WdyCrankbait

Little Johns so in spring craw in the spring does very well for me in Virginia. 6th sense cranks look solid as well.

I went out yesterday Sam. Nothing, ugh! I will call you soon. This is about the only thing positive during this here in Virginia, socially distancing. But, the bass are practicing that as well! Wdy

X2 for Pony Pasture in the summer, but you have to get there early! Once that sun breaks the treeline, done! There is a state park out 60 West in Amelia or Powhatan on the James river. I haven't fished it only because the river was high and water was stained pretty good. I don't like wading in new places where I can't see the bottom. Also, behind James River High School.

Yep! I have watched that one a couple of times already.

Hello everyone, I wanted to ask a pretty simple question here. It's getting cold and I am starting to pick up a chatterbait more and more to use for largemouth bass. To ensure the bait runs true (with the BPS Kitech swimmers) I tied my line to a barrel swivel which has a hook at the other end to attach to the bait. Do many of you guys use a similar set up to help support the chatterbait to run straight and not leaning to one side on retrieve? Thanks, Wdy

I loved the movie "Posse," with Mario Van Peebles.

Hey everyone, I am starting to learn Ned rig fishing and shakey head fishing, but with the weather finally starting to get cold here in Virginia I wanted to know if that tactic is worth continuing to pursue. I have a lot of Zman heads, TRDs, Craws, etc. as well shakey head set ups. So, my question is this, does shakey head and ned rig produce in cold, clear water with the hydrilla dying off? If it does, can you recommend particular baits as well that maybe I did not mention? Thanks for the advice everyone, Wdy

Well Andrew, like Sam said Welcome to Richmond and great to see another VA member on the forum. Yes, there are some great places to fish here in RVA (Richmond, you will learn that abbreviation.) First, "Swan lake," holds them. I have not fished that one much, but I know there are fish there. Boat Lake is barren, tell your father-in-law to fish there. If you do have a car you are really in for some good fishing! Look to Echo Lake in Glenn Allen, the twin lakes out in Powhatan (about 40 minute drive), of course the James river. Southlake, off Southlake Blvd. in Southside (I think I just set a new world record for the word "South," used in a sentence.) Second, lures and colors that work well in VA. Soft plastics, Green pumpkin throughout the year until the cold months, then Black/blue, and Junebug in the summer. Hardbaits, Rapala (DT) Helsinki shad does a lot of damage in RVA. As well, the whopper plopper, but with the colder weather upon us stick with them above. KVD 1.5s are good as well. Personally, I am starting to force myself to use spinnerbaits and they do well in RVA. Typical colors. Finally, the most important thing. Find your way to Greentop Sporting Goods in Ashland. Just north of RVA on 95N. Probably about a 15 minute drive, if that. Find Freddie there and ask him about fishing RVA. Now Freddie tells me the good stuff, but not Sam. So, don't mention Sam's name, just mention Woody sent you, Lol!! No, Sam is a legend up there, everyone knows him. Again, welcome to the forum! Wdy PS: Wait until the spring and the smallies in the James river get active!!!!

Welcome to the forums! Glad you joined up!

Fair point. Thank you for letting us know. I was interested in one of those reels, but no $$ now (getting divorced).

Bass Junkie, There is already a thread going on about this reel in this sub-forum. Search this forum and you should be able to find it. Wdy

Gavin, One other item, since you're from LA my guess is you have not been smallmouth fishing. If not, you need to go. Head up to Scottsville, or Lynchburg area of the (in @Sam voice, "Historic James River") and hook into a 4lb. smallie. Life changing if you are a bass fisherman! Good luck and keep us up to date about your fishing adventures, Wdy PS: Freddy at Greentop is the man!

As well, I am in Newport News, VA now. So, if you want to meet at BPS for me to point out some lures let me know. There are some good fish in those Suffolk lakes!!

Gavin, Welcome to VA. I used to live in Louisiana (Alexandria) so, I might be able to help you out. First, fishing up here is totally different! Second, downsize like crazy!! The light side of fishing line down there say, 15# (At least) is way too heavy. Third, I know this goes against the Cajun mind set of fishing, but buy a spinning rod an learn to finesse fish. (Go at least 7'2" with a high speed spinning reel.) Drop shot, shakey head (murders up here), 4" weightless senko etc. It is a finesse game up here, not power game. There are some hogs up here, but the water is pressured more and the bass don't get to eat as much. The bright side, you're heading back to LA with a whole other style of fishing in your bag! Now, I have fishing Toledo Bend out of Many, LA and Black Lake up near Nacatrash and I received a couple of funny looks bringing a spinning rod on the boats, but once I showed I could take a 4" senko and skip it way under a cypress tree and catch them, game changer!!! Last green pumpkin for soft plastics and Rapala Helsinki shad colors for hard baits. @Sam is from Louisiana and has made the change well. Message me if you want or need to. I'll be happy to get a bag of Community coffee, or your best gumbo recipe! Lol!! Good luck!! Wdy PS: as you might know there are no Academy Sporting Goods stores up here, but Dick's is pretty close. There is a BPS in Hampton, and if you're up for a trip to Ashland (just north of Richmond) I would go to Greentop Sporting Goods.

That centrifugal brake system is one of the best I have ever used and I own a family of Curado E's. Almost bullet-proof! Wdy

I decided to search and keep this thread going instead of posting a new one. I went out to NN res. today and yesterday and a BIG FAT nothing! I saw them! But, none at the end of my line. Has anyone else been out there lately? I also picked up some Z-man Popr Shadz to try out there as well. Wdy

I am not familiar with either reel so, I will not give my opinion. But, I will say is that I would go with the reel that has the higher IPT. I could always reel slower, but there is a ceiling you retrieve line in if the reel does not permit it. I picked up a close out Symmetry a couple years ago and it pulls in about 34 IPT (IDK) and I love the speed of it. Great for my applications of river fishing and finesse bass fishing.

For what it is worth, Gary Dobyns used to work with Powell rods. But, that was a number of years ago. For $100 off, I would have done that as well. Enjoy the rod and post pictures of fish you catch on it. Wdy

Powell all day long and twice on Sunday.

Hey everyone, My buddy is heading out to Smith Mountain Lake and would like to do some fishing with a guide for stripers. I wanted to ask if anyone could recommend me one that he should use? He doesn't fishing much, or really at all. (He will be out there in a couple of weeks.) Thank you, Wdy PS: You can just PM the information if you would like.

Ok, here is the real killer. I with held it. Zoom Ultra Vibe speed craw in Green Pumpkin Magic. 2/0 EWG, 3/16 oz, bullet weight, T-rig. That has absolutely crushed them on the upper James for me! You could not carry enough bags of those craws. I burned threw 3 bags in about two hours. My buddies and I put in at West View and got out at Maidens. We started fishing at 8am and I stopped counting smallies around 9:30am, we pulled out at 3pm. If you cant find them, go with Gambler Little Otter hurricane craw.

Fish below Pony Pasture in the mornings using a Pop-r with a red feather tail. Also, 41st street is really good! Rage tail in Falcon craw. Keep investing time in the James, it is a great place once you figure it out! I got my PB at James River landing on a Falcon Craw Rage Tail.

Some peoples children SMH Sam is right. Just keep fishing and ignore people.

I almost got "Googan Poop," yesterday (that phrase is going to stick now). I am sure they work, but seem a little too much $$ for me.

$100