VekolBass

Completely depends on where you are fishing. If you are fishing in stained to muddy water heavy mono or braid. Braid if you are fishing in or around heavy vegetation. If you are fishing stained to clear water then you want to start thinking about fluorocarbon. Since most spinnerbait fishing involves throwing towards some kind of wood or grass I would suggest staying away from anything less than 12lb test. It also depends on the depth you want to work, because fuorcarbon sinks, you can fish a little deeper with it than either mono or braid.

I just started using frogs last summer, and became addicted to it when a big green head with a gaping mouth erupted from under a grass mat to eat the thing. I spend most of my time on the tidal Potomac, where during August and September there are extensive matted grass beds that stretch for miles from Washington DC southward. To a large degree, if you want to catch bass at these times, you either have to fish over the top of the grass matts, or punch through them--because that is where most of the fish are. Here is what I use: A medium heavy/fast St. Croix Triumph rod. 7' in length. A Daiwa Rojo reel spooled with 65lb braid. I use the same setup for punching mats too, I like rigs that can multi-task because I'm "thrifty" and I have limited space in my boat, and even less when I'm fishing out of the back of someone elses. This rig isn't perfect for either technique, but it is good enough for both. I almost always use a white Zoom Horny Toad kind of frog. I'm not saying that is what you should use--experiment until you find something you have confidence in. My point is that one thing that is critical if you fish heavy cover with a frog--and the frog doesn't come with its own pre-rigged hook, is use a heavy hook with a stiff shank. Zoom makes a specific hook for its Horny Toad frogs. I tried using my usual light wire hooks early on, and lost a lot of fish that got down in to the grass. When I tried to horse them out the hook would bend, and the fish popped off. Aside from that, every thing else is to a large degree a matter of preference.

Haven't been bass fishing since October. Too busy trying to shoot animals. I bought a couple of Silver Buddy lures a couple of months ago that have not seen water yet--and they'll have to wait until I get 50 degree day when I don't have to work. Now the only question is where to try them at.

I fish Aquia Creek all the time, but have only went back in that area once. I understand that there are a good number of bass there, and particularly this time of year, there is some good crappie and perch fishing to be had.

I was there Friday, and had about the same result. The only fish I found were in the very backs of creeks/coves around wood and beaver lodges. Not many of those either. Was good weather though.

I do it both ways--netting is a more certain method of landing the fish, but if you're by yourself it is just as easy to lip it. I do not, however, ever flip a fish into the boat and let it flop. If you're going to do that you might as well take it home and eat it.

I was there late July/early August and did pretty well throwing weightless texas rig Senkos in grass beds. Try the ones at the upper end of the lake where they are mixed with with standing wood.

If it were simple then the government wouldn't be involved.

Good point Wayne. I forgot to mention that they rent boats there, and that you need a Fredericksburg city license. Mott's Run is another possibility, I have never fished it==but it probably closes on the 13th Like Ni and Huntsman. I think it also has boats for rent.

You might want to give Ni River Reservoir a try. It has a pretty expansive length of bank to fish from. I was there about this time last year and caught a few on weightless T-rigged Senkos right off the bank that were pinning baitfish against the bank. Keep an eye out for surface activity. The place is also a pretty good crappie fishery from the bank. There are a bunch of stumps about 6-12 inches high that extend from the bank out into deeper water. Another option is a small pond in the city park north of Mary Washington college. They stock it with trout in the winter, but I've been told there are also some bass in it.

Welcome back--great story.

You've had better luck on Lunga than I've ever had--and I live 20 minutes away from it!

Congratulations on the new arrival. In a few years he will provide you another convenient excuse to feed the bait monkey.

I bought a Tourney Trail IM7 MH rod about two years ago, and it's the rod I use the most. Good tip with plenty of backbone. I don't know why I don't own more of them. I wonder who the actual manufacturer is.

Are you using a graph? Your graph and your crankbait--particularly mid to deep diving cranks--are key.

Caught one there last year that was close to 5. Where on the river do you fish?

Why not?

Yep, ankles are their preferred target. They also seem to be immune to bug repellant. >

Looks like fall has arrived. Water temp was at 75 when I put in at 6:15 this morning. Baitfish are moving in schools in the creek, at least to the railroad bridge, and the bass are on em. Caught 10 in 2.5 hours--even with a bad trolling motor. Spinnerbaits with silver double willow blades. Recommend something white and/or translucent--matches the shad. Fish between the matted grass and where you don't see grass on your graph any longer. They seem to prefer hydrilla, so fish it when you find it. Most of the vegetation is what I call eel grass--looks like 4ft long lawn grass, and they don't seem to like it as much. Have a senko nearby to throw as a follow-up bait. Also, wear long pants. There are hoards of biting flies around.

Does anyone have any suggestions for boat ramps near Tappahannock? I'm thinking about fishing the Rap between there and the 301 bridge next weekend.

Great report.

Very impressive--both in numbers and quality.

Yes. Although there are some LMB in the Dahlgren area above the 301 bridge it is really more known for its striper fishing. There is good LMB fishing in the Port Tobacco/Nanjemoy creek areas though. Skeet Reese one the BASS tournament fishing in Nanjemoy. The area from Aquia down to the 301 is really a transition zone where you get progressively more brackish water. Below the 301 you need a saltwater license.

Ron, How do you want me to transmit to you? Send a PM. Jon

These days, rarely. Since April I've only been skunked once, and that was because I was fishing new water. I did catch a white bass--but off-target catches don't count in my opinion.