basser89

Ok, that didn't work as I thought it would! LOL! You can check out a bigger pic on myfishingpictures.com. Do a search on basser89!

Hey Boett, I do fish a few private ponds on occasion with one of my friends, the bass in my avtar is one I caught at lunchtime at Black Hills back in May. She's was 5lbs 5oz and measured right around 22". Not the biggest I've seen there, but it is the biggest one I've landed. Here's a bigger shot of her!

I'm not a fan of the tender tubes, but I do use their Magnum Flippin tubes. I have a lot of success with them!

I fished with the current, against the current, quartering the current...... yeah, I tried about anyway you can think of! LOL! I even hit the eddies too. It was just a rough day! On my way in, I past two guys coming up out and they didn't have any luck in there either. I've come across the situation you described. When I have that situation, I'll get low to the ground and get just above them and make a cast on a 45 above them with a tube and swim it with the current almost to them. Once it gets close, I kill the bait and let it fall. That usually works for me. A weightless stick bait (like a Senko) would work well to in that instance. Yeah, I've had a few comments about the canal as well. "I thought it would be wider?" was the best one I've heard!

I had a chance to hit PEPCO yesterday. What a polar opposite from when you were there Boett!!!!! The river was REALLY low! Even though they were discharging, I couldn't buy a bite from the Potomac. On my way out, I remembered seeing a bass or two in the canal on previous outings and thought what the heck. I pitched a tube around some of the wood and had a taker! Only pulled one out, but it was stocky little 2 pounder. I probably won't hit there again until the levels come up at least a foot or two!

LBH, the only time I tie on one of those Rebels is when I want to catch a musky! ;D Although I have caught a few smallies while fishing for muskies.

Hey Boett, Yeah, I have a 16' jon boat. Had an outboard for it until some idiot stole it at the end of winter. > That ruined several areas I wanted to hit this year on the Potomac. I hit dam 4 this afternoon from shore. The smallie action was non-exsistent! Didn't get skunked though. I managed an 18" walleye on a lipless crankbait and one heck of a battle with a musky. Unfortunately, the musky won that fight. Not really a fair fight with a med. action spinning rod and a bandit crankbait! Thank goodness I usually use braid when I fish the Potomac for smallies. It's saved me several baits that walleye and musky have tried to take! ;D

LOL! I know what you mean! I've thought about taking a musky rod with me and throw one of my big musky baits their way when they pull some of the stunts they pull. Don't get me wrong! I show them the respect they deserve having a right to the water too but when they disrespect me, that's when I have a problem!!!!! I've been fishing 50-100 yards below the discharge and I've had them run right through the area I was fishing. Then they turn around and head back up to the area where they usually get off onto the shore. >

I'll be glad to help you out however I can Boett! I've been fishing PEPCO for a couple of years now. I generally start fishing it late November through February. So I know a couple of spots in through that area. I do most of my fishing right at the discharge but you have to get there kinda early so you get a decent spot and have some time to fish before the kayakers start doing their runs. >

Hey Boett, Didn't make it out. The levels are up but I just didn't like the color. Still a looked a little muddy for me. Hopefully, I can pull off an outing this week to take advantage of the levels! I have caught a few largemouths below the dam. Nothing real big, somewhere in the 2-2 1/2 pound range.

Nice work Boett and a brave soul indeed! ;D Depending on how the levels respond, I may try to get out at some point tomorrow. Can't wait to see the pics! How deep were the smallies holding?

My top 3 brands are Picasso, XCiter and Strike King (in that order). I usually determine color and blade combinations according to water clarity, light level and time of year. If we're talking this time of year, I'm usually starting off with a white and black with a double willow in half ounce. I do carry about 70 or so spinnerbaits with me so I can adapt quickly if the color, size or blade combination isn't working on that day. The majority of the year I do favor 3/8oz size. Prespawn and post-spawn I have found a couple of colors that work for me under most conditions as well.

In ULTRA clear water (water I can see the bait easily 8-10' or more down), I prefer to start with silver blades. When the visibility is 3-8', usually start with gold and silver (I usually use tandem bladed baits). 0-3', I like painted blades. There are days this doesn't work but you just have to listen to what they're telling you and adapt from there! Hope this helps!

I have to agree with Marty on this one. The hook goes on first and then take a small section of the tubing and put it over the the main hook (I put the tubing on cross ways). The hook swings freely and I haven't lost a trailer with this technique! If you're using the tubing that comes with the hooks, keep an eye on it from time to time, it can become brittle and fall apart after some use.

Thanks for the vote of confidence there MskSlyr! But let's remember, I'm still blanked for the year on muskies. > I was out on the Potomac on my b-day with no luck! For now SPEEDBEAD, I think you'd be better off inviting me along with you! LOL! MskSlyr and I have only put one musky on my boat this year. :-?

Let me see if I can get bashed for this......... Musky are a great tasting fish, a little boney, but do taste good. I only try to harvest 1 or two smaller ones (36-38") a year. I fillet them just like any other fish (just for the record, I don't eat bass ). Grill them, bake them, cook them however you like. As for the bones, they're not small so you can easily pull them out after cooking. Remember, musky are in the same family as walleye. Glad I only fish for musky in MD and PA! Usually won't get hung for keeping one.

I was SOOOO close to adding another vote for Iron Silk but since its the absolute worst ever, I have to give my vote for Berkley Vanish Transition! At least with the Iron Silk, you weren't going to loose a 3/8oz spinnerbait on the first cast you made with it! ;D BAD Vanish! BAD! Vanish

I've tinkered with a few spinnerbaits where I took the skirt off and put a tube on instead to give it a slimmer profile. Unfortunately, that hasn't paid off for me yet. Grubs, tubes, even a soft jerkbait should work, IMO.

I fish the Bucher Top Raider often for muskies. My biggest on the Top Raider is a 45" 25lb pure strain. I have caught a couple smallies on them as well. I'm not a big fan of the Super Top Raider (the one you have pictured), I've tried it and personally I prefer the action and sound of the original.

I t-rig mine with a 4/0 EWG hook. The majority of the time, I use the lightest weight I can get away with (just enough to be able to keep in good contact with the bait). This is one time of the year (on thick weedy lakes) that I stray from that theory. I opt for weight around 1 ounce to punch down through the grass and work it along the bottom. I'll hop it or pull it along the bottom, stopping from time to time. Once I stop it, I'll let it set for a varied amount of time then shake the rod tip to make the hog "dance in place" then let it sit a little while long before moving on.

Not sure if Dad has a schematic for it or not. If he doesn't, here's one that's on-line. http://www.southwesternparts.com/code/viewschematics.php3

Luckily it's summer so at least I was able to get out and fish and wasn't stuck at home with nothing to do! LOL! Thanks for your hard work Glenn! It's very much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've never minded fishing in the rain and have had mixed results. I've only been caught out on the boat in one thunder storm (with Dad and Uncle Bob). We got to shore as quickly as we could until the storm blew through. Standing on a wet aluminum boat holding a graphite rod, you're just asking for trouble! O will not fish during a thunder storm. As others have said, no point in getting fried. No fish is worth it!!!!! Live to fish another day!

I have A spool as well. It's ONLY used as a backer for good line! Way too much memory for me! But at least its good for something Vanish will never make it as backer line on my reels!

I've caught on 1/8, 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4oz spinnerbaits. I usually start off with 3/8oz and change as needed to achieve the right depth. For blades and skirt colors, I let the water clarity dictate what I use. Clear water, I usually start with a double willowleaf blades with a translucent skirt, if that doesn't produce, I go with white or natural colored skirts. When water is stained, I'll switch up to a tandem or double colorado blades. I start off with white and chartruese skirt and move on to either a solid chartruese or a dark skirt. Muddy water, tells me to start with a single colorado or a double oklahoma blade rig with a black, solid chartruese skirt. As far as brands, a few of my favorites are XCiter, Picasso and Strike King.