intheweeds

I rig the craw just like a grub. The Rage baby craw has a center line running down the head so you can get the hook centered. Good idea lavbasser, run the jig by itself. Vinny, I have heard a lot of good things about North Star Custom Baits, but I have never tried them. Also Dirty Jigs look nice too. I am going to try and tie my own jigs this winter. cadman sent me some nice samples of the jig heads that he makes, they are very nice.

I use the Strike King swim jigs all the time and have not had a problem, but I have never used a grub as a trailer. I have only used a Baby Rage Craw for the trailer, so maybe it is the grub not being rigged straight that is causing the problem. I also really like the KVD swim jigs. I hope this helps. Good luck this weekend!

I also attended this even last May and it was a blast. To see the smiles on the soldiers faces was the best feeling in the world. I encourage anyone with a boat that wants to help take a soldier out,to go to the RAHF website and register. This event is truly amazing and you will met some great folks, some of which may become good friends. I met Shane there last year and can't wait to work and fish with him at this event again. Truly, its the least we can do for the people who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

Bigbarge50, I was at Fountainhead on Sat. I talked to a couple of guys that fished the classic the weekend before, they said the bite is really slow. They said the week leading up to the classic had a real hot spinnerbait bite, then the fish got lockjaw. Never know though it could turn on again. PS.... I love the Lumbergh reference. lol

My friend caught his 3 fish on a crankbait in craw color. I was throwing a jig. we marked shad balls at about the 14 to 16 foot depth. We were also marking some fish at this depth, but not many. The deepest diving crank that we had was 10 a 10 foot diver. I also thew a carolina rig, but got nothing. Burke is tough.

@ Bigbarge50. My buddy caught 3, no keepers. I got skunked. It was tough. I will be out again soon to give it another try. We did have a big muskie follow a 7 inch plastic worm all the way to the boat.

cadman, PM sent. Thanks

I wanted to bring this topic back because i would like to start tying my own jigs also. I am a total beginner at it. I do not want to make my own heads just yet. I would just like some direction on the tools I need and where to get the supplies so I can start tying my own jigs. cadman I read that you may have a beginners list that may help. If you don't mind sharing I would love to get my hands on that. If anyone else has any input I would be grateful. Thanks everyone.

Thankfully everyone that I fish with practices catch and release, but I do have some friends that are vegetarians for the soul purpose of stopping cruelty to animals. These are the folks that give me the hardest time. They think that fishing is cruel and double cruel if I am just doing it for fun. To each their own.

Congrats JFrancho.

WOW! These baits are amazing. I had no idea people were making baits with photos and real fish scales. Man, now when I look at my hardbait collection I think there is no way these are gonna catch fish. LOL

I am mostly shore bound but I carry two rods and all the tackle that I own (which isn't a whole lot). I have one of those BPS backpacks and it is stuffed full. I ususally just take it off and set it on the ground when I am fishing. I have tried to down size to one rod and just a few baits but every time I do that I always wish I had something that I left behind. I guess it could just be a mental thing, knowing what I left behind. lol. I am still going to work on downsizing. I think it will make me a better fisherman.

I am fishing Burke on Sunday. The bite has not been that great for me lately, so I hope this rain helps. Sunday is supposed to have some cool temps, I hope that helps also. I do have a game plan to go for the big bite, just hope I can stick with it.

Riverbend park. I have never rented from there but I was there and saw that they rent jon boats. I plan on checking it out someday soon.

If that pond is close to your house and there is no No Fishing Signs, I would definitely fish it. You will be surprised at what you find in ponds like that around here.

I have never tried scents, but I have been getting skunked a lot lately so I will try anything that might help. When you use scents how often do you have to reapply it to the bait? i.e. every few cast, every hour or once every outing? I am going to try some mega strike and I will report back if it ends my slump.

So I go fishing a lot, but I really only get about 3.5 hrs to do it. Therefore I am stuck at the same lake by my house. When I get there I switch baits out to fast for the first hour ( 'cause of the time crunch), then I get burned out on swithching and then just leave on whatever bait was the last on I tied on for the rest of the time. SERIOUS FLAW :'( Also since I am new to bass fishing I do not have a confidence bait yet. :-[

Strictly shore fishing for me. Sometimes I will rent a boat. I do want a boat.

YES! The article the RW wrote about Senko fishing is awesome. I did just what he said, down to the line selection, and this was the result. A 3# 11oz LMB. My new pb! This was on my third cast. Try it johnnylots and you will catch fish. Thanks for the great article RW. ( btw I am still trying the jig thing but no luck yet)

Welcome the the best bass fishing site on the net. Also welcome to the area, I live in Herndon.

jaystu11, I have caught my limit of trout a couple of times this season at Lake Fairfax. I seems the best luck I have had is the day they stock or the day after. They stock between 1:00 - 3:00 pm. The only bummer is it cost 37 bucks for the permit. They seem to put in some okay size fish (1.5#). This week I have been bass fishing there instead and I have seen a lot of guys catching their limit. Just a heads up, I was there this morning at 7:00 a.m. and the windward side of the lake was covered in some kind of an slick ( maybe oil or fuel) I don't know what it was but I might not fish for trout anymore 'cause I don't want to eat them. Anyway, hope this helps. Tight lines

First off I want to say nice fish in your avatar A.Do. and yes the fish are REALLY tight to the cover right now. bartoopuck, fish tight to the cover. i was fishing claude moore ponds yesterday ( not a big fish fishery) and saw a guy fishing next to some laydowns and he was not casting into the branches and he got skunked. i walked over after he left and threw right into the thick of it and caught one on the first cast. I am new to NoVa also and I am trying to figure it out also, pm me if you want to fish. good luck out there.

Yeah, things like that happen all the time. I was at lake fairfax a couple days ago and the same thing happened to me. That is fishing in suburbia It sucks but makes it even sweeter when you catch a few. I managed to catch two yesterday under "suburban conditions". Good luck and fish hard

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I have a m/f st.croix already, so I am glad that it will work and I can keep the bait monkey at bay for awhile. ;D As far as line goes I just need to try some stuff out to find what I like. I am pretty old school and need to expand my options. I am a little afraid to try braid, but I am sure I will give it a try. Right now I am using 8# yo-zuri hybrid on my spinning rod. Again, thanks for the input and I look forward to meeting some of you in the future.

JC, I am down for the group smallie fishing trip! Sounds fun. I need some more set ups, what would you recommend for a river fishing smallie set up. i.e. rod length, rod power, tip speed and line? Thanks bro!