Sam

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Glad you decided to join us. Just ask your questions and we will do all possible to give you our input.

Ed. Allen is on the Chickahominy Lake, not the river. I believe there is a passage across the dam into the Chick River. Bass will be on their beds. So some suggested baits: Crankbaits Spinnerbaits Chatterbaits Shaky Head Trick Worms Finesse Worms Carolina Rig with Lizard Lipless Crankbaits and Jerkbaits Lizard to drag through any beds you can see (Don't forget your polarized sunglasses) First thing in the morning frogs, buzzbaits, poppers or toads in the areas where the pads are or will be, very soon. Fish the dam area in Chick River. As for Chick Lake, the two creeks, Lacy and Johnston (find them on a map) should be good as many places on Chick Lake this time of year. You will have to throw all you have until you find the pattern. With all the rain we are getting yesterday and today the Chick may be a little stained to dirty. Lots of creeks to fish plus the canals in the subdivision. Get a GMCO map of the Chick and Chick Lake and you will find many places to fish. Please do two things for us: First, go to Introductions and introduce yourself. Second, add your physical location so we can help you better by knowing where you fish in the future. Be safe and good luck.

X2 as to what Catt penned. As you know, water temperature is the controlling factor for the spawn. No idea where you are or your bass fishing experience so we can give you limited input. If you have any dogwood trees where you live keep an eye on them. When they bloom the bass are on their beds. And one more point: Not all bass go to spawn at the same time. The spawn in your area can last up to a month after it begins. So if everything is in alignment as you say then all you have to do is look in the coves and protected areas for the beds. Please go to Introductions and introduce yourself and add your location to your avatar. Welcome to the Forum.

There are no formal rules on how to set up your Texas rig for any type of plastics. As stated above, the bass really don't care. I like having the flat surface on the bottom with the hook on top. You do it anyway you want. Just go out and do some fishing.

Hey Jason, ask your questions and give us your responses. Welcome to the Forum.

Marie wakes during the night to find that Boudreaux was not in their bed. She puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for him. She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front him. He appears deep in thought, just staring at the wall. She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of coffee. "What's da matter, cher?" she whispers as she steps into the room. "Why you down here dis time of da night?" Boudreaux looks up, "Do you remember 20 years ago when we was dating, and you was jus' 17?" he asks solemnly. Marie is touched thinking her husband is so caring and sensitive. "Mais yes, I do," she replies. Boudreaux pauses. The words are not coming easily. "Do you remember when you father caught us in da back seat of my car?" "Yes, I remember," says Marie, lowering herself into a chair beside him. Boudreaux continues, "Do you remember when he shoved a shotgun in ma face and said, 'Either you marry ma daughter, or I will send you to da jail for 20 year' " "I remember dat too" she replies softly. Boudreaux wipes another tear from his cheek and says "I would have gotten out today!"

You look like a good meal!!!!

Hey Dran, welcome to the Forums. Always could use a Metarie guy to help with suggestions and tell us some stories. Just remember to wear your purple and gold and yell "Geaux Tigers" when you set that hook! And where do go to fish? Out of Shell Beach? Venice? Lac Des Allemands? The Atcafalaya? Into the Biloxi? Audubon Park lagoon? City Park lagoon? Let us know. Do you see the Mardi Gras parades in Metarie? Or do you go to the French Quarter for the fun? Great having you with us. Geaux Tigers!!!!! Safety? In Louisiana and Mississippi? Like wear your PFD? Watch for other boaters in the marsh and swamps? Feed the alligators marshmallows and see if they follow you around? Install your running lights on your boat before first light? Head out before dawn because you know where to go? Be sure to have your shotgun loaded and hidden in the boat with the safety off so you can blast any duck or geese you see, even if it is out of season? Don't worry about those storms - they are far away as noted by the lightning. What does "posted" mean anyway? They don't own the water. Sharks around the menhaden boats? Never. It is OK to go swimming. Let's tie onto an oil platform and try for some big ones. The jon boat can handle the waves. No reason to lock the shack, who would want to break in it on the bayou? Come on Paul, what could go wrong in Louisiana or Mississippi? Share some stories with us.

No, not while in the boat and if I do it is usually when they are on their beds. Sometimes when on a pond's bank if I am quiet and do not spill my shadow on the water. This does not include seeing the bass hit the surface striking at a topwater prey.

I want to learn Toledo Bend. What is a good bait to use in this situation???? Catt, should I start at the top or bottom of this bank?

Fountain Lake is the only place in the park that has quality bass. Other ponds have none or small ones.

The plug once. And my wife was with me which made it worse. She still tells others about it and how I almost sunk the boat. Had to return home from about 20 miles down the road heading to a tournament to get the rear seat that I forgot as my nonboater wanted the seat to fish. Otherwise, no problems.

The morning sun will hit the western and northern banks of the lake, warming the water a few degrees. This temperature increase will attract the bass. You will need to view the northern and western banks and decide which one is getting hit by the sun's rays when the sun comes up. Water temperature controls the bass' behavior and eating schedule. Since the lake will still be cold on May 6th you need to study cold water bass fishing articles, DVDs and YouTube videos. In addition, look up cold water fishing in the search box in the upper right hand corner of this page. Jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits may be the ticket. A jig and pig can also be very effective. Fish slow. And once you catch one look at it's color. If the color is silver then bass is holding low in the water column. If the bass is green he is up towards the surface. Bass will tend to go to the warmer water, even a degree or two. Good luck in your tournament. Be sure to let us know how you do.

Remember, tungsten is very sensitive and it will transmit, via the braid, back to your hand and fingers what is happening underwater. A pro told me that the braid will not spook the fish. He told me to tie directly to the bait and don't worry about the leader. Use a heavier weight to keep bait down and to feel what is on the bottom. Nothing you can do about the wind bow in the line. You have to live with it. Have fun. Looks like you are on the right path. Tight lines!!!!

Edit: @Sam, where does scent rank on the order of how bass locate a lure/prey? Scent is also taste and it can cause the bass to hold onto your plastics a little longer, giving you more time to feel the bite and then set the hook. Scent also is supposed to cover any other chemicals on the plastics, including any from your hands or while in storage. Some scents claim they can be smelled by the bass. Scientific studies have said that the molecules from scents are too large to fit into the bass' nostrils, thereby making them a mute issue. Lots of discussions on scents on this forum so please search for them and see what everyone says. Check out MegaStrike on the Internet for information on what it does and how it works. Using scent boils down to confidence. If you have confidence in it, then use it.

And I forgot to mention to Croak to Texas rig the plastics to make them weedless.

Sure. No problem. Then try a chartreuse color. Followed by Firetiger. If there are crabs where you are fishing, which may not happen due to all the freshwater that has entered the Potomac, go with a Moccasin Blue or a "blue base" plastic or crab imitation. White spinnerbaits may be the answer. Black spinnerbaits or crankbaits may be the answer. Black painted lipless baits may be the answer. Sexy Shad may be the color. What about buzzbaits in white o black? Or dark blue? Remember how bass search for prey: First, by feeling the vibrations in the water; second, by hearing the prey; and third, by seeing the prey. Pick baits that you can mimic how a bass can feel their vibrations and then the presentations they are seeking. However, you have to remember that the Potomac is a "different" type of river with all of its grass. Sometimes a silent presentation, like a Senko or shaky head or drop shot, can work wonders in the grass. I have caught the bass on a pink three-inch Senko on a drop shot rig in between clumps of grass on the Potomac. You have to experiment. Also, learn how to punch through the grass with a heavy weight on the Potomac. Experiment. The fun of bass fishing.

Make it one of you staples and you will not be disappointed. And don't forget its cousin, the drop shot. For your shaky head, I suggest you consider going with a Junebug or green pumpkin with black flake Zoom trick worm on a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce Provider jig head (or a jig head of your choice) and rig it on a spinning rig with 8 pound fluorocarbon on a 6'6" medium heavy fast action rod. Throw the plastics everywhere. In wood, brush, under docks, along the bank, in grass, along seawalls, around piers, under and around trees and brush and everywhere else. Water color and temperature seem to have very little impact on the shaky head. The shaky head is the first plastic technique I throw after topwaters and if a bass misses your topwater you can throw a shaky head back at the spot (although I do throw a Senko) to try to get her to come back and eat the trick worm. I then continue to throw it as my main plastic during the day, intermingled with the crankbaits. Good luck and have fun at the Indy 500. Dewd, have you tried braid as your main line? No leader, just tie the braid directly to the hook's or bait's eye If you need a weight to with a tungsten weight, the lightest you can use in your water conditions. Braid + tungsten = outstanding feel of what is going on in the water. No weight for your Senkos. Rig them wacky style so they float like a butterfly. You can set up a baitcaster or spinning rig with this braid or braid/tungsten setup. And always watch your line for it to either move or on a cast, stop falling. Seeing your line move increases your heart rate and if it stops on the fall, set the hook!!!! You have to let the bass run with your plastic for a few seconds before crossing his eyes with a strong overhead hookset. Give this setup a shot and then decide if it helps you feel those bites. And use a scent on your plastics so the bass will hold onto the plastic a little longer. WARNING: The guys in my bass club will hit some structure on the bottom and call it a strike. This could happen to you so be alert as to what you feel using this setup. It could be a new personal best or a stick on the bottom.

Old oak flooring is beautiful. Hope you can find what you are seeking.

Riazuli, no, I am not an expert on the Potomac but I will offer the following based on my experiences: Muddy or heavily stained water is usually from runoff due to rain, and we have had some powerful storms around the Potomac this month. The wind, especially from the east, will keep the water in the river and not let the muddy water move towards the bay. Once the winds die down the tides will take care of the muddy water. Check the Potomac Tides chart to note the tidal action coming up this weekend and into next week: http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/potomacsites.html If you are going to fish the Potomac on a regular basis save the tide chart in your favorites for easy future reference. Remember, you want an outgoing tide although the first hour of an incoming tide is good, too. Once the tide stops the bites usually stop until the tide starts to move again. I don't believe rain is in the forecast until next week so the river will start to go from muddy to heavily stained to stained. Fishing will improve each day. The Potomac has lots grass that keeps it clean. As stated above, once the grass starts to emerge and grow the water conditions will improve. And it is the grass that makes fishing the Potomac so good. The grass can be your friend or enemy so you need to look for baits that will not get hung up in the grass plus finesse and trick worms and including Senkos to throw in the open pockets around the grass. You may have some success with a lipless crankbait until the grass takes over. With the bass in the spawn you may not get a bite until the spawn is over for the majority of the bass. Don't let the water conditions bother you. Go out and do some fishing. Try to find some beds, which will be extremely difficult with the current water conditions, and coax those big ladies to hit your bait. Try different baits and techniques. White spinnerbaits can work as will plastics. Be safe, don't forget your needle nose pliers and your fishing license, and post some pics of what you catch.

Welcome, Graham. Keep us posted on your fishing adventures.

Great having you with us. Welcome! Keep us posted on your fishing exploits.

Good luck.