basscrusher

For about $100 the Mojo might be as good as you can do. My tourney partner has a few and likes them. Like you (and I) he has more high end rods and doesn't hesitate the throw the Mojo. Also, about the tip heavy part, I agree Mojos feel that way...but to me only on the 7 ft or longer models. The 6'8" MXF feels great. And remember, the reel will help balance it out.

This topic has probably been covered before, but i didn't see it, so here goes... The tournament series I've fished for the last 3 years has just decided to do away with the off-limits period altogether. It used to be the week before, Mon-Thurs off limits, w/ Friday as official practice day. Do most people like or dislike off limits periods? I already have a strong opinion, but want to see what others think.

If the water is SUPER clear like the stuff in the FL Keys, use a leader. If the water has some stain, like most of my local waters, it usually won't matter. By the way (just because I love to start trouble)...flourocarbon is no more invisible underwater than mono. Anyone who wants proof can email the editors of Sportfishing magazine and ask for a copy of their fishing line visibility test issue from a couple years ago.

After owning & trying every color plastic bait on earth over the past decade, I've decided that you can get away with 3 colors for each type of plastic bait. The colors will vary per type of lure. E.g. my 3 colors for ribbontail worms are not the same as my fluke colors. For most baits, I have a clear water color, a stained water color, and a muddy water color. Here's my breakdown, going from clear to stained to muddy conditions: Ribbontail worms: watermelon red, junebug, black w/ either blue or red fleck (whatever is avail.) Finesee/shaky worms: watermelon red, junebug, black w/ chart. tail frogs: white or black. Nothing else needed. Senkos: watermelon, junebug, black & blue (although, there are some times when pink works wonders...and for me its been totally random. Can't replicate the pattern under same scenarios) Flukes: pearl and silver/black back (don't use in muddy water) Lizards: watermelon red, junebug, black/chart. tail grubs: the only plastic I really need more than 3 colors: in winter white, chart., and black. But for smallies throw in pumpkin and watermelon Tubes: browns and greens for smallies, black neon for LM Beavers: same as tubes craws: green pumkin, black & blue Hope I didn't put anyone to sleep.

The James sucks for bass, but if you must go... try the barge pits in cool weather. Temps are always higher in there. But be CAREFUL for submerged wrecks. And you'll lose some lures. Break them off, don't try to get them back. You might wreck your boat. Some of the creeks right below Osbourne are decent. Hit them up with small spinnerbaits and finesse plastics. Any cover you find, pound it. Good cover is at a premium on the James.

Is there anything in Nova that isn't frozen right now, besides the river? Anyone know if Brittle is frozen? I assume it is.

Hey Carrington -- I'm originally from Richmond (live in Loudoun County now) so let me tell you all the James River tips you'll ever need: unless you are catfishing for trophies, avoid it. It is the single worst bass fishery in America. Chesdin, Briery, Sandy Creek and the Sufflok lakes would be better options. Also Hunting Run, Motts, and Curtis around Fredericksburg are better. That's just my 2 cents. I personally do not know ANY true basser who enjoys fishing the James. I grew up 10 minutes from the river and didn't fish it until into my 20s, even though my uncle and grandfather both had boats. There's a reason they never took me there...

I second that about snakeheads. I'll kill every one I come across, but they have had NOWHERE near the detrimental impact that many had assumed and predicted. The Potomac is my current "home water" and has been for 10 years now, and the fishing remains excellent all-around, especially for a river system. Also, going back to the original post about the dead exotics...do LMB eat tilapia down there like they do in Texas, etc? If so, wouldn't you want them as forage base? I'm asking not in a rhetorical manner, but because i have no idea what their impact is. Are they a real nuisance like carp?

I own that Loomis 6'3" Bronzeback rod you are referring to. It is a wonderful rod and I use it for alot of different applications. Having said that, one of my buddies has the St Croix LT in that 6'3" size w/ the split grips and...well, if that rod had been out when I got my Loomis, I would have gotten the Croix. Its a bit lighter and I like the foregrip size better. The Loomis is better when trying to cast lures below its rating (less than 1/8 oz) but otherwise I like the Croix you mentioned. Like I said, the Bronzeback is a wonderful rod, but I like that Croix better.

I'll try to figure out how to upload some pics here. All my homemade jigs are hair jigs for cool water. I'm one of the few serious bass fishermen who has virtually no luck on rubber/silicone jigs.

The name's Gary, I'm a Libra, I love long walks on the beach, cute little puppies, and big fish. Been fishing since I was 4, obsessively for about the past 10 years, doing local team tournaments for the last 4. Tackle junkie and homemade jigmaker when I'm really bored.

hi everyone. I'm new to this site but not to bass fishing in NoVA. Just thought I'd introduce myself. Hopefully I can learn some new "shorebound" locations, mine are getting old.