Sam

Yes, in tournaments you have to have your PFD on when the big motor is operational unless the trolling motor is down and the boat is moving slow, although the big motor is powering the watercraft. You can remove your PFD in a tournament once you turn off the big motor.

OK. Thought it might be kick boxing. Stay warm.

Thanks. Very sad news. Very upsetting news. I hope Nik is OK and they will find him, soon.

Yep, try to swim half hour a day for three or four days a week. I go to a recovery pool that is 96* and it is heaven. They will drop the temperature down to 92* as summer approaches. You need a doctor's prescription to go there and I have one due to my knee replacement. And I only take people on my boat who can swim. No swim - no boat ride. P.S. When growing up in south Louisiana I swam in the Mississippi Sound, Gulf and Lake Pontchartrain with no problem. However, now I don't swim in any body of water where they can see me but I can't see them!!!

Richmond is up to 28 and the city finally plowed our street. Staying in and watching sports today.

Great perspective on the baits we use. Actually, other than for a fluke, finesse worm, some frogs or crankbaits, our baits don't look like anything in nature. And the bass attack whatever we throw. So why do they do this and why do they love Senkos and other stick baits like YUM dingers? Since a bass will either 1) attack the bait out of aggravation; 2) attack the bait because it is hungry; or 3) attack a bait to prevent other bass from eating it first, there are no other reasons a bass will look at the bait, think about it, decide to kill or eat it, and then suck it up. The baits are produced to catch us, the fishermen. Advertisements are designed to catch us, the fishermen. And of course, baits are designed to attract bass and other fish to hit them even though they don't imitate anything in nature. If the bass, as an animal, was not so aggressive, we would not catch them with our buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, brush hogs, creature baits, and other baits that don't really resemble forage. Just a fact of life.

Took my son and grandson fishing the Disney water. We had a blast. Consider contacting one of the guides at Disney. I don't believe you have to be staying at the park as you pay with your credit card after the trip. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/fishing/ My son nailed a four pounder while my five year old grandson had fun reeling them in, one after another after another after another....... And you can bring your girlfriend, too. Have a fun and safe trip. Let us know what you do and post some pics.

JT, what is your photo showing? It is too fuzzy to make out. Thanks.

The temperature at 5:30 AM on Saturday, January 6th at my house in Richmond, Virginia is 3*. What is the temperature at your home???

Right. The drop shot rig is a real finesse rig with light line (under 8 pounds) and a light wire hook. In Japan they fish the drop shot on two-pound test. I have some two-pound but have not used it to date.

Celibacy can be a choice in life, or a condition imposed by circumstances. While attending a Marriage Encounter Weekend, Boudreaux and his wife Marie listened to the instructor declare, ...'It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other.' He addressed the men, 'Can you name and describe your wife's favorite flower?' Boudreaux leaned over, touched Marie's arm gently and whispered, 'Gold Medal, All-Purpose, isn't it?' And thus began Boudreaux's life of celibacy....

I don' have a pet. In fact, I don't want any plants in the house, too.

Yes, and I lost one and had to buy another rearming kit as I could not find them anywhere. Now you tell me to call Mustang!!!! Thanks. Will do next time I lose those darn little yellow things. And by the way, in Virginia the DG&IF conservation officers can check the expiration date of your CO2 cartridges in your vest and issue you a citation if they have expired. Just a word to the wise.

Way to go, Fred! Time has arrived to buy a lottery ticket!!!

As Tom said, you want to have the bait fall straight down when fishing a drop shot. If you decide to cast it out, which is also done with a drop shot, the bait will fall straight down on a spinning setup as opposed to flowing back towards you as it falls with a baitcaster. Also, you don't need the power of a baitcasting reel to set the hook with a drop shot. You just life the rod's tip to set the hook. Of course, you can still set the hook hard with a drop shot but it is designed to nail the bass by using a soft hook setting approach. You can still use a baitcaster, but using a spinning rig is easier and you can use lighter line, too. Give it a try and let us know how you do. That is, after the snow and ice melts away!!!!

Yep. I hit a mudflat on the Chickahominy River that I had no idea was there. Lucky for me I powered off it and did not damage the motor or hull.

12, I have friends who are excellent boaters and bass fishermen who have fished the Historic James River hundreds of times and they got stuck on a mudflat. Friends could not pull them off so they stayed there and waited for high tide to free the boat. So being familiar with a body of water does not mean you know of any changes on the body of water's bottom. Also, when we had a drought in Virginia about ten years ago, the guys in my bass club went to Lake Chesdin and walked around to see what was on the bottom. You can imagine their surprise when they found a large area of tree stumps that we had no idea they were there and we fly over them all the time in our boats. We lost an excellent bass fisherman and family guy on Lake Gaston when his Ranger got flipped over as he left a creek and went into the main lake. His boater was saved by a law enforcement officer who was near by but the boater did not survive. He knew Lake Gaston like you know the back of your hand. Bodies of water are live animals, always changing, always dangerous.

Awful situation. My bass club is very sensitive to any angler who is not at the weigh-in at the appointed time. We start to call him on his cell phone as soon as we realize he is not there and he has not told anyone he would not be weighing-in and going home. Prayers are with everyone involved. Hope the guy made it to the shore and is in some grass keeping warm. Lets all hope for some good news.

Before you take the motor apart, do the following: Option One 1. Get a water bottle and take a big swig of water. 2. Put lips on hole and force the water into the tube. 3. This works while on the water, too. Second Option 1. Get a long pipe cleaner and shove it into the hole. 2. Move it back and forth a few times. Third Option Keep long pipe cleaner in hole when storing boat to keep bugs out of the small vent. After doing options 1 and 2 start the motor to see if it is working correctly. If not, you probably need a new water pump.

I second the guided fishing trip. Use the Internet to find guides and places to fish. If you want to go 100% first class, go to a destination that has a lodge and great fishing together, like Saltgrass Lodge in Louisiana. Check it out and then find something along those lines. Or a trip to Branson and the BPS and Lodge plus fishing. Good luck and have fun. Took my wife who grew up on a Pennsylvania dairy farm down to Louisiana for a redfish fishing trip and we had a ball. She had the time of her life. Good suggestion you made for consideration.

Welcome, JT. We have a large contingent of Virginia guys and gals plus a bunch in the greater geographical Richmond area. Looking forward to reading your posts and input. Happy New Year!

Turtle, I just remembered the "Hot Side" of Lake Anna. I bet it has grass and pads due to the nuclear generation plant discharged water. The problem is that the "Hot Side" is a private lake and you have to know someone to get on it. And I have no idea if there is grass and pads on the lake with all the cold weather we are having in Virginia. Wish I could be of more help.

No, but I have the Grass Goat from Robbie at Propeller Dynamics and it works on all rivers and lakes I have used it. I can't recall any body of water this time of the year that would have the vegetation you are seeking. You may have to wait until this summer to properly test it.

The Bait Monkey loves you.