basscrusher

actually, it was an informative post, for me at least. I didn't knwo the St Croix store had such specials. i have friends in Wisconsin I only visit every few years, but now that I know they have a bargain bin, I'm driving the rental car 2 hrs just to look around (next time I fly to Wisconsin, of course).

I usually use a grub as a trailer. Occasionally a Zoom swimming chunk. Sometimes bucktails are more effective w/o a trailer, so experiment both ways.

try this (its a weedless popper) http://www.jdcbaits.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=26&osCsid=a097c7ea1ded20f0d39c780754f377fe

A few years ago I accidentally hooked a beaver while throwing a Jitterbug at night. Thankfully, the hooked pulled out as the beaver swam off, but I'll never forget the screech that thing made when the hook went into it.

I know 7 ft rods are the standard for cranking, but that's only because extra casting distance allows the bait to reach max depth. If you are throwing mostly shallow cranks (like me) you might want to go to a shorter rod. For example, I have a 6'6" Avid Cranking rod for the shallow/mid divers, and a 6 footer for throwing really shallow baits like Mann's Baby 1-minus lures. It is MUCH easier to get pinpoint accuracy with a short rod, and where I fish alot (Potomac) sometimes you need to hit exactly that right opening in the grass. Just something else to consider.

Just today I caught 3 bass each pushing 3 lbs in a 15 minute span on a Junebug Shakey tail. Used it on a Texas rig, not shakey head, though.

Most of the spinnerbaits I have w/ painted blades are the Strike King Red eye special. I tend to throw this lure under alot of conditions, but my success on it, I think, is more because its a smaller profile lure, not because of the painted blades. I try not to overthink it and I just throw it.

I worked in a sporting goods store for 3 years and never saw a brand come back broken as many times as All Star. Not even close. And we didn't even sell very many. Of all of my serious fishing buddies, NONE use All Stars any more. In my opinion, they are absolute garbage.

I wish the game wardens would do something about the morons at Burke Lake. last Labor day the mexicanos had the nerve to zoom around with their outboard, and no park employees did anything. They also set up lawn chairs on Vesper Island (illegal) and drank Coronas (also illegal). In all fairness, the wardens probably had the day off (holiday) so the punk kids that worked there should have done something.

I've had 3 in the last year or so. Can't say I've enjoyed any of them. The 2 more recent ones went smoothly enough, but the one not as recent was bordering on lunacy. I was fishing the pond here in NoVA across from the Westfields Marriott (now closed to public, but not then) when 2 wardens rolled up. I was the only person fishing, and some dude was just walking around the pond sightseeing. One of the wardens asked me for my license, which I produced, then kept badgering me for some special permit since it was "corporate property". I kept telling him I wasn't aware of any permit, and he kept referencing some sign that didn't exist. Finally he hollered and asked his partner if I needed a special permit, and the partner looked at him like he was nuts and just said "no, he doesn't need anything besides his fishign license." I was off the hook, but boy did they go after that pedestrian. He wasn't holding a rod or anything, but they asked him for his fishign license and he didn't have one. They looked in the bed of his truck and saw some saltwater boat rods and surf rods, then came over to me again and grilled me about whether or not he was fishing. I repeatedly told them that in the 5 or so minutes he had been there he had not produced a rod (and I was telling the truth) but they kept trying to get me to say this guy had been fishing when they rolled up. And the "crazier" of the 2 wardens kept insisting he saw the guy fishign when they pulled up. Needless to say, I was very happy when they left. at least this isn't Maryland. A friend of mine got caught in MD without his MD license, and the DNR agent said he'd let him off the hook with a warning (and no $150 fine) if he abandoned all his gear streamside. This friend happened to be an Orvis pro-staffer with over $1000 worth of Orvis fly gear on him. my friend laughed and said he'd take the fine.

With original Spiderwire you MUST use a palomar knot. Not an opinion, but a fact. With Stealth and some similar braids (e.g. Stren Sonic Braid) you can use the Trilene or Clinch knot. But the older style braids (like original Spiderwire) absolutely require a palomar knot.

Occoquan River. Muddy. Not quite chocolate milk but close on Sunday.

I was out on the Potomac on Saturday and Sunday. Caught fish but it was slow. The cold isn't the problem. I (and many of y'all, I'm sure) have done well out there in the cold. The problem is the muddy water clarity. Cold + muddy = lockjaw almost everywhere. When its that muddy, you have to get the bait right next to them to get a bite, because they are sluggish AND can't see too far.

I've fished those creeks but never caught bass. Just shellcrackers (some decent). Also fished that "hidden" pond just off Pleasant Valley. Caught a couple keeper bass but left due to the hundreds (literally) of ticks crawling around. I'm not afraid of bugs at all, but have had spotted tick fever, so I'll pass on that one. Never fished the one by Ticonderoga, have fished some nearby. The pond across from the Westfields MArriot had some big bass in it (over 5 lbs) but its closed to public now and looks like all the grass was killed anyway. In fact, its so clear and barren now I think they may have moved all the fish out of there. I was getting frustrated by the immigrant "dinner' anglers there before it closed. I think that's who the property management company was ticked about when they shut it down, at least according to a game warden I saw there once. Do you live in this area as well (specifically the Centerville/Chantilly/Westfields/South Riding area)?

There's a reason you haven't found one you like...flourocarbon sucks! It is NOT any more invisible than mono, its stiff, it breaks on hard hooksets, and has terrible memeory. Everyone else can keep FC, and I'll keep catching fish.

Don't get me started on All Star rods breaking...I'm lucky. I worked in a store for 3 yrs and saw more All Stars come back broken than all other brands combined. And we didn't even sell that many! Thus, I never bought one.

I live in that area. All of those "creeks" are what we call ditches where I come from. No more than 10 yards wide and a foot deep. You can find some bluegills, but not much else.

dhpol: I clicked on the link to the map you posted. Which pond is it? The one to the west of Cox Farms nursery, or the one to the southeast just off Pleasant Valley Rd.? Let me know, I might have info for you.

I agree with the post that hot-water summertime tournaments need to be scaled back some. Also, the slime coat issue you always hear is overrated, for bass at least. That's coming straight from the mouth of a VDGIF biologist (not me...one I talked to.)

I think it works on a curve. It helps for a while (like others have said...providing a name/face for newbies to latch onto), but then people get tired of the "same guy" winning all the time. Maybe I'm wrong. I see this in team sports...everyone loved the Lakers in early 2000s, then hated them and rooted for the underdog Pistons in 2004. People like the Pats, then turned against them. Same with the Yanks, and now even the Red Sox I think. Again, I could be wrong. I don't think its necessarily bad, though.

Don't be afraid to throw the 10 inch version. Even 10 inch bass will inhale the 10 inch worm. Clear water = some version of watermelon or green pumpkin. Stained water = blue fleck. Muddy water = 10 incher in black or black w/ chart. tail

Shimano Solstace. $40 MSRP. Has most of the features of high end Shimanos. I have a new one and its almost as nice as my Stradics ($100+ reels). I HIGHLY recommend it.

Don't wanna sound like a tackle snob, but there are no good baitcasters for under $50. Any good baitcaster is gonna cost at least $100 new. In the 3 years I worked in a tackle shop, I never saw a good one for less than $100, and I sold all the big manufacturers in that time. I even tried a few just to see, and they were garbage. Actually, Ambassadeurs are reliable workhorse reels, but that's it. NO Shimano, Quantum, Daiwa, Abu, or Pfleuger under $100 is worth a spit, as far as I've seen. I didn't sell BPS brand reels, so I can't attest to their budget reels. Just so you realize I'm not being elitist about this, you can get a FANTASTIC spinning reel for only $40. The only way to get a good baitcaster for $50 is to buy used.

I personally agree with Matt Fly. To me, the off limits evened the playing field against locals who can go out every day and those who can hammer the place b/c they don't work "regular" schedules. In my job it is very hard to take off more than the Friday before a tournament (usually for the meeting) so I liked the off limits period. I felt like it kept us all on the same page as far as up-to-date knowledge. I agree there are other considerations, but I dread that at some of my events I am going to be fishing spots that have been getting hammered for at least 5 days straight.

Aside from parts of the river, the only unfrozen bodies I have seen are some of the ponds around Fairfax and Ashburn area with fountains that move the water around. And they are still partially frozen. And the walking access still sucks.