dhami013

Lake Anna handed it to me. We set out towards the first bridge. Didn't catch anything til we took the little water way just after the first bridge. My best friend caught a 5.12lb. Nice fish. Then we didn't catch anything for awhile. Surviving the wake was interesting. Then on the way back from the 2nd bridge the motor started slowing down. So I pulled off to a cove and cut it off to see what was going on. The motor didn't start back up. I caught one small one about a pound. We then used to trolling motor for as long as we could, and then I paddled about 4 miles. That sucked. Finally while my best friend was wading through the water along a sand bar and older gentleman saw us from his house and offered to tow us back to the state park. Never a dull moment. Truck dies, outboard motor dies, oh yeah and I snapped one of my rods trying to get it un-snagged. Ha wow. I'll be back out there again as soon as I can get my outboard back running. I need to clean out the carb and try using some engine starting fluid. We'll see. Hope Buggs Island was better than what I went through.

When they jump, point the rod tip at the fish. It kinda gives them slack so they can't shake the hook. It works for me. Good luck man.

Google earth for some lay downs, or structure on or near the shore. Drop offs by looking at a topographic map if they have one. Look for steep grades on a topo map. Some deep flats on the topo too, if you have a fish finder, cruise around a deep flat and see if you can find a structure pile. Then hit it with a shaky head, jigs, t-rig, c-rig. Anything you can really slow down with. I'm just now getting onto bigger waters and it honestly just takes time on the water. There have been times where I've gone out and tried to do everything I've been told by everyone and haven't caught much. But then there's also been times where what people told me really paid off. And the only way these people know these things is because they have spent days at a time on the water, learning things. Keep practicing, keep studying, and keep reading articles on this website. My buddy and I have become much better anglers from just this website and going out and practicing it. This is by far the best resource for fishing I have ever encountered. So read up my friend and good luck.

Awesome I wrote that all down in my notebook and I'll be ready to roll tomorrow morning. Thanks again my man.

Yeah Nitro we'll have to meet up sometime. I'll be hitting it a lot more often now that I got a gas motor. I've got a small boat but she handled Anna well last Sunday and we put in on the busier side I believe. Just had to conduct some evasive maneuvers. This Saturday I'm looking to put in at the state park and check out those spots you mentioned. It's supposed to be beautiful this weekend. Good luck at Buggs.

I tried out the Devil's Spear today. I like it. It's a good pitching bait as well.

Study maps of the lake if you can find them. Also look at the lake from Google earth you can usually see where they may be some lay down trees, and shallower water. Map out some places that look profitable. i.e. Drop offs. Drop a thread on a local forum in that area and ask what baits they like to use on that lake. No one will give out their most dire secret but they might give you a place to start from. When you do go out to fish the tournament. I would stick to what you have confidence in. Unless you've started practicing some new techniques and or baits and feel you could work them. Either way, confidence is key. FOCUS! The day may be long and hard but it doesn't have to end that way. Sometimes waiting will pay off with a boat full of fish. You just have to make sure you pay attention to what you're doing. This way if you catch a fish you can figure out what you're doing, do that you can recreate what you just did. This leads to finding a pattern. Good luck friend

I'm planning on buying a map next time I head out there. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as I get the boat ready to go my engine on my truck starts overheating. Greaaat. I'll probably be on Anna again this Saturday. We'll see if I can hook up on some more fish. The other day was my first carolina rig bass. Pretty stoked. Thanks guys.

Just got a new outboard for my 14ft jonboat and hit Lake Anna today. I got a tip from a generous fellow angler Nitrofreak about some spots but was looking for some more pointers if anyone was willing to let some go. Send a PM or drop some notes here. Today I went across from the power plant and c-rigged some drop offs with a lizard. Caught a 2 lb fish. Got another one with a jig under a dock. But after those two fish. Nada. I've heard that Lake Anna can hand it to you. So I consider today to be a success. My best friend, poor guy couldn't get one in the boat. He had a couple bites but nothing solid. Also, is there anywhere to put in for free on Lake Anna? I put in at Sturgeon Creek Marina. But that was 8 bucks. If anyone could give a helping hand I would appreciate it.

What about Lake Anna?

Maybe like 2 or 3. It's hard to tell cause it's not in contrast to something you can compare it to.

Right on, so I went out and hit those drop offs and was even seeing fish down there. We got one bite in deep water all day. I must have thrown almost my entire plastic arsenal. Nothing on the c-rig. But what these fish don't know is that I'm very determined and very stubborn. They shall be mine, oh yes, they shall be mine.

Anyone tried the Devil's spear? I'm curious.

Also I've heard that creeping into a spot to fish with your fish finder is a bad idea. I usually turn it off when I pull into a more shallow structured area but should I be cutting it off while fishing in the deeper water? Say 10-15ft do I need to turn it off then? Thanks for all the responses. I had an incredible day yesterday. Didn't catch a thing for 3 hours, then soon enough wham I was nailing them left and right. Then a massive fish snapped my line with the last of my brush hogs. I must've went through 6 of those bad boys. I was catching them all in an area with heavy brush an hour before sunset. Still no luck with deeper water, I tried though. I'll be back at it again tomorrow.

I have the same reel and have the same problems and I've had it roughly the same amount of time. DO NOT TAKE IT APART. I cursed for an hour and a half trying to get the gears realigned. My advice is to take it to be serviced. I was told it was something about my gears weren't aligned. Mine still makes the noise. I'm taking it tomorrow or should I say today to get it fixed. I'm just hoping it's a couple bucks and not like 50. That'd be have the cost of the reel. I tried oiling it and it helped but the noise just came back. I thought it was just me and some bad luck with reels this being the second I've bought this season, the other I took back cause I had it malfunction on me 2 times. It wasn't the BP Pro Qual though. If you go to a tackle shop near you they can either fix it or give you someone's number of who can. Good luck to you.

Yeyuh! Commonwealth Represent!

I have found a Secret lake that I have been fishing for a couple months now. Low pressured in fishing. I rarely see anyone out there, and I'm out there all the time. Early in the spring the water level was up and I was nailing 3-4lb fish. Even caught my PB 9 lbs out there. The water level has gone down and so I don't catch as many big fish but I do catch at least 1 3-4lb fish every time I go out. So the fishing is good. The only thing is I'm catching a lot more dinks now in those places I was catching bigger fish. I'm guessing with the heat and lower water level these fish are going deeper. This is the problem I'm facing. There's a lot of water in the 10-15 foot range, and some depths that shoot down to 30ft. There's also a handful of lay down trees that stick up and out in the 10-15 foot water. I've never fished open deep water and I'm wondering how do I approach it? I've used my fish finder to locate ridges, drop offs, and deeper water structure but not too many fish have produced running cranks, and trying a t-rig. C-rig? Drop shot dragged? I love fishing t-rigged plastics and jigs but I just don't feel confident in using them in deep open water like that. What are your opinions?

How do you guys fish it, I'm looking to get my girl started on bass fishing. I thought going with a Senko might work but if this is a productive method I'm interested.

Water level was perfect this weekend and so was the weather except for today it rained a majority of the day. We nailed quantity and quality fish. Both Large Mouth and Small Mouth. Even some cats at night. We'll be hitting the river again in a month or so. Great time was had by all.

We're going down the the river on yaks starting at mile 1 til 18.

Going down the Shenandoah this weekend. We're going down Friday-Sunday. Possible thunderstorms. So I'll be bringing a rain jacket. We're starting at 1 and going til... well I'm not sure how far. I was wondering if anyone could give me a heads up on what's working. I was gunna get some Gitzit tubes I've heard those are productive. I'm going for smallies and large mouth. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

The Bitsy Minnow. I always tie one on for my girlfriend so she'll be entertained while fishing ha. Soon I'll get her worm fishing with me. But yeah the Bitsy always produces. Whenever it gets slow, the Bitsy I will throw.

I've been curious to try out Huntingrun is it any good? I've heard it's good but I've also heard it's slow.

The lake I'm fishing at the water level has gone down a good 4ft. Earlier in the season just after spawn the water was up and we were nailing big bass. Now we still catch a good sized fish almost every time we go out but not nearly as much as before. Where should I be looking to locate these big fish again? Nitro you said fishing 20 yards offshore for Anna would that be a good idea to try in the lake I'm fishing?

Yes there are chain pickerel in the lake, so it is possible. As far as Trilene goes, I'm a little shaky on the idea. I've heard bad things about it. But I will change my line out. I'll give the Palomar knot a try. Thanks all for the input