mudkart

I took my sons (7 and 5 y.o.) for a two-night camping/fishing trip to the South Fork of the Shenadoah River near Luray VA this past weekend. The fishing was pretty good (at least for quantity, which is what matters when fishing with the young ones, IMO), and could have been alot better for anyone with waders or a canoe/yak. We fished from the west bank at a number of spots, beginning at Bixler's Bridge to mile marker 13.

X2 on Jann's, fast and reliable.

Thanks for the replies. In response to some questions, no canoe or floats, I've got two small boys to deal with, so, IMO, a jon boat would be a better alternative. I've taken them out in jons at Pohick and Burke and it works OK. Most likely we'll be bank fishing, that's why Shenandoah River Outfitters is attractive: it appears there is a lot of shoreline to fish there on the western bank. Also, I've got waders but the boys do not (anybody have suggestions were to find such small waders? I've been skunked looking for them).

I'd like to ask the VA (and other local) guys and perhaps gals, in an effort to shift discussion to legal areas to fish , about the Shenandoah. Specifically, any knowledge about the South Fork would be appreciated, but I'm open to any information. I'm taking my sons (5 and 7) camping/fishing this weekend and I'm trying to decide on a site to go. I've had some recommendations for Shenandoah river outfitters near Luray. We camped and fished this spring at Low Water Bridge campground in Bentonville/Front Royal and had a good time, caught some smallies and catfish, but, I'd like to try some different water.

Nice to meet all of you to, and thanks to Trevor (and yourself) for taking us to Trevor's home waters. I'm coming for that "H.A.W.G." you caught some night (if that's OK Trevor?).

No pic of mine, I'm a dinosaur when it comes to photography: no cell phone, no digital camera, just a disposable camera. So, I didn't consider a 2.5 lber pic worthy. Trevor can vouch for the catch, however (I was using a Rebel popper). Rob's was pic worthy, and someone has a cell phone pic of it. That was the biggest bass I've seen taken from these local ponds, with the caveat that I'm relatively knew to the area.

The cul de sac I'm talking about in the previous post is the one near the manhole cover. Its called Chatsworth something.

Some advice, I've been rousted from Royal twice this summer after dark (I was fishing) by the Fairfax police. This "crackdown" is in response to local residents requests to do something about loud parties near this very cul de sac, and the general litter left by such parties and inconsiderate anglers (we had a thread about this earlier on BR, but it was deleted). When parking, just consider parking your vehicle as if you live near the cul de sac, e.g. parallel parking where residents park. I say this due to conversations with the officers who rousted me: basically, they will check the cul de sac for cars that look as if they are using the Lake. If they don't see any such cars, they will just go on their merry way. Its worked for me lately. They also said, in so many words, that we anglers are not who they are looking for. There is also a residents patrol that was coming around Royal in August: they haven't tried to roust me and the head guy seems reasonable. Anyway, if you aren't planning to fish after dark, this is all moot.

X2 on Royal picking up, relative to August that is. I caught two tweeners (between a dink and a keeper) there last night, but nothing hit the Cavitron. The first was caught on a Zoom Fat Albert, the second on a Rage Tail Shad. The guy near me caught three or four, he was using a popper. Keep me posted, I'd love to go Friday night. I'd say the bite at Mercer has been similar of late.

From what I have read, the construction is an improvement to the dam area, primarily to prevent erosion in the "overflow" area. It is the first of several such projects designated for similar local ponds.

This site won't let me post the link (grrrr), but a guy has fished this pond and was not impressed with the "trophy bass" label. See his report for Buffalo Pond on 8/8/2008. To find his site, just search for "switchfisher.com." There are also some reports for other Quantico locations, and NOVA in general.

An interesting note regarding this, also regarding rod/line sensitivity. I was throwing a Fat Ika yesterday (6'6'' Berkley lightning rod (IM6), medium, 10# Yo-Zuri hybrid on a BC'er), in a very clear creek, standing about 3-4 ft above the water on the bank. I therefore had a great view of whatever bait I was using, and any fish pursuing/biting it. With the Fat Ika sitting/standing still, several large bluegill and some baby bass were interested but didn't have sufficiently large mouths to take the entire bait, but, I could feel every little hit/nibble they made on the Ika. The same was true when I switched to t-rigged (tex-posed, really) Senkos. To digress, this was an excellent opportunity to teach my oldest son (7 y.o.) how to fish soft plastics, or at least give him some tips. He's caught one LMB on a wacky rigged senko, but T-rigging and other more subtle presentations have eluded him primarily because he moves the bait too fast (IMO). Here, he could watch his t-rigged worm (Zoom finesse or a culprit) in action over a long distance, and how short, subtle movements of the rod tip resulted in a more lifelike movement of the worm, and hence more interest from the fish. It was a light bulb moment for him. I'm proud to say he caught his first LMB on a t-rig, only a 10-inch specimen, but he was excited nonetheless.

We went out (or tried) on Sat. morning and our experience was the same as Trevors. L. Royal was flooded to the point you couldn't walk around it, the walking path was covered. Both entrances to the parks on L. Royal were shut (gated). Same for Accotink. As a last ditch effort, we arrived at L. Mercer around 7AM. Walked to the dam and the water was like chocolate milk (to borrow a phrase from someone on this forum). We fished the dam for about an hour without a single bite, and both my sons were using live bait (crawlers and minnows). So, a frustrating day for fishing, but it was a beautiful morning and my sons enjoyed the high water anyway, i.e. places we typically fish were underwater, a very active spillway at Mercer, etc.

I don't care who you are, that's funny. ;D

I've caught a 1lb bluegill on a 4" Senko. When it hit, it felt like a small bass.

X2 on the Fat Alberts, one of my most consistent baits rigged on a basic jig head (black, dark green, brown) and presented as a swimbait. My fav is the pumpkin color. Smallies , LMB (and one northern pike have) have hit this rig with regularity.

Its a Sensilite Medium Fast, Graphite. I don't remember the cost, its been a while since I bought it. I should say I have no complaints with the rod, I broke it due to my own boneheaded-ness (trying to free a snag) rather than any manufacturing defect.

Any advice on how to replace a broken piece of a 6'6'' shimano 2-pc rod? The handle half is fine, so it seems as simple as sliding a new half onto the "handle half", for lack of a better term. I have no issue with buying a new rod, but it seems a waste to just toss a perfectly good "handle half" of a decent rod.

We've been catching some small LMB at L. Royal, mostly drop-shotting near the dam. Caught a 2-lb'er today, and that is as big a bass as I've pulled from that lake this year. Crappie are also to be had, my sons catch them w/ jigs. I can't do it this week, but I'm 10 min. from Royal, maybe another time. Also, avoid Accotink, I can't count the number of times we've been skunked there this year.