spropro

I see bearings upgrades for reels I own and curious if they can improve performance. Has anyone done this ?

Since much of my fishing is weightless and lightly weights plastics I'm looking to put together a light weight rod and baitcasting combo. My citica 200e is much better at this than my curado e7 or revo sx. I am looking at quantum smoke pt for it light weight or a lews tp speed spool. What works for others?

We all are really fortunate to have such an outstanding fishery so close to home.

not in mattawomen, but i'm sure the pattern would have worked there as well. We were mid-creek. Right now on the Potomac visit a grass bed that produced last year and the fish, most likely will be there now.

The notion that revealing a pattern (baits used, depth, structure) without revealing particular locations (cove or creek names) in a reservoir that is thousands of acres is somehow giving away secret info is laughable. I am a member of this board to share and learn from others. After a trip out I try to post a report about what was working for myself or others I've fished with. If you feel that you experience is that highly "prized" your wasting your time in your day job and should turn pro.

sp, What pattern was working best for you.

Fished the am yesterday. Water stained with about 12 inch visibility on main river, not sure of temp. Focused on emerging grass in creek. My partner was connecting on baby brush hog inside of grass. When the tide started moving we connected on sexy shads (chartruese and craw color). Technique was to retrieve keeping contact with top of grass. We probably had 30-35 fish with one hog at 6'10". Of course it was crowded.

there is a great site, I believe "tinboats.com" or "tinboats.org". Site is totally dedicated to oufitting jon boats. If it's been done to a boat its discussed on this site.

Fished the am yesterday. Water stained with about 12 inch visibility on main river, not sure of temp. Focused on emerging grass in creek. My partner was connecting on baby brush hog inside of grass. When the tide started moving we connected on sexy shads (chartruese and craw color). Technique was to retrieve keeping contact with top of grass. We probably had 30-35 fish with one hog at 6'10". Of course it was crowded.

Not a wise idea in the spring with water temps in the 50's. Best to wait until summer time and if the worse happens and you end up in the water you could swim in. In 50 degree water you would only have 15-30 minutes before you check out.

Way to go !

Was watching a video of Kevin Van Dam fishing docks of a marina. He pulls out a similar set-up to yours with a shallow diving (1-3) crankbait and he stated that the rod was perfect for making short acuurate cast between boats and that many times fish can't resist the crankbaits.

Was looking for a casting rod at BPS last week and was impressed with the "bang for buck" they have. The New BPS RCX rods felt great in the hand. I especially liked the textured cork handles. The flex (med) of the rods would be appropriate for crank baits. Next up were the St. Croix Premier casting rods which (6'6"-7'M) are light, well made, warrantied, strong in the handle with enough flex in the tip for cranks. Then were they Bucco's or New BPS Cabonlite Rods which are extremely lite and well made, and stiffer throughout the length of the rod. These rods are around$100-$110. Didn't look much at the more expensive rods, the rods mentioned are more than adequate.

I agree- the 7' M act like a medium light. I use it to throw light/small shallow diving cranks and shallow, light jerk baits. But I like em alot and for the price you can't beat it.

I tried the Johnny Morris GOld, signature and BPS extreme today and they are solid and better priced than the Quantums, Revo's, and Shimano Curado. The JM Gold had the design and components of $300 BC for under $200. I own a Revo Sx. Citica, Curado, and bought the JM Gold.

I was At BPS today looking at rods and reel and came away impressed with the "bang for buck" of the BPS products. You should be able to find one of those for $100 or less. I really like the St. Croix premier rods M-F action, light weight, quality feel.

I too was at aBPS store to day trying out rods and liked the Carbolite rods. Very light, good feel in the hand, stiff, fast action, good heavy jigging rod.

Just got back from Bass Pro Shop and was looking for the same rod. I agree with Jake. Casting the 1/8-1/4 baits is going to require you generate alot of rod speed over a longer length of the rod. Rods that I found could do the job were: New Berkley Lighting, 7' M BPS Tourney, 7'M BPS Extreme, 7'MF St. Croix Mojo 7'M St. Croix Premier, 7'ML The Premier felt great in the hand, light, but with a MF-F action at the tip to allow the light baits to load the rod for a long cast. Didnt, feel the need to handle the more expensive rods (>$120) since the last three would more than do the job.

Story#1 - I'm about 8 years old fishing Wye Mills Lake, easter shore of Maryland, with my dad and Grandad in the 60's. Hook my dad in the ear lobe with a big Mepps spinner. We drop him on shore and he heads to country doctors office. He approaches the receptionist and ask to see the doctor. She askes, What for ? A little suprised that she could'nt see the problem he replied, " I've got this fishing lure stuck in my ear !" She bust out laughing and says, "O goodness ! I thought that was an earing ! Story #2 - Doing an over-night canoe float on the Rappahanouck river, above Federicksburg, with my son, younger sister and her husband. My sister and her husband are not real experienced paddlers, so I put her in my boat to prevent prevent a marital disaster if she and her husband, Ryan, were to share a canoe. We have the canoes loaded with all the gear and are making our way down, and having a really good time. The fishing is easy and my sister is really getting into it and not paddling a whole lot which is fine. Anyhow, as most river runners know, some sets of rapids require you to put the rod down and focus on the paddling so as to not wind up with the canoe up side down and all year gear floating down river. As we are coming up to a good set of rapids I put the rod down and picked up the paddle. My sis has hooked a nice smallie and swings it to the back for me to take off just as we are approaching rapids. I attempt to un-hook quickly when the fish flops and buries a hook. No time to fix now because I have to pick up the paddle. So as we are ricocheting off of rock I'm trying to paddle with a lure in my hand with a fish hanging from the lure. My sister finds this quite funny and is having a good laugh even as the canoe turns sideways an we go over. I'm yelling from pain and yelling at her to grab the gear floating away. My son and Ryan had gone through the rapids first and were watching us, also laughing there heads off at the site of me thrashing around for paddles, rods, coolers, with a fish hanging from my hand. All turned out well and now hear the story told regularly at family gatherings ;D

I too am considering the same thing. Like term life insurance you hope that it is never used, but if you find yourself alone, isolated and confronting someone who means to do you harm you want it (gun) there with you. Occasionally I hit one of the streams in the Blue Ridge with my 13 year old daughter and have pondered what I would do if someone meant to do us harm

How is the striper fishing down there right now ? Can one still connect by slow trolling points with live bait or with hardbaits (shad imitations). My son is jonesin to do some fishing now and I told him Anna stripers may be a possibility. I have a parker 18 cc and am thinking about heading down and trying some of the new swim baits. What do you think ?

Yes Mike Laparelli was the winner ! A new member and making an impression. Potomac, we have a two day tournament Oct. 24/25 at Lake Anna and then one maybe two tournaments in November to close out the season. Its a fish for fun club, $10/day tournament fee which goes towards our charity events (we sponser Kids fish derbies in the summer). No to low money prize tournaments keeps the fishing fun and friendly among the members. I hear the clubs with money tournaments are quite competetive and a little cut-throat.

Potomac, We launched from Leesylvannia and fished the grass beds in that area. If you are catching 15-20lb 5 bass stringers you should be entering some local money tournaments (Warbirds) because those fishe are worth about $1500 bucks and first place. Yesterdays cold front may have something to do with it - but there were no fish over 3 pound caught between about 15 anglers - some who are pretty good.

Fished with our club yesterday on the Potomac. Air temp was in the 40-50's most of day, water temp around 57. There was much discussion at the ramp as to were the fish would be; still on the grass or moving to hard structure - rock and wood. The guy I fished with decided to check grass first and suprisingly, they were there just like the summer. We caught most of them on green senko's right on edge of grass. Most were small 12-13 inches, although my partner was able to cull to 11 lbs for 5 fish. We must had caught 50 fish between the two of us and almost all of those came on a 100ft section of the grass bed. After locating it we stayed on it all day. At weigh in half of the members fished grass they other half fished rock and wood. A rock and wood team finished first with 12 pounds and caught on cranks, creatures and worms. : Check out New Horizons fishing Club web site. We are a fish for fun club and always looking for new members (non boaters included).