best bet.Make sure your bait floats high and when you move your rod,dont move it too much nor too fast.It would also be better to locate a school of fish before fishing this time of year.Check main channel points first and often.If they arent there when you go over one time,it doesnt mean they wont be there later on. Good luck.Have fun.

1. jerkbait 2. spinnerbait 3. carolina rig 4. tube 5. shad rap rs

You say you're lake has breaks and drops....grab a 1 oz. LedgeBuster spinnerbait and slow roll each break or drop thoroughly.I am a firm believer that heavy spinnerbaits fished deep on staging areas is a great way to find fish and also get you the "bigger" bites.Good luck with whatever approach you take.

Okay,lets say it's March 1st,45 degrees(air temp),sunny,water only slightly stained,water temp is 47 degrees and you are on a deep lake.Channels are 80-100 foot deep. What is your strategy to that scenario?

BUZZBAIT !!!!!

....finding the depth that the fish are using at any given time?

Mine is the Rapala DT 10 in brown craw.I throw that sucker all the time and have alot of success with it.Sometimes I find myself throwing it even when I shouldnt be.

Here in Va, we have Tuesday-nighters from 7-11pm...cost is $15 a man,pays 1 place per 10 boats,we usually get 15-20 boats.It's a whole lot of fun.I'm there every Tuesday.

I like using a Yamamoto hula grub in white(so you can tell real easy when it gets sucked up)

I'm talking about 100+ foot channels,alot of the banks drop straight down deep.I fish one here in Va. and it was man made back in the late 60's.Most everything was dug out and alot of the bottom is slick.....except for humps and roadbeds there is not a whole lot more structure around such as stumps,grasslines,mats or rocks,(other than rip rap.)Anybody got any advice on deep lakes?Keep in mind,the lake is big (25,000+ acres) and very deep.Let's hear it!

1.Spinnerbait (shad pattern skirt,nickel willow blades) 2. Jig (dark brown with light brown trailer) 3. Carolina Rig (spring-3X lizard,summer-Zoom fish doctor green pumpkin,fall-back to the spinnerbait)

Where I live I have the best of both worlds.I live about 15 minutes from a boat ramp at Smith Mtn Lake and in the other direction I have the mighty New River and also the James River,both of which turn out monster smallmouth year after year.Generally after the water heats up and the largemouths go deep,I hook up my jon boat and hit the rivers for some summertime smallmouth.Man,some days on the river turn 50+ smallmouth,not all are "keepers" but generally you will catch 6-7 1 pounders then you'll catch a 2 1/2,then 6-7 more 1's then a 3 pounder.....it's always great fishing somewhere in a river because the smallies seem to always be looking to rip something up. But on the other hand,there is nothing like heading to the lake,trolling down the bank in early spring and catching an eyeful of an 8 pounder laid up on a bed.Oh man,what a rush!!COME ON SPRING TIME !!

I need a fuseboard for a 1989 Ranger 370V.....is there a place (website) that sells older parts like that?I tried looking at Overtons and Boaters World but didnt come up with anything.I also have emailed Ranger but have not received any response for 2 weeks now.Can someone help?

1. Bassmasters (good coverage of actual pressure fishing situations) 2. FLW Outdoors 3. Schooled by Brauer 4. In Fisherman (those guys are ALWAYS on the big ones) and take time to explain their techniques and thought processes.