basscrusher

looks like the Wedgetail made by Egret baits (fairly popular saltwater lure company). However, I'm not sure they've been around that long, so they may have copied the design of the lure you posted. I know I've seen another brand with that tail, just can't think who it was at the moment. I'll keep thinking.

Great worm. Can't go wrong. Highly recommend in some variation of junebug, if purple is a confidence color for you.

Yes, Back Bay has made a great comeback. I plan to get down there soon to try it out. Based on all my intel, however, Currituck sound has not rebounded so nicely as of yet.

I haven't fished the North river, but I've got to believe it is a lot like the Pasquotank, which is to the west of the North River. Probably will be brackish, more on the salty side in the wider, southernmost portion of the river. I do know that there are bass and other freshwater species when you get way up away from the sound. Depending on what part of the river you fish, you might be as likely to catch specks, reds, or flounder as bass (which is what I'd rather catch anyway). I mean, you can catch bass at home, go for something new (that fights better). I do know that the North river (as well as the other rivers and bays, like Coinjock bay) hold a lot of brackish species like perch, catfish, and bowfin. Most of the forums I used to frequent when researching the area indicated lots of perch and catfish anglers around there. Are you planning to stay up at the northern end of the OBX, toward Currituck?

I have researched teaching there ad nauseam. I think I have some insight if you ever are interested. Also, do 460 instead of 64...it can save lots of time in summer. More scenic, too. I go in summer with the famly, and in fall with just the guys (fishing and eating only trip)

Flyfisher I'm more than happy to expand on anything I already mentioned, or may have left out. I also prefer the sound to the surf. I do surf/pier fish some because my main saltwater buddy loves catching stuff like sea mullet, spot, croaker, etc for the fryer, but I'm not that good at it. For me, the sound is second nature. I noticed you are in Mechanicsville. I grew up in Chesterfield Co, and if I still lived there, I'd make the 3 hr drive to OBX several times a month, that's how much I love it there. Quite frankly, I'd move to the OBX area if I could, but as a teacher married to a teacher, the wife and I don't want to stop contributing to VRS. Well, I guess that's what retirement is for. Actually that's what my plan is -- move to tidewater area in the next few years (and concentrate on Chick and Northwest rivers for bass, and Rudee and Lynnhaven for salt) then eventually retire to OBX.

I fish the OBX a good amount, but have no experience with guides there. In my opinion, the bass fishing there is not good enough to justify the money spent on a guide. There are plenty of small waters that hold bass, but you don't need a guide for many of them (I'll get into that in a bit). The biggest bass waters around that area are the freshwater parts of the rivers that branch off the Albemarle sound, the Currituck sound, Lake Phelps, and Lake Mattamuskeet. I have no experience on Phelps and Mattamuskeet, but have read plenty to know I wouldn't spend guide money on either. I have fished both of the 2 sounds aforementioned. Currituck sound used to be one of the best bass fisheries in America (the Classic was there in the 70s or early 80s...can't remember which). But salt intrusion killed the grass and now it's a shell of its formr self. There are still bass there, but quite frankly the bass fishing is probably better in the rivers that feed into it from southern VA (like the Northwest river). I fished the rivers off the albemarle sound (Pasquotank, Perquimans, Yeopim, Chowan, etc) about 15 years ago when my bud and I qualified for the Fishers of Men Regional there. It was some of the worst bass fishing I'd ever experienced, but it was due to a bad drought summer that allowed slinity to creep so far up the rivers that guys were catching flounder off their docks way up into the creeks. I have a friend who lives in Edenton NC that fishes those rivers a lot and does well, but he's a local ace around there. My advice is to bass fish in the salt. What I mean is, use bass gear to target seatrout and redfish in the eastern portions of the sounds. A medium spinning rod and 3"-4" paddletails on 1/4 oz jigheads will catch you both of those species, plus the occasional flounder and stripers in spring and fall. And there are plenty of places to do this without a boat. The Melvin Daniels bridge in between Nags Head and Manteo is a well known spot, and there are others even better. I don't know what part of OBX you're visiting, but if it is anywhere near Nags head, stop in Ocean's East tackle shop (just before the aforementioned Daniels bridge - called the little bridge by locals). Explain your situation, buy a pack of Z man swimbaits, and they'll be glad to help. And they're serious fishermen in there (at least the 2 guys I always talk to when I'm there). Best of all, everything in saltwater fights better. Reds are famous for the hard pulling ability, but specks (seattrout) do these awesome head shakes when hooked. And stripers fight better than LMB too, in my opinion, once they get to a decent size. To be honest, bass fishing is what I do to keep me occupied in between inshore trips. Hopefully I'll be moving closer to the salt in the next few years, and that's when I plan to bass fish only during the times of year when inshore fishing is slow. If you decide to do a charter for inshore, there are LOTS of good ones down there, and I haven't used any (yet) but I have had conversations at the dock with the guy who owns Rock-On charters and he seems cool. Used to be a bass tournament guy, throws artificials, etc. So he'd be into doing what you'd want to do tackle-wise. Also consider pier fishing if you have stout enough gear. It's different having to watch our for other people's lines (tide will send your line over someone else's real fast if you don't pay attention), but most pier fishermen are cool and will help you land a fish with those long pier nets if necessary. Let me know if I can clarify any of the above. If you know exactly what part of the OBX you'll be visiting, I might be able to give some more info. I can also steer you in the direction of good tackle shops and restaurants from Nags head north to Corolla. Oh, by the way -- if I personally was going to bass fish the OBX, I'd bring a kayak and fish the canals up around Southern Shores (the entrance to the OBX -- the place where rt 12 splits into North toward Duck and Corolla, and south toward Kitty Hawk, etc)

If you have to boil line to make it work right, shouldn't you be looking for a new line? Just sayin'. FWIW, braid goes on all of my spinning reels. And I mean all of them. all 25+ of them.

you only need a few colors of grubs. Black, chartreuse, white, some kind of pumpkin or watermelon IF water is fairly clear. One of my favorites is black w/ chart. tail. Good in stained water, and for some reason good in winter. Also does well for me when I fish the salt around dusk (trout and redfish).

St Croix Premier. Bass Pro Shops Graphite Series and Tourney Special Series.

Cabela's Fish Eagle casting rod. 2-pc, Heavy, rated 3/8 - 2-1/4 oz lure wt. I have this rod in the spinning version for certain saltwater applications. Really nice. On sale right now for $60.

Sort of. The ratings seem UL, but they are off...I'd rate the rod more like 1/16 to 5/16. And it isn't whippy like an UL. And I know some ULs aren't noodles, but still. This rod is a taper unlike anything else I've ever used. It feels stiff like a medium or stout ML...but gets into its taper easier, yet still retains power. Hard to explain. If I ever find one for sale used, I'm tempted to pay a pretty penny for another one.

For throwing Neds on the light heads truly meant for the tactic (1/10 oz and under) my best rod is 6'3". it's not that the length is perfect, it's just a great rod. It's the discontinued Loomis Bronzeback 7500 (mag-light power). it's rated 1/32 - 1/4 oz, and while I don't think that's accurate, it loads up the 1/10 + TRD better than any other rod I've used. So even though it's a short rod, it casts better than many of my longer rods because of how well it loads up. Like others have said, length matters, but it's not the only thing that matters (insert joke here).

If you plan to TX rig those dingers, go medium. If wacky, then either will do, but I'd still lean medium based on what you described.

I have the finesse jig in the Cara, and the weightless worm in both Cara and Lowrider. If it really is going to be used for small jigs, get the finesse jig. Superb rod. I use mine a lot, have even pulled 6 pound bass out of potomac hydrilla with it. Everyone says it is underpowered...my catches say otherwise. It is a true MH with a soft tip. And I fished St Croix almost exclusively before discovering Falcon, so I know powerful rods. The weightless worm is a great rod. One of the most versatile I've ever used, but not for anything that requires lots of power to drive home a big hook. Some people say it is the best jerkbait rod ever. I use mine for traps, wakebaits, and exposed-hook plastics. Sometimes I might throw small jigs with it in some of my local dink ponds (with braid) but I would not use it for such near any real cover. Hope this helps, let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. Especially since I own 13 falcons (at least...having trouble remembering at the moment), so I can speak to their unique attributes.

It will work with jigheads. In fact, double flukes (or grubs) on 1/8 to 1/4 oz heads are very popular among saltwater speckled trout fishermen. They sell them pre-rigged in all the tackle shops on OBX and elsewhere. Google "double speck rig" and you can see pics, and also videos on how to tie them up.

no...different creek. Goose creek is a few miles from there. Used to be good, but is pretty fished out now. Hence the 11 year hiatus of this thread. (btw...I was the guy fishing next to you on christmas eve)

This is one of the threads I was thinking of...still searching for the other (longer) one

years ago a someone made a post here about this very topic. It was one of the best threads I ever read on this site -- in fact I had it bookmarked on my old laptop, until it died. The member happened to work at Gander Mtn, I believe, and had some behind-the-scenes knowledge of who made what blanks. Obviously, it would be very outdated by now, but I'm sure much of it would still be relevant. Try searching for it. If I happen to find it I'll post a link here.

Anything in your price range from the new Daiwa LT lineup. I have 2 (the Legalis LT and Exceler and LT) and they blow everything else away in that price range. In fact, I honestly like them almost as much as my Stradics and Stradic CI4s. Crazy light, super smooth. The only complaint I've ever heard is reel flex due to the build material, but that's only from guys using them as inshore reels for snook, reds, and small tarpon. I don't think bass are gonna put much strain on them. If using for wading, you might want to consider the Fuego LT since is is magsealed, IF you have a history of dunking your reels. Otherwise, any of the models are solid choices.

Sierra Trading Post has the 13 Muse on sale for $80. Normally $175. 6'3" MH.

The new Lowriders are imported. The now-discontinued Lowrider 20s, to which I was referring, and still on sale at ALF, were US-made. The US-flag emblem on the split grip, along with the "Made in the USA" plastered all over the manufacturer tags they came with, are a pretty reliable indicator. As far as current Falcons, you're right, only the Cara is US-made. Which is why I'm stocking up on some of the older models (Caras, Lowriders, gen 1 Bucoos) when I find them at fishing flea markets and swap meets.

Some places have the now-discontinued Falcon Lowrider 20 rods on sale. They have several rods in the 7' to 7'3" range that would work well for you. Last I checked American Legacy had them on sale for $90, which is a great price for a US made, quality rod. I have 2 Lowriders (and about a dozen or so Falcons in total) and can attest to their performance.

I'm taking it out tonight to see what happens (also because there's a good bite I stumbled onto Sunday). I'll post my findings. If it continues to act weird, the way I see it, I have 4 options: 1) try to take it apart and fix it (a friend who has fixed TMs for different problems has offered to help). 2) get it repaired at a Minn Kota warranty center (I heard this can take a while) 3) intentionally cross the wires and run it that way (several people have said this doesn't hurt anything) 4) try to sell this one on Craigslist to someone handy, and buy a new one. While this may sound like the most fiscally irresponsible option, I must admit that I've wanted to upgrade to the Endura Max for some time since it supposedly extends battery life considerably longer and has a battery test button. Those things are super-helpful on a Bass Raider. I bought my Endura C2 shortly after getting my Bass Raider in Feb of 2015, not realizing that DSG would start carrying the Endura Max a few months later. Had I known, I would have waited and got the Max when it became available (I had a really old Endura 36 to hold me over until then).

it would run normally. Which is what appears to have happened this morning when I intentionally crossed the wires and turned on the TM. Granted, this is out of water, in my garage, so I'm having to go by the "eye test" and by the assumption that clockwise = forward.