NOVA Angler

Here ya go...

Lunker Lure Triple Rattleback Vibratron Spinnerbait (without the skirt!)...gasp.

They're lathed dowels with hooks hanging from them...they look like crap compared to some other swimbaits but I'll be damned if they don't catch fish. What color do you use Dan?

It looks like Kyle Bush is back to being a middle of the pack driver again. Congrats to Junior for coming from 10th to 2nd in one lap. That was pretty amazing. Fixed? :

New River, that's a very generous offer. Thanks! I'm getting pretty excited about doing this!

Maybe one 3.5-4.0 at the mouth of Quantico but overall just a bunch of two pounders all on rage toads though. Some nice blowups though!

Just got done watching it. Looks like they started at the mouth of Quantico (bridge in the background). After that I was thinking maybe Wade's Bay. Almost thought I saw Arkendale in there at one point but could be wrong.

I DVR'ed it. Once bacon, eggs and pancakes are done I'm gonna watch it. Did you recognize where they were filming?

I tend to agree with my bro Steve on this one. If you don't have a flipping setup you should definetly focus on that first. You could throw some swimbaits on it until you're sure you want to go that route.

May would probably work better for me actually... Only weekend I couldn't do is the 14th-16th. Let's see what New River recommends.

Gotcha...I have waders that I planned to wear but I guess I didn't really think about it. I will say that if we do a float trip I think it would be much easier to float upstream of Claytor Lake as I don't think you have the currents to deal with like you do below the lake. If you don't have waders so you could stop the canoe and get out and fish some of the fall lines, I think it would make for a frustrating time (I've tried it). I would say that wading in early April is pretty much out of the question without hip waders.

The soft baby bass or the hard bass?

I guess it depends on what you mean by warm. Warm enough to fish or warm enough to swim? Don't smallmouth spawn in colder water than largemouth? I'm not sure on that but I'm sure someone can chime in. Here is an article that says late winter/early spring is best... http://proxy.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/members/insider/bmmarchive/story?page=b_fea_fiverivers_BMM0510 Another article that talk about where fishing is best... http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/forecasts-and-reports/smallmouth-bass-river-fishing-forecast.asp

I say we try for early April (2nd-4th or 9th-11th). What's everyone else think? I'm not dead set on a guided trip but I definetly want to do a float of some sort.

I can't say that I know many people fishing big swimbaits on the Potomac, but that doesn't mean that it can't be done and that you can't be successful doing it. I thought about getting a stick last year to throw them, but it's such a big financial committment (for me at least) to get the setup and swimbaits and not be certain that it's going to be productive for me. If I heard of others having a lot of success with them, I would probably bite the bullet and do it, otherwise I'm going to continue to do what seems to work. With that said, I may treat myself to a Mattlures Hardgill before the season starts. Though not ideal, I have a 7'11" Shimano Crucial flipping stick that would probably get the job done.

That's what I was planning. Maybe guided float the first day and wading or canoeing the second day. I think a full day float is $400 total. Half day is $285. I also heard the same things as VABasser about Claytor Lake. I think it would be a waste of time to fish with such a great resource like the New River near by.

If someone wanted to split a guided float with me, I'd definetly be up for that.

Here is another outfitter... http://newrivertrail.com/

Canoe/Kayak rental as well as guided trips here... http://www.icanoethenew.com/

Looks like we could get a cabin at Claytor Lake relatively cheap. I don't mind roughing it in tents, but the idea of a heated cabin is very appealing. http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/documents/feescabins.pdf I'll start looking for a place to rent canoes/kayaks.

I was thinking about trying some as well but thought they might not do as well in the dingy water on the Potomac. Back in some of the creeks around hydrilla beds might be another story. That water always seems to be pretty clear. I imagine they would really excell in clear lakes with less cover.

Photoshop fellas...

Weightless plastics with a Citica? hmmm sounds like backlash city to me. I tend to agree. I think I had better luck with lighter baits on the D series Citicas. For whatever reason the E series don't seem to handle weightless plastics as well for me.

Don't pay more than $140 for a mint 2009. You should be able to pick one up for around $130 shipped.

A few of us from NOVA are thinking about planning a trip down there to camp and fish along the New River one weekend this spring. What would be the best time to be down there? Any suggestions on where we should camp? Of course we would welcome the company of ther Bass Resource memebers if they were interested as well. I fished the New River when I was at VT usually near McCoy (drive up the railroad tracks by Big Falls Road). As I recall, there is a camp ground near "Big Falls". I'm not sure exactly where other campgrounds are located along the New but we'd be open to other suggestions if the fishing is better in other areas. Right now I'm not sure if we'd be floating or wading, but both are possibilites. Any suggestions?