Sam

Well guys, my double secret pond in Dinwiddie County seems to have lost its population of the large ladies. Or the ladies are still on their beds. Hit the pond at noon today and caught 20 in two hours, but each was around a pound and less. They looked very healthy and put up some good fights but no big ones hit anything I threw. Caught one on a buzzbait and the rest on Senkos and drop shots. The pond owner's brother-in-law stopped by and told me that they are having problems with Osprey and eagles. This past Tuesday he saw an Osprey swoop down and grab a large bass and fly away with it. Seems she has been doing this since March and of course, being a protected bird of prey, no one can take her out. The eagles show up now and then and they, too, will fly down and grab a nice bass. The closest large body of water is Lake Chesdin, about 15 miles as the crows fly, so I am thinking the Osprey has a nest either at Lake Chesdin or near another pond as there are many ponds in this area of the county. As for the eagles, have not seen any eagles on Lake Chesdin for a long time so no telling where she has her nest. When the spawn is over the big ones will once again start moving around and making some nice memories. And the baby Ospreys and eagles will have started hunting on their own. Can't wait.

Would the guy who asked about rigging his trick worms upside down (hook on top of flat side) please PM me with the thread and I will get back to you via PM's. Thanks.

I would suppose the clerk is held responsible for any shortages and your payment offer blew his mind. He was probably thinking that if the roll is one quarter short it is up to him to make it up. Just my two cents.

Region 3 has their Yute Day event at Shields Lake and no one ever catches a bass. Nice to know there are some in there. But keep it to yourself as the patrons of Byrd Park have a history of taking the bass home for dinner.

I know that rock. Never have seen it totally under water. Keep up the good work.

A Great Lake smallie? Don't let VanDam know where you caught it! Congrats. Job well done. Now go out and break that record this year and post some pics. But watch our for VanDam. He knows you caught that beauty and he will be on the hunt.

OK, lets give this some thought. What is the water temperature? As Tom states above, the bass could be in the spawn cycle. The spawn cycle is a continuous adventure that can last over a month. All bass do not spawn during the same three or four days. And there can be a late spawn, too, like in August. I have seen that in Virginia rivers. So if the big ladies have finished fattening up for their time in the spawn or have completed their task and have lit a cigarette and are laid back to recuperate you will not get a bite. In fact, they will just hover in one place and watch your bait go by. I know. Happened to me on Lake Chesdin a few times. Big, beautiful ladies just enjoying the sunshine along a bulkhead and under a dock. We hit them on their heads and they were not interested in anything we offered. So be patient. The time will arrive later this summer when you will nail them unless you blow it by making lots of noise or having your shadow over the water or letting them see you. And the bass will go out deep. If you can't throw to the deep area you need to hit the pond at sunrise or at sunset when the bass are on the move and are feeding. Now, regarding the bluegills. They spawn after the bass so look for their beds and run a spinnerbait or a crankbait through the bluegill beds or spawning areas. Bluegills are the bass' natural enemy. Like LSU is Bama's natural enemy. Use a crawfish or bluegill colored bait or a big trick worm or a lizard. Bass hate lizards and will hit them at every chance. Please go to the Introductions and introduce yourself and if possible, nail down in Bama land where you live and do you go to Dreamland? We can give you better input if we know where you live and of course, fish. Welcome to the Forum.

First, obtain the water temperature. If cool, go to the north or west bank where the sun will warm the water the fastest. Hit all docks, piers, boathouses, wood, points, coves, creeks, marina's, rocks, bridges, grass pads, and anything else that looks like it can hold bass. If the water is warm you can go to the south and east bank and do the same thing as you did with the north or west bank. Throw a buzzbait and a popper for starters. Have a Senko tied onto a spinning rig to throw in case a bass misses your buzzbait or popper. Your goal is to find the pattern. Note the depth and where you get your strikes and fish those areas. You now are ready for your spinnerbaits, crankbaits, creature baits, jigs, swimming jigs, Shad Raps, Carolina rigs, Senkos, trick worms, finesse worms, creature baits, Chatterbaits, jerkbaits, Banjo Minnows, and shaky heads, Texas rigs, Mojo rigs, drop shots and the list goes on and on and on. But once you find the pattern you are set, for at least an hour. Then you start all over when the bite goes away. This is the fun of bass fishing. Every cast brings you one step closer to the nut-house.

OMG! You had to duck to go under that bridge. Then the water must have been up 4-feet or more. With all the rain I am not surprised the lake was high, but never have seen it that high. Too much water makes them hard to catch as too little water.

By colors by size.

There is an age limit to join bass clubs, usually it is 16 years old. Good luck and let us know if you join a bass club.

I use 1/8 and 1/4 jig heads so pegging is not an option for finesse fishing. I do use a peg when I have to punch through pads and grass.

I met the Costa guys and gals at the Classic a few years ago and they suggested a combination of colors. So I followed their advice and now have a pair of prescription Costa's that are excellent. What is the color? Darn if I know. I have it written down somewhere. But if you call Costa and ask them I am sure they can make a suggestion.

Go to Green Top, Cabela's or Bass Pro Shop and get a free copy of the DG&IF 2018 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia booklet. It lists the places to fish all over the state. Have fun!

Outstanding! Great information. Hopefully the research will continue into the future. Thanks for sharing.

If you can win enough tournaments to support your professional fishing dreams then by all means please do so. But as you know, fishing is an unforgiving sport. Top of the world today and in the outhouse tomorrow. We have seen posts on this Forum outlining the costs involved in professional fishing. You have the skills to win or do very well in tournaments that you can save money to continue your fishing career. We would love to see you in the Elites and then fish the Classic. We all on this Forum would be going wild for you to do well. So keep your dreams alive, always. Sometimes life gets in the way so have fun while you can. We are all pulling for you to do well.

Congrats! Just get your degree so you can support your fishing and when you get married.

Super!

Travis is da man! Congrats. Looking good.

Welcome to the Forum.

Not the rods, but the boat. I named her "The Goose." My father-in-law, who was a farmer and had a herd of milk cows, would name the calves after one of his three son's girlfriends. Seems my brothers-in-law went along and thought it was funny.

Go out there with your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut. Watch the boater and see what he does. Have a good time and make some great memories. Meet the other guys in the tournament and be happy for their results. And read what is penned above and do as they suggest. Let us know how you do. Good luck.

Yep

Jesse, we will hit Chesdin before the tournament so you will see the water clarity, temperature and if the bass have started moving up from the spawn. You also will be calling Dean and asking him what he is going to throw and what does he suggest you bring as for baits, although we will find out what they want the day we go out. I sent you a club roster with Dean's phone number. Dean has two sons your age. One just graduated from JMU and the other is a freshman at Tech. He is a great guy, even if he likes the Dallas Cowboys. Dean owns a real estate firm over by the airport. Now, as for getting ready. Consider the following baits for starters: Zoom Junebug finesse worm Zoom Junebug trick worm Senkos, color of your choice Lizards Buzzbaits Crankbaits Poppers Shad Raps Black and Blue Jigs with a Zoom Sapphire Blue Super Chunk or a Black Blue Super Chunk. You can use crawfish and bluegill colors, too. Sexy Shad is always a winner. When you call Dean you all can coordinate baits and techniques, and even shirts and pants. You will also need your PFD as we have a rule that when the big motor is running and the trolling motor is out of the water all in the boat have to wear their PFD's for safety. We will hit the long grass lines, marinas, by a bridge, docks, piers, wood, creek mouths, creeks, main lake points, coves, pads if they are up by then, and ride around see the lake's layout. Dean will take you to the places he has been successful on tournament day. You will need your polarized sun glasses in case some bass are still on their beds and you want to see them or what is under the surface. When you hit town you may want to get a GMCO map of Chesdin at BPS to mark as to where you caught fish with me and Dean. You add to this map and expand your knowledge of the lake on every adventure. What the guys tell you now will be totally different by the middle of May. The bass are on their beds now for the most part, with some finished, some on the beds, and others who have finished. Write down anything anyone adds to this site and get your rods, reels, tackle ready for some fun on Lake Chesdin. Fresh line is the secret to fishing success. Be sure your line is fresh. Bring cell phone for some pics. Blast off is at 5:30 so please be at the Seven Springs ramp by 4:45 or 5 AM. See you when you hit Richmond. Wow! A six pounder on Chesdin. Way to go! Congrats.