HokieDJ

Went there a couple weeks ago. The grass was wiped out but it's starting to grow back but not like before yet. $4 to launch there now.

That's the reason I got a Outback but now I also have a pickup truck. I'm wondering about the PA12 now since I would love to be super stable while standing. I can manage with the outback but I can see how it can be dicey if you don't have a good sense of balance.

If you are considering saltwater use, then checkout the Hobie Outback. You can stand on that for the most part and it can handle saltwater with no issues but I'm not sure about your dog being on it. A PA 12/14 would probably be better if you want your dog to come along since it's ultra stable but it's heavy. I have seen people put it on top of their SUVs tough.

Nice fish Riva!. I went out this morning and meet Pepe Le Pew. Nothing in the reeds. Tried looking for some at the 10-15 FOW using cranks and jig but nada.

Getting outside of the bank is not my comfort zone. That's what I'm trying to learn to crank and do heavy jigs for the 20 FOW range but my weakness is the ability to read my lowrance. I see what looks like suspended fish but I don't think I ever seen a fish at the bottom. I think I may be able to make it out Friday morning. It's my only shot left this week. Thanks for the tips Quan.

Riva - When I decided to enter, all I was seeing was 19s and under. Once I did, all these 20s came out of no where I'm just trying to make it respectable. I think I can make it out 1 or 2 more times. The Rez is my only shot to find big fish. Quan - Thanks. I was lucky to be there at the right time and place. There were several boaters working that area at the time. Now I just need to find her sisters before end of July.

Will this do? The tourney only takes length but I did weight it on my scale also. 20.5" is pretty much a rock solid 5lber.

Went out today out of LRM. Tried finding fish for cranking but no nada. Saw them suspended and hanging around 10-20 FOW. I even saw a ball of shad(?) boiling by a ledge and tried throwing a swim bait through it but no takers. I did get a nice 5.06 lb in the grass at a point that made my day but man that place is tough.

Let's get back on topic and talk about fishing I get ticked at yakers who take up the whole ramp and take their time because I can see the boaters getting ticked behind them . They tend to lump us all in one when in reality it's who they are regardless if it's going to be a yak or boat. I'm trying to get the deep cranking part. The log pattern is just about the only thing that works for me for the Rez. Caught some nice 3.5 lbers doing it. Has anyone tried punching the algae mats clumps between the reeds? I never seem to get success doing it but there has to be something in there. It defies logic!

For the most part, most kayakers are mindful of that stuff. But as with everything, you got your bad apples. When I launch, I do it from the side while still giving room to the boater to launch. I also don't take my dandy time when others are around. You don't know how many times I have had boaters go full throttle around me and cause 1-2 ft waves. Just not polite but what are you going to do?

I'm confused. When I go on the NOVA parks site and look at Annual launch passes, I see prices range from $70 to $135. Where are you guys seeing $40?

Tim uses braid on his deep crank setup. http://www.bassmaster.com/node/101039

From what I hear, people go up creek (turn left from entrance) for small mouth. I normally go towards the potomac for large mouth. I have waded the creek at the entrance and caught small mouths behind the boulders though.

Let me know how it goes. I'm interested in fishing thy place when I come down to visit. I heard they have a feast when the trout are stocked so I would try using a swim bait/crankbait that looks like a brown or rainbow trout. Good luck.

I've only fished this lake 3 times now and it has me struggling to find quantity in the reeds. It's not like shallow fishing on the potomac for sure. As for the deep stuff I'm totally lost. I see fish marked in the 6, 10 and sometimes 12 feet range. It's such a big drop off from the shore that I'm wondering if parallel fishing it or throwing it shallow and pulling it deeper is the right way to do it. I have tried cranks and football jigs and have not managed to pull anything deeper than 4 feet. This place does keep me going back because the ones I have found shallow have been quality!

I thought the 705CB glass was best all around rod? I was thinking of getting one. I'm pretty much going to throw 1/2 oz lipless cranks, shallow cranks 0-10ft, chatters and spinnerbaits (1/2 oz) if I can. Do you think the 704CB glass is the right one?

Try the Dobyn 703. I have it and it's MH/Fast action but it's not as stiff as other MH's rods I have used. So because of that, it lets me throw frogs, spooks, jigs, senkos, etc. Very versatile. It's probably not as good as a dedicated rod for cranks/top water, but it's good enough if that's what you want.

I decided to fish Hardwood Mills. It's not large but it was full of weeds still. Pre-fished the day before the tournament and caught 2 large bass. they looked like 4 lber's. The next day, I wasn't as lucky and only got 2 fishes (14" and 17"). That weekend was tough and both days, it was in the same area. I worked the trees in the middle but nothing bit but I know they are there. The grass was thick there also.

Thanks for the tips. I actually like shallow water because I think that's my comfort zone instead of throwing cranks/figs in the 10-15' range. I read that HWM's best part is the northern half. I have thought about Western Branch because I have read some stuff on it but they all are new to me regardless. Stumpy lake has come up also. Good luck to those in the TKAA.

I'm going down there and never fished the freshwater bodies before. How is the fishing at the following locations: - Lake Smith - Little Creek Reservoir (across from Lake Smith) - Hardwood Mills If you had only 1 choice to fish which one would you choose and why? Which has the best opportunities for a nice size fish (4+ pounder)? If it matters, I will be fishing on a kayak. Thanks in advance.

What happened to the original post? Anyways did the person catch it above the kayak launch site or down creek?

Yes I have the Revo I bought this year. That's great to hear. I have fished the trail before and it was hit or miss but I did catch a nice 4lb'er by River Creek side though.

Is it me or is that place tough? Fished 2 weeks ago in a kayak from the ramp at the Naval place to halfway before smallwood. Caught 2 dinkers in 6 hours. Nothing was biting till I got the dinkers on at low tide by the grass. tons of bass boats out there though fishing the side but I didn't see any large pullage either.

Anyone know if Kephart is doable with a Hobie Kayak? I been there but I forgot if I can drag the Kayak via cart to the launch to float to the potomac.

Dominion Club is private property. No Tresspassing sign there. I was there for about 20 mins and the locals didn't bother me.