heyitskirby

Sam - only went for bass for about a half an hour last Sunday before we realized that if we didn't get out of there we may be waiting in line at Ancarrow's for hours. Did well on the shad, though. I may try and make it out to Watkin's Landing tomorrow if I have time...

I don't know what I was thinking last night, but I actually use a tri-fluted one. Thanks for the advice.

I have a Nitro bass boat...the smaller one...approximately 1200 - 1300 pounds. During the spring one of my favorite things to do is fish the shad spawning runs on the James River and I'm having a hard time holding the bottom with my anchor(a belled river anchor). Does anyone have any suggestions on anchor weights, assuming this is my problem?

My dad is actually the one who inquired about the compartments at BPS for me, so I'm not sure who he talked to. You're exactly right about the access and everything else. The boat only came with one and I've run out of room, not to mention my dad(again) and his tackle bag sitting in the middle of the floor and creating a tripping hazard. I'll definitely call sometime next week. Thanks again.

Your best bet with using bluegill is to bring some nightcrawlers with you and catch some on the bank before going after the cats. You'll have better luck with bait that comes from the same water you plan on fishing.

Any ideas of where to find them on the river? Planning on hitting the shad tomorrow and maybe making a run downriver to see what I can stir up.

Thats exactly what I'm talking about. Tried Bass Pro and they don't have them. Nitro's website doesn't have an email address and I didn't feel like calling. Guess I'll have to sometime next week unless anyone knows anything or has any suggestions. Thanks.

Anyone know where to get them?

Went to Powhatan Ponds today. Caught a good size crappie on a stickbait, may have been close to citation. The bass have been getting spooked, though, and I can't seem to do nothing with them. Putting the boat back in the water this weekend, hoping to hit the shad. Any reports on them?

Powhatan Lakes got hit hard by a bad rain event a few years ago that broke the dam and drained them. Nothing really to speak of and if you look on the VDGIF website, they are rated last in the region for production. I think they actually scored a big fat 0. Went to the Powhatan Ponds a couple of weeks ago and only found a few starting to move into pre-spawn mode. First day of nice weather so I know I was early. Kept spooking em and caught nothing.

Once the weather starts to get real nice and kids start getting out of school...avoid Pony Pasture. Its a hot spot for teenagers who want to hang out on rocks and get in the way of people who want to fish.

I don't see myself using my boat again until late winter/spring. I bought it from Bass Pro, but I live in Powhatan and don't want to drive it all the way up there for service. Anyone have suggestions for places to go in Midlothian or the west end of Henrico? How much would it be? ...or should I just try and do it myself?

dominicanbass - Don't get me wrong. It was certainly different and like I said humorous once we got back to shore. A different sort of judgement certainly would have been used by a captain here in the States, but its a totally different mindset concerning both the boat and people on board. I would certainly recommend the trip to someone looking for that sort of wild experience. On another note...would have enjoyed going into the rivers. Wish I had been in touch before we left...cuz we were in Cabarete, not far from you. Next time...

Just got back from the aforementioned trip yesterday...posted a story in the fishing outings forum... http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1259464814

Just got back yesterday from a vacation to the Dominican Republic. Wonderful vacation, many new experiences. The most unique of which...a deep sea fishing trip in what was not much more than a row boat. When we booked the trip we were told to make sure we had plenty of sun screen and wore hats because, of course, we'd be going out in a "traditional Dominican fishing boat". My initial thought was...well...I guess there's just not much cover. Wrong...the wife of the captain picks us up and brings us into to town where we will be launching from the beach. Okay...thats fine...what next. She points out the new motor he just bought...a 25 HP Mercury. Hmmm...well lets see how this goes. We get out on the beach to see the captain launching a large row boat by rolling it over what appeared to be a 24" piece of pvc pipe. Okay...I can handle this. We get in and start heading out. The captain puts out two rods in rod holders for trolling and starts heading out to buoys that have been placed in various places for the purpose of attracting bait fish and hopefully mahi mahi and tuna. They then hand my wife a rod to hold while we troll and shortly after she lands a bonito(sp?). The fish puts on a hell of a fight and she gets it in. Not big, but you know how any sort of tuna is. She then switches with me and I catch one just slightly bigger. I must admit...I've caught them before and bigger, but never had a rod in my hands when it hit...nothing in the world like it. Suddenly I realize that the wind has picked up and so have the waves. Water is starting spray up at us as the boat cruises through the water. I'm looking back at the captain and I see an interesting look on his face as he throttles down the motor and suddenly my back is soaked and there's water crashing into the boat. He starts scooping water out in what appears to be a cut open gallon jug. No look of panic, so I don't worry. Lunch time! So I hand the captain's mate the fishing pole and start eating a delicious turkey sandwich prepared by the captain's wife. Unfortunately, this gave me time to think... The water is continuing to get rougher and rougher and I realize how far we've gone and how far away from shore we are. Then I come to the realization that there is no radio on-board...and suddenly all I see are scenes out of movies where people are stuck out to sea in larger boats...and remember that I still feel like I'm a rowboat. A bit of panic begins to set in so I tell the captain that at any point he doesn't think this is safe that we can head in and I don't need my full 6 hours. He replies that it will take us 2 hours to get back anyways. So then for the next two hours, I'm gripping the piece of plywood I'm sitting on in total panic. Trying to figure out if I am a strong enough swimmer to get back if something happens and knowing my wife certainly isn't. When we finally got back I was never so happy to be on land. Definitely a unique experience. Definitely would not do again, but hey...you only live once. If anyone gets the chance to do something like this...think about what the water may be like later in the day...I bet its great. The captain and his mate were excellent...but wow. This is certainly second hand to them...but again...wow. Its actually quite humorous to me in hindsight. Sorry if I've posted this in the wrong forum since we weren't "bass fishing." Would love to hear similar stories from other people.

I lived in Springfield from June '07 to June '09. Everytime I went to Burke I told myself I wasn't going back. Spawn this year was decent for me as far as numbers, but nothing big. Otherwise I think I can count the amount of fish I caught there on one hand. Including just fishing for panfish on nightcrawlers. Though I must admit, the one and only yellow perch I've ever caught was out of that lake before I moved up there.

Worst part of the rain...James River will be up past flood stage all weekend and the forecast for Sunday is in the 70's. Teasing weather... Was gonna take the boat out and do some cat fishing... Probably time to winterize since I'll be busy the next couple of weekends.

Ended up buying a 600 denier cover from BPS and then threw a tarp on over that. Seems to be working fairly well as we've gotten 5 inches of rain in the past couple of days and its dry underneath the cover. Also threw some baking soda in for good measure. Thanks for the suggestions.

Then what kind of boat cover should I be getting?

I bought the cheap one at Bass Pro when I got my boat, but have discovered its getting so stretched out that even though I pump the water out the day after rain, its starting to leak through. Which I can only assume is the source of my mold problem I mentioned in a previous post. Anyone have suggestions? I have a Nitro X4 and I know Nitro makes custom covers, but I don't have the $600 to spend. I also saw a "boat cover saver" at Wal Mart and I'm going to make my own once I get a new cover. (In the meantime I put a 2x4 across the recessed area with a bucket on top to hopefully keep the rain that's coming today from filling it up again).

I know I should be asking about bass fishing...so I will... I'll be in the NE part of the DR in November around Thanksgiving and want to know what my options are as far as guided and otherwise. I'm down for either saltwater of freshwater, but want it to stay light tackle. Anything available so that I should bring my own stuff? Any suggested guides? I hate being around so much water and not being able to fish! If the only thing (or only suggested thing) is trolling for big fish in the ocean, so be it, but I want to know whats available.

Thanks for the info. No bad smell, just annoyed by the fact that I have to clean rod handles every time I pull them out (edit: and my cutting board, and my tackle, and my etc.). I'll check with the dealer this weekend on the engine...bought it brand new.

Does EJTAYLOR have a website for what he can do? Whats the wait? My dad's 60th Bday coming up...want to do something nice and I don't like the rod I bought him for Father's Day.

Hey guys, Just bought a Nitro X-4 in June and I've only had time to take it out maybe 5 - 10 times, but I'm already having a problem with the engine... I do everything the man said when we purchased it in order to start, but I'm experiencing difficulty once I put it in the water getting it going. I prime it, rotate through the choke with the throttle, and yet it still takes about 10 minutes before it wants to get going. Once it starts the first time it starts to vibrate like crazy and then it shuts off. One more turn of the ignition and it will typically get going. After this it starts just fine. Is this something I'm doing wrong or something wrong with the motor? Also, general boating question... After taking the boat back out of the water, I take it home, clean it, and shop-vac the carpet on the deck and let it sit for a bit to dry out before putting the cover on it. I have been leaving my rods and all my tackle in it and have recently discovered everything molding. Should I just not leave my gear in it? Is there a way to combat this? Would baking soda work? The only place I've noticed any water on the inside is a small amount sitting on the gas tank, otherwise its parked at an angle with the rear downhill so most of the water should be able to drain out.

A little late response here...but as far as cutting up panfish/using em live... Just filet em like you would any other fish, or even cut straight through their sides across the spine. It really doesn't matter, you're not trying to eat it, just trying to create a nasty, stinky, bloody mess that a cat wants to eat. Live, again, it doesn't matter. I've caught cats on live fish AND dead fish. So unlike some other types of fish it doesn't matter where you hook them. Just as a matter of ease I've always hooked the panfish around the spine, giving them some time to live, and I just double hook through the side of a minnow(if you're using em). Catfish just love to eat. I've caught them on spinner baits, spoons, plastics, nightcrawlers, minnows, cut bait(even including bluefish!), panfish, store bought stink baits, etc. Just gotta find the hole and be patient.... Patience, btw...when I was a kid we used to visit a guy my dad worked with who had a home on Buggs Island Lake down near South Hill/South Boston, VA. I used to walk around the cove and fish and not catch a whole lot, but I would always throw a line in with a nightcrawler in the middle and just let it sit. I would only let myself check it about once an hour and normally there'd always be a catfish on it. There's certainly not a lot of science....just find a hole and get your bait to the bottom.