Pikesnogle

Hey All, My Fraternity takes an annual fishing trip dubbed the "Beermaster's Classic" every year. Last year was to the John Kerr d**n/Reservoir in Southern Va. It was tough going, water levels were low and the fish were spread out with catches few and far between. I suggested a river float for this year, thinking that we would have a little more luck. I know a lil more about river fishing than reservoir fishing. Reservoir fishing is tough going, especially when you don't know the reservoir at all. But I wanted to ask around and see if any of the guys or gals knew a good place in the area (Most of us reside in Loudoun County & Fairfax County) to get a cabin or something of that nature and float a river for a long weekend. Maybe and outfitter that rents canoes or kayaks and take you a few miles upstream and let you float back to their outfit. I've been looking around for such a place for a while now with no luck. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks and good fishing this coming season, Snogle

Hello, and welcome. Like mentioned there are plenty of lakes in Reston. Some are public, some are private. Some that are public have very limited access without a boat. Goose Creek is a favorite spot of mine, I have been a pond fisherman my whole life but really got into smallies last year. Goose is a great spot for them all summer, but as the year goes on and the water levels drop the fatties tend to 'migrate' into the river (I fish in a section that is very shallow, and is <1.5mi from the Potomac River). Where Goose and the Potomac converge I have always had a lot of luck. It's a bit of a hike but usually well worth it. There's a park off of 'River Point Dr.' over there by Landsdowne, it's called Kipheart Bridge Park. Research it, and check it out when ALL OF THIS SNOW FREAKIN' MELTS. I'd be willing to meet you come summer time. I am always looking for new fishing partners. I like to fish a lil more than my friends. Good Luck, Snogle

X1,000,000 I don't think they let people of my skill level in anyways... ;D

We just got back Monday. It didn't go so well. I caught a few LM, and I think there were two more caught by one other guy. He caught his on a crankbait, and I caught one on a jitterbug, and two on senkos. I worked the banks, cover, points, dropoffs.. basically everything that I can think of with little success. But the word around the lake was that no one was really doing well. Water level was down 3-4ft below normal pool. Sam, you were correct. I just don't think we were finding them. Regardless, we had an awesome time. We were away from the girlfriends/fiances/wifes for 3 whole days and did nothing but drink some beers and do a lot of fishing. Thanks for the advice gentlemen. Snogle

Watermelon, black flakes Watermelon/Green Pumpkin, black flakes Watermelon, red flakes Green Pumpkin, black flakes Red Shad (works well for smallies) Texas rigged weightless, and wacky. Good Luck

Blue Steak I am also very sorry to hear that, stay strong and keep fishing. Josh, I also agree with ebay. I don't think that I saw any recommendations for amazon, they have everything and not just new stuff. Members sell used lures as well. Craigslist wouldn't hurt either, I saw a guy not too long ago that was selling his ENTIRE shmorgus-board of lures. Good luck.

I was fishing at Fountainhead by 0645 yesterday morning. We fished until about 1300, with hardly any luck. I caught one LM (about 1 lb. 4 oz) on a buzzbait. That was it! I couldn't believe it. We threw jarkbaits, cranks (deep/shallow), senkos, jigs, flukes just about everything that I could think of and in every fricken color. We fished all the structure that you were talking about to the left of the marina and back in a few fingers of the reservoir. I don't know what the heck happened to all the fish. Too hot I suppose. Yesterday put a huge damper on the pride, I haven't gotten my butt kicked in a while. At the same time, I wanna go back ASAP to kick some fish butt.

I was going to post some insight, but it looks like you figured it out. And don't worry when I got my first baitcaster this year, I did the same thing. ALL of my brakes were off... so you aren't alone. After I had 3 of 6 on, I got it down in 30 minutes. Keep at it, there is no better reel than a caster for accuracy imho. That's why I bought a second one! ;D

shimano. period.

Never casted the Zillion, but I do own a the new Curado and Revo Premier. Of those two it's the Curado, no contest. The Curado casts better, especially the lighter weight baits. I also like the retrieve of the Curado better. Gear ratio in the Curado is a lil higher, this is a plus for me too. I really don't like the Revo. I think that I might try and sell it, only to buy another Shimano reel muahahahahahaha.

Are you asking what color to use and when? Because that depends on the conditions. Water clarity, weather and such. I like green, black and brown jigs. Natural colors are usually good. But guys catch fish on a lot of different colors. Those are just the colors that I like to throw. I have a lot of confidence in them so those are the ones that I like to use.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1189609782 "Joe. S" had a great post, covers all aspects of jiggin. Hope that is what you were looking for.

That is a great post. I will be remembering that the next time I buy hooks. I like strike king jigs. I do not have a problem with the Gammie hooks rolling as he said, I always loose the jigs before it gets to that point. I like to jig fish in heavy cover, that means a lot of lost jigs. Unfortunate, but the way that I fish it is a reality. Are you looking for the "proper" way to fish them as well? I say "proper" because there will be a multitude of responses for that question. There is a post from a little while back, I will try to find it and post it back so you can read it. It was a great post on how to use jigs.

I've caught a bunch of the same size in Goose Creek (8-10oz). With the occasional fish that is maybe 3/4lb to a lb. But I haven't caught anything bigger than that. From what I hear the big ones are there, just few and far between. Guy on the forum said that either him or a buddy ( I don't remember which) caught a 19" smallie in Goose Creek. That's a nice fish! I think that it has to do with water levels, and the time of year though. But what do I know? I am just along for the ride. ;D

Largemouth, and Smallmouth. We won't complain if there is a striper or two thrown in there though.

Hey Guys (Gals), A few of my fraternity brothers and myself are making a long weekend trip to John H. Kerr Dam in mid September. As none of us have been there, we could use some direction. I've read that this place is huge, and there is a lot of water to cover. We will be renting boats daily so we will have pretty good access to just about everywhere. Any areas that I should focus on? Thanks for your help, Snogle

I had a lot of luck up by Kipheart Bridge Park, where Goose Creek and the Potomac meet early in the season. With the water levels soo low, I haven't really given it a try lately. Last time I went out the vegetation was very thick and it was tough to fish. I caught my personal best SM at this location, just a touch smaller than your fish in this thread at 2lbs. 12oz. Nice fish by the way, she's a beaut. -Snogle

Great advice gentlemen. A 'throwback lure' is a fantastic idea. I always have a few poles with me, and one always has a senko or something similar to it. I will definitely be using this advice. Thanks again, Snogle

I'm an idiot. I left out two crucial pieces of info. 1. I am not setting the hook at the time of the explosion, and 2. I am using a trailer hook. Also, is it possible that they are dinks? When I say the water 'explodes' that's not an over statement. It's a good splash.

Hello all, I have been throwing buzzbaits a little more frequently than normal here of late. And for the most part they have been working well. However I am having a little trouble. I have been running them along the edges of the weeds at a local pond, which is working well I am getting a lot of bites. However I am getting a ton of BITES, no where near as many fish landed. On retrieve I will get a bite the water will explode, but no fish. I am wondering if these are reaction or territorial bites where the fish is more or less missing on purpose trying to get the 'intruder' to go away. Or is it possible that they just miss, perhaps because it is moving too fast? Maybe just bad aim? I've tried slowing down a bit, but if I go any slower the lure will be underwater. Any thoughts? Thanks, Snogle.

'Senko' is an over-used word. I think that a lot of people use it when they are indeed talking about a similar product such as the Yum Dinger (which is more durable, cheaper and basically the same thing). I myself am guilty of this from time to time. I use senkos and similar products often, because let's face it... they catch fish. In just about every type of water and almost every condition mother earth can throw at us. They are just a solid bait, and a versatile one at that. That being said I don't understand why people hate them, and I am not saying those people are wrong at all. It's all a matter of fishing with something that you have confidence in, and enjoy fishing with. I have baits that I don't like too. But something that catches fish everywhere that I fish it would be irrational the not throw it.. right?

I use one of these, something really similar to it. http://www.amazon.com/adidas-Elite-Team-Sackpack-Screen-Printed/dp/B000KK3M8M/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1280853000&sr=8-9 I am able to fit 3 medium sized clear plano tackle boxes in it. I can put approximately 12-15 stick/crank baits, or 8-10 different types of soft plastics in each box. I can carry a schmorgusboard of tackle with me at all times. I am aslo able to fit a few extra bags of senkos, a can of bug spray and a scale. If I want to carry a water I have to take a few things out and rearrange. This thing was a great buy, and for $15 it's hard to argue with it. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. Snogle.

1. Northern Virginia, Loudoun County. 2. Slower, not as many and not as big. Seems like there is a lot more algae (making it difficult for a bank fisherman such as myself to access the fish) which might coinside with my answer to number 3. 3. EXTREME HEAT. d**n it's been hot here. I am a carpenter, it's brutal. The last thing I want to do after working outside all day is fish for 3-4 hours out in it some more. So I guess I am not fishing as much, and I am having a tougher time finding them because they are MOST LIKELY out deeper which is hard for me to get to without a boat.

Amen on the Yum Dingers. Forgot to mention those completely, good call. Also agree with the 4" senkos over the 5" as well. And Mark I would definitely recommend the wacky rigged, catch a lot of fish and it's a blast. Stay with the 4" on the wacky. Good luck brother. Snogle

Congrats man. Senkos are in my opinion one of the best soft plastics on the market. They catch bass about 95% of the places that you fish with them. Obviously, color and presentation have a huge impact on this. I have a lot of luck on watermelon with black flakes, as well as the darker green with red flakes. In the Potomac river, I do well with these colors as well as the BRIGHT red color. What method are you using when you throw them? Have you tried wacky rigged yet? I think that is my favorite method, especially when there is a lot of vegetation on the bottom. I let it sink and kinda lay on the vegetation then pull it up off of it and let it sink again (rinse and repeat). Good luck. Snogle