mudkart

We had an unexpected (to me) fishing derby this morning. I didn't know so many guys would show. At least I'm home in time for some football. I think Dan and Thai left before me, so they may have been in time to, if football is their thing. I was there ~ 5 hrs, and I don't know how much time was spent fishing, a good portion was spent BS-ing. Nice to meet you Thai, though we didn't fish together. My tally was 3 keepers: two on a lipless crank bounced off the rip rap and the last (and best) on a 1-oz football jig (credit to Rob, it was his tackle: I looked and I don't even own a 1-oz jig). Not bad for this time of year. I know Rob had at least one, and Matt had two, but I didn't talk to him before he left so he may have caught some more.

PM'd.

I've been reading this thread w/ some jealousy: can't make it this weekend. As of last weekend, there were plenty of fish to be had in the general area you are fishing. Some guys reported catching up to 35 in a 9 hour tx ( I can't say what percentage of these were keepers), and I'm reasonably sure they did not leave the no wake zone. Just keep in mind that if you enter that no wake zone from the Potomac at 2:55 and weigh in is at 3:00, you'll never make it to the ramp on time. It takes a good 15-20 min (that is, if you do intend to leave no wake).

I've seen people use only their TM on glass boats at Burke. AFAIK this is legal. This time last year I also saw someone idling w/ their gas motor. Do so at your own risk. If you use the VDGIF ramp, I would not count on being able to motor a glass boat onto the trailer. Some heavy duty winching is required.

Weightless 90% of the time, the size of hook depends on the size of the fluke, usually 2/0-4/0 offset shank (I like Owners). The other 10% would be C-rigged or w/ a circle hook through the nose. Try the salty shads from Case Plastics: I feel they are superior to flukes. They are of a different consistency/density than Zoom flukes. Think of a fluke made out of senko-like plastic. IMO, they are thus heavier and cast easier than flukes.

Most were on swimbaits. 2 on frogs. Try Belmont Bay. It was very clear Sunday - Tuesday. It may be closer than M. Vernon/L. Hunting Cr. if you're launching from Pohick, and is definitely closer if you launch from one of the Occoquan marinas.

I would re-check the public access of Montclair. It is run by a HOA, and my understanding was that you had to be a member (or guest of a member) to swim or launch a boat. The beaches and boat access are likely closed this time of year unless you have a key: the only boat ramp I've used there needed a key to gain access.

Nice fish. Just be careful fishing, and posting pics of said fishing, that "tiny pond" unless you live there. Unless I'm sorely mistaken, its private.

Radio shack carries it, but, sometimes only in a frustrating assortment of diameters, many of which will be too large for this purpose. The larger diameters will work for placing on the worms themselves. That is not something I've tried yet, but wish I had after watching sooooo many worms fly off into the distance as the bare hook settles into the lake.

I use a Humminbird 565 portable from a scanoe powered by a 55# TM. It works great, comes w/ suction cup transducer and rechargeable battery.

"It is the poor carpenter that blames the tool." - unknown

It's been great for me on two Abu cardinal 502's. Disclaimer: after spooling, I let all (or nearly all) the line come off the spool behind a boat/canoe then reel it up w/ tension. You can also do this on land using a weight/a person/whatever to keep the end of the line stationary while you walk out the line of the spool. Then just reel it up w/tension. This greatly reduces (eliminates?) line twist when using these lines on spinning reels. I do this w/ CXX, Yo-Zuri, and fluoro.

Sigh. Your o.p. did not mention anything about 20-foot-boats-only, or any requirements beyond "fiberglass" and "bass boat."

???? Really ??? http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/boa/1336788256.html http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/boa/1336777511.html http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/boa/1335984515.html That took like 30 sec., and only covers boats in NOVA posted today. The last one is tin, however.

Craigslist

Our local Target had the DT Fat 3's for that price. I bought all three (two Blue Shad, one Red Craw) that were available, absolutely no regrets at that price.

I've got a lot of experience taking our two sons (5 and 7 y.o.) fishing. Use the methods mentioned to catch #'s rather than going for size (I find a bobber is often unecessary when fishing worms in shallow water and only serves to spook fish, YMMV). Try wax worms or "panfish" worms on small hooks rather than night crawlers. If they want to switch and try artificial baits, show'em how. When fishing is slow or gets old to them, I find they can entertain themselves for hours with small nets or a minnow seine, catching various forms of aquatic life. Bring along a small bait bucket so they can observe their catches.

Or maybe the Zoom swimmin chunk. http://zoombait.com/chunks-trailers-grubs/chunks/swimmin-chunk/

It looks like your in Fairfax, so, the Dicks at Fair Lakes is prob. closer than the one in Woodbridge. There's also one in Arlington.

Yep. Let me know a time.

???? I can fit several 6'6" to 7' rods in my '91 Infiniti w/ room to spare.

That sucks about the rude tourney dudes. It reminds me of the negative aspects when I did a similar, (but much smaller) locals-only tournament years ago in Ohio. Some guys just took it too seriously.

The Outlaw Josey Wales

We got a similiar scanoe a while back, a 16'6" Pelican. I got a 55 lb Traxxis (Minn Kota) last weekend, and a Group 27 Everstart battery from Wally World. It runs like a champ. $50 rebate on the Traxxis motors until July 1st.

To illustrate Dan's point, just take a walk around L. Royal sometime. Really, anytime. Lots of bank access, lots of trash, lots of poaching, lots of pressure. This lake treated me well last year, but, in my limited experience w/ Royal, the problems are at least five-fold this year. Last time I was out I counted twelve other anglers within view. ***WARNING, begining rant *** I'm fishing the bank w/ our 5 y.o. son, a guy sets up ~ 10 yards from me and begins to cast within my spot making huge splashes w/ what appears to be a 1oz sinker attached to something, then reeling it back fast, then casting again. ???? I give him my best "What the ****"? look w/ arms raised: he replies "Big lake...Free....Government". OK, whatever. Our son leaves to replace a bait and this guy goes around me to take his spot. I'd had enough, I give him a look of death, start walking towards him, he packs up and moves again. Jeez. *** END rant***. So, yeah, I'm w/ Dan and Slomoe on this one.