Bigbarge50

This might seem a little silly, especially for a guy who used to flip a lot......... So I have been trying to pitch and flip more than I have in the last few years and not doing as well as I should and am curious if you guys set you cast/spool control very differently then you do when normally cast? What about your magnetic brakes? I just seem to be either way too tight and the lure seems to "hang up" on the flip or it backlashes a little...... I also am trying to use some lighter tackle (like a 3/8 jig at the heaviest) the last month because of colder water and trying to present a smaller profile for the fish. So anyone want to share what they do and thoughts? I have watched the flipping video on here a few times..... and will be the first to admit I need to make some time to practice getting back into flipping in the backyard or basement..... that no good work always getting in the way. Flipping simply has not been like riding a bike to me.

Have to agree with JFrancho, his times are about the same as mine, except I fish mono now for only topwater, so I do not have to change it that often because right now I have it only on one set up. I do not fish in tournaments, so I can not relate to those who feel to change a I have been impressed with how a little KVD line conditioner has effected the memory and longevity of my line. It is really a great product.

I have the turbo toad, but have not said much because I have only used it a few times, and go to things like spro and koppers frogs, bohya buzzbaits, plastic frogs (BPS plastic frog and stanley ribbit)and a sputterbuzz instead of it because I have more confidence. I found it a little heavy and I tend to like a smaller buzz and it makes a lot of noise, so I might be a little bias. If you are interested and have a stocked box, give it a shot, not super expensive or anything.

Yeah Quan, I am looking forward to some huntsman action this week too. Brick and you are tearing it up on the res. Sounds like the are working well up the ledges there too. As for the rowers...... I am no fan of their bullhorn either...... but they fall a very very distant third to the guys on jet skis in Pohick Bay (easily the worst) and the kayak people who paddle right between you and then shore when you are like 15- 20 yards from it. We should be allowed to peg em with a plastic worm or something. You guys hitting the res after tha rains on friday?

Hell of a job Quan...... I just got shut out there the other day and that was before the rain moved through the other night. Very impressive. I really should have thrown a hard jerkbait..... I went with a fluke on a scrounger.....

Got skunked today at Huntsman lake in NOVA.... water temps were a high of 52..... still a little cool. Good luck Endless with the Drs, glad you can get out a wet a line and blow off some steam.

Devil's advocate...... broken off a rigs all over the lake. The arms seem to snap off those things constantly, besides for people losing them in cover and such. I know this may not sound like a big deal, but it is really an umbrella rig and if someone was losing an open umbrella a day in our lakes, we would be very unhappy.

Best advice there is.... watch those videos often to keep refreshing yourself and go straight to the northstar jigs site...... those things are absolutely fantastic.

I am in the same boat......... Own and buy Rapala often.... and still have not caught a fish on one. DT's, Shad Raps, lipless..... all nothing. On the cheap end...... Bomber- Has constantly produced for me. Tennessee shad...... just flat our catches em. Baby bass also has been great to me. Love Bomber Cranks Norman- All sizes, love their colors. Great baits that I think compare nicely to the premium ones. Those two I use from 1 to 18 feet..... and have been great to me. Easily the top producers in cranks for me.... and I have quite a few LC's. Also honorable mention...... the storm rattlin thin fin. That shallow crank has caught a ton for me. A really great lure.

Gotta agree..... rage chunk...... flat out produces for me well above all others.

Nice work fellas, and any caught snakehead is a good one. Just curious and without judgement.... are A-rigs legal in VA? The whole world is going on and on about this thing and I do not even know for sure it is legal. I personally am focusing on another year of improving my jig game and flipping.... (and shakey heads) but curious about VA people being allowed to use em. To be frank my biggest concern is not people catching everything but me catching broken off a-rigs stuck in quality cover.

I can not believe the storm this thing has started...... So as a guy who has not thrown it and has not formed an opinion yet, how effective are we talking? RW pointed to the massive results in his area. Some are saying it is a no brainer, others saying itis like a swimbait.... a homerun hitter for big fish. How about some A-RIg Pictures on here?

Great fish quanjig..... What was the water temp on the res? No matter the temp, it is a very impressive catch. Maybe we all can get some more fishing in tomorrow before the storms come and the temp drops.

I say get both..... I rarely hear any of us say "man I just have too much stuff"...haha. Then with both, you HAVE to try both, so you now must make more time to go fishing. Seems like a win win to me.

Bassin, BassMaster, FLW, and Bass Angler (new one I got for a present, have not read before) I enjoy the new bassin, even if 4 times a year. FLW is rather good, Bassmaster is up and down in my opinion, sometimes real good, sometimes a little light.

Living in DC, I have two BPS about an hour away in both directions..... which is great. I like to handle and look at stuff, and BPS is the best for that for me. Love having the catalogue to just look at stuff and I do like their website. Cabelas- Not so much. No stores around and I do not love their website. I am not a hunter, and think Cabelas is better for all around fishing (like alleye and such) and hunting, but not really my thing. Dicks- There is one not 10 minutes from my house, so always worth stopping in a looking at stuff. Also a forum members runs the outdor section there, so he stocks good stuff. Imagine that would make that dick's a lot better than most. Gander Mnt- I went to one store outside richmond va..... was very underwhelmed. Very. I also like a lot of the online realtors mentioned before. Got to love our options now as fishermen

Re-reading this thread reminded me about the IKA's I bought last time I read this to switch up from the senko I always throw. I def need to give the IKA's more of a chance this spring. Also a huge amount of praise to RW for keeping this thread chugging all these years. Guys like that make this site the greatest..... and it is really appreciated.

Try being from Buffalo NY......... and they are still fans. Sorry your team that has been great for a decade and won all those super bowls ....... must be tough. Great game. Good to see defense and running the ball.

This guy was insulted by ads on the side of the page? I love those links so when I read about a lure or trechnique I can go straight to a place to look at the gear we speak about. I would say this is a very non commercial site. No spaming about buying this or that. Even the advertisers on here only post about their stuff when it is on sale..... and I hate saving money and buying more qaulity stuff Also a lot of Picwick fishermen in the forum, I live in Northern VA and I have learned some stuff about this great fishery..... and would love to swing down and fish it. I can not see why one would be sour grapes about this forum in terms of info.

So anyone use one of these yet? Would love a real review other than the typical "Never fished a carrot stick but they def. break all the time so I never buy them". I also agree that not sure how braid can saw through titanium carbite. I have a gold carrot stick and enjoy it and casts a mile. These look interesting so again would love a review of someone who has one.

haha Aluma That is some serious throwdown for some rods, but the quality is there so go for it.

I have an older casting Bionic Blade MH that might be a little closer to medium that most, but think it is still plenty heavy. Then again I find a lot of MH to be way too stiff for me. I do use lighter lures typically though (like I throw a 3/8 jig more than any other) so it is a good fit for me and my jigs.

Evers is the best on there in my opinion too. Maybe I am crazy, but I have always been disapointed in this show. I thought it would be more informative then it is (lots of commercial time seemingly.....especailly that KVD fishing in the BPS tank) but compared to most, it is pretty informative. Bill Dance might be on all private ponds and have his catch phrases, but he does actually talk technique, boat placement, and structure....... I think he does not get enough credit for the information he puts out there. I thought the spinning real stuff he has had on there a little bit ago was actually really good and tthe best info I have seen so far this season.

I am part of the 5%... happily and luckily. I aim for the 5lbers but am very happy to catch fish. RW this was a great bit of REAL info, as you mentioned when look at it, is some of the best big fish water in the WOLRD..... and tells a telling picture of the challenges of catching large fish. I was impressed with the 13 8lb+ fish caught. Really tells a story. I also love when we discuss such things how many some guys are "catching" huge fish every trip, and yet are passing on making millions on the tournament trail. Somehow guys are falling all over 5lb fish every trip out. Think we need some scales checked out there, because they would dominate KVD every day of the week.

I am with 00 Mod..... the classics JItterbug Popper (chug bug, Hula Popper) Torpedo Lots of people on here dislike the torpedo and say it catches dinks...... I will hapily catch just about any fish, large or small, jumping up and wacking a topwater. I also think it produces a large fish it buzzes right past. Those picks made me go straight to a storage box and move the old Devil's Horse from storage to in the box..... Torpedo might have to take a back seat.