basser89

While I don't have any experience with the Trilene fluro, my experience with Berkley's flurocarbon (the Vanish line) has steered me from even trying the Trilene brand. I use BPS's XPS fluro (most 10# on crankbaits and 17# on my spinnerbait rods). I do fish a few bodies of water that are clear. Using the flurocarbon does help my hook up percentages. If it wasn't for these couple clear water bodies, I'd probably just stick with a lower stretch mono. I will add, that I don't have any issues with BPS' XPS fluro (in either # test I use). If you do have these clear/gin clear bodies of water and need to take advantage of the flurocarbon, you may want to try using it as a leader. Just a thought.

Great video Glenn! I LOVED the Bill blooper too! ;D

MskSlyr and I along with one of our co-workers took MskSlyr's boat out this morning for its maiden voyage. It was a great day to be out on the water! The flow was a little faster than we had anticipated but it didn't turn out to be too much of an issue. While we were out for a mixed bag, we had figured out a decent smallie pattern. MskSlyr managed 4 or 5 smallies, our co-worker caught 5 smallies and I managed 6 smallies. All were caught on crankbaits and jerkbaits. My best was 18" 2 1/4lb smallie (which happened to be a PB for the year so far)! Thanks again for the invite MskSkyr! It was a great morning out on the water with you guys! I'd say we did a decent job putting smallies in the boat for its maiden voyage!!!!

Zel, The closest town is Mcconnellsburg. You can actually type in Meadow Grounds Lake in Google Maps and it will take you right to it. Not sure what the grass will be like this year since it was so low last year. There are (or at least were) a couple small patches of lilly pads at the upper end.

I switched to braid a couple years ago when I fish the Potomac for smallies on crankbaits and jerkbaits. I started off with Spiderwire Stealth (which was pretty good) but I have since switched to Suffix and really like it! I go with 20# test so if I get hung, I can still break it with not alot of effort. The reason I switched to braid was to help reduce my cut-offs from walleye and musky. I've had a hand full of walleyes over 20" that I've landed as well as a 30" musky (two smaller as well), in the past I lost fish of these sizes and smaller when both species cut my mono. Strong wind can still be an issue at times and the only other issue I've had is braid (obviously) is not a cold weather fan! It will freeze up in the winter and this is the only time I've had an issue with the line wrapping around the rod tip. ;D I have heard great things about Power Pro but it's not readily available to me which is the reason I went with Suffix.

Thanks for the heads up SPEED!

I've slightly tweeked BR's fishing log to fit my needs and entered my data in an Excel spreadsheet. I keep a log of every trip as well. If I get in a rutt, my logs have come in VERY handy to get me back on track!

One thing that I have found with lipless cranks is that one might out fish another on a certain day. I know, that's probably not what you wanted to hear. I've used several brands myself and each one has it's own unique sound and vibration. I try to carry a handful of colors of different brands and experiment when I find a good lipless crank pattern to see which one produces the best for me that day. RatLTraps, Super Spots, Diamond Shads and Bill Norman's are the ones I currently have but I've been wanting to add Strike King's Red Eye Shad as well.

I have one Middle N that I do well with on the Potomac and the Juniata rivers, it's the chart/green back color. Smallies seem to like that color around here.

Hey Fish MD, Just curious how the muskies in Black Hills can be out of control? DNR had only stocked tiger muskies which are sterile and (to the best of my knowledge) they haven't stocked any for the past two years. While I've seen one or two there this year, I haven't had one on in two years. What section of the lake are you seeing them?

Hey Big Tom, I've had no problems with the XPS casting. One of the rods I use it on is my spinnerbait rod. I have no problems casting 1/8oz up to 3/4oz spinnerbaits with 17# test.

I'd stay away from it! Very brittle. I started using it when it first came out and I liked it. Then, they changed it for some reason and ever since then, I don't like it. I won't even try the new Berkley Trilene 100% flurocarbon. BPS XPS is what I'm using now.

Don't try to take on too much all at once. Learn to master one, MAYBE, two techniques before moving on to another.

The bass in my avatar and the one on the right in my signature are my two biggest out of Black Hills (both are 5lbs plus). Closer to Frederick, I'd say the better spots that I've found are the pond in Woodsboro, MIddletown pond, Cunningham Falls and Greenbrier. In the winter, I usually hit the warm water discharge area at PEPCO. Hope this helps!

Welcome to the boards Dan! I work in Germantown so I am lucky enough to be able to fish Little Seneca (aka Black Hills) at lunch time. I do make it down on the weekend on occassion but I haven't had a chance to fish there in almost two weeks now (truck problems). By now, the spawn should be over (at least for the majority of the bass). Last report I heard, the tiger muskies have been real active as well. If you have any questions, let me know.

I do like the top water options but if they're not as aggressive then I would opt for either a spinnerbait (I have a baby bass color that works great for me in the post spawn time) or a baby bass colored senko style bait.

I use BPS Magnum flippin tubes and Mizmo Big Boy tubes for smallies on the Potomac. I fish mine texas rigged on a 4/0 Gammy with the lightest weight I can get away with. Watermelon/chart tail, Roadkill and green pumpkin/red flake are my top producers in the two tubes I listed above. I've also had a lot of luck recently on an off brand 4" tube with the same profile as the two above in Junebug.

Dang, that stinks about the musky! Did you at least get to see it? I've been lucky when it comes to them and interference from boaters! When I loose them on the river, it's normally my own dumb luck that causes them to get away! LOL I do luck into one occassionally though.

Nice job! That's about the size I like to keep when I luck into them! I have two recipes that I use on the grill. Make my mouth water just thinkin about it! ;D

Nice work guys! What did you catch them on?

Count me in too! We got some MD mojo on the last one, let's get some on this one too!

Welcome to the boards and thanks for serving!!!!! When the hydrilla gets thick, I like to flip and pitch a 4" tube (like a Mizmo Big Boy or a BPS Magnum Flippin tube). Peg the weight and hit the holes or punch my way down through the grass with a heavier weight.

My game plan would be one of 3 choices. I'd start off with a spinnerbait working around the edges, then through the middle. Next would be a buzzbait or buzzfrog, fishing it the same way. Finally, I'd opt for a t-rigged tube with the lightest weight I could get away with (pegged weight). Those 3 would cover me for my style of fishing.

Ok, that explains why a musky out in our neck of the woods didn't get it! LOL!

And I gave you my map to use. What's up with that????? ;D You know I had to razz ya! LOL! Did you get the motor broke in? How did it run? How did you make out fishing? Details!! We want details Man! LOL!