Sam

Are you using a baitcaster or spinning rig? I use between 10 to 17 pound test monofilament for baitcasters for treble hook baits and topwaters. For my spinning setups, I use either braid or fluorocarbon between 8 to 12 pounds. Make sure the braid is the same "diameter" as your fluorocarbon line if you are using fluorocarbon line as your leader. I also use fluorocarbon with braid backing on the spool to save line. Fluorocarbon line is a "heavy" line and it can be difficult to control on a spinning rig if you go higher than 8 pound test. And 8 pound test can go bonkers with line twist, too. But using 8 pound test for Senkos, Ned rigs and other light worm techniques (drop shot, shaky head, Texas rigs, unweighted trick worms and Shad Raps) is the highest test I will use.. Now, for some secrets that everyone knows to help line control. These apply to spinning rigs for your finesse fishing and you can use some for you baitcasters. 1. When spooling a spinning reel make sure the line goes onto the spool in a counter clock-wise manner. 2. Do not over fill your spinning reel. Leave at least an eight of an inch from the top of the line to the top of the spool's rim. A little more space won't hurt but try not to exceed that eighth of an inch. The more line you have the easier it will get twisted and you will have to cut it out and retie your bait. 3. When spooling, spray five or six shots of the Kevin Van Dam Lure and Line Conditioner on the line you have just spooled onto the reel. You do this as you spool the line and then give it a big dose after the line is on the reel. You want to do this at least 24 hours before you use the reel and then during the day as you use the reel. 4. Read the line parameters on the spinning reel and do not exceed them. 5. Read the rod's parameters and make sure your line test and bait weights are within the rod's range for best performance. 6. Be ready for line twist. It comes with spinning rigs. It's the law. When you get line twist you DO NOT OPEN THE SPINNING REEL'S BAIL. KEEP IT SHUT, LOOSEN THE DRAG, AND PULL THE LINE OFF THE SPOOL. If you open the bail the line will blast off the spinning reel. Then check the line for nicks, cuts, abrasions, etc. by running the line over your thumb nail. If you find any small change in the line you have to cut it out and retie as that part of the line is damaged and you have lost your test poundage. 7. Bring at least one additional spinning reel with you so you can change out spinning reels when you run out of line or you get a bad twisting situation. What are the pros doing? The pros are using 8 pound test braid on their spinning reels to avoid line twist; get better feedback as to what is on the bottom via the braid/finger contact; using the same fluorocarbon line test diameter for their leader when finesse fishing; and cutting their line twist problems down to almost zero. They use braid for Senkos and flipping and pitching all types of plastics. with and without using a leader. I know I gave you too much information to a simple question. Just remember to use the lightest test possible. Good luck.

Yep. West Virginia people are some of the greatest people in the world. Always seem to help each other. The devastation was mind boggling. One would expect the scope of the damage to be caused by a hurricane along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, not inland in a mountain terrain. Even The Greenbrier suffered damage and had a golf tournament cancelled. Hope you and your family are OK and everything will start to be put back together. Prayers to you and your family and friends for a safe recovery.

Great news. Thanks for sharing. Congrats to you and our wife. She is a pretty little girl.

Hit the area to the west of the Pony Pasture rocks where the kids hang out. Park and walk west on River Road until you see the island close to the road. Wade out to the other side of the island and look for the rocks. Good smallie fishing in the rocks but very dangerous. Have a buddy with you and wear a PFD. But before you head out call Dance's Sporting Goods store in Colonial Heights and ask if they still carry the grape scented 1-inch grubs from Wright Bait Company. If so, head down I-95 and pick up a few packs. Ask the Dance people if they have a 1/64 size jig head. If Dance does not have the 1/64 jig heads then drive all the way back up I-95 to Bass Pro Shops and get some Jig Head Ball 1/64 jig heads in silver or gold. Rig up an ultra light or light power 5-5 or 6-0 spinning rod and small (1000 size) spinning reel with 4-pound test with the jig head and white grubs and you are ready for a day of fun and action. Handling 4-pound test can be a pain so you may want to go up to 6-pounds. But not heavier test line. Cast into the rocks and let the current bring the grub back to you. Remember, the Historic James River is very unforgiving so go with a friend and wear that PFD. Have fun and let us know where you go and what you catch.

Great having you with us. Enjoy your Tracker and just remember to be up to date on the Maryland and Virginia boating regulations, especially the one in Virginia about having at least one throw cushion on the deck at all times. Looking to reading your posts.

Welcome to the Forum. Always nice to have another Virginia guy join us. No idea if anyone out your way is with us but if they are and they see Giles County I am sure they will respond, Beautiful area of the world where you live. Now go out and do some fishing!!!!

Glad to read your post and that you are alive and well. Let us know how you did.

Buzzbaits and Toads - Snaps are OK All other topwaters you need to tie direct so you do not impact the movement of the bait and make it look "unnatural." Remember, a lot of research and development went into topwater baits to make them move in different natural manners and a snap will cause the nose of the bait to bite the water and cause the bait to act "different" than what it is supposed to do.

Try Glimmer Blue plastics, #043 Zoom. Try Clear with Large Black Flakes Senko, #187. Try translucent crankbaits. Go with a 4" finesse worm fished wacky with a small drop shot hook and a 1/16 tungsten weight on top of the hook's eye on 6 pound fluorocarbon line. Cast; let sink to bottom; let sit for 60-seconds; then slowly hop it back to you. Go with same 4" finesse worm on a drop shot and cast out; let sit; then "shake, shake, shake the bait" as you bring it back to you, slowly. The movement of the bait will lead to aggravation strikes. The more shakes the more it will attract the fish as bass are inquisitive animals. Use rod tip to shake the bait and move it back to you in small movements. If the water is as clear as you say it is then the bass will be getting a good look at your baits. If they don't look like what the bass are feeding on they will ignore it or hit it out of frustration. So check out what forage is in the lake. Now, one other suggestion: You say there is rip rap on the bottom. Sounds like a challenge for a jig and pig that mimics a crawfish. Blue/Black or Green Pumpkin or Peanut Butter and Jelly. Go with a small jig for starters and work up to heavier weights. Chances are that the bass are feeding on bottom forage or baitfish that are in the rip rap. Try a Carolina Rig to hit the bottom and about a foot off the bottom. Lizards, brush hogs and the plastics of your choice may work. If you can see any changes in the rip rap, big rocks to small rocks, or other changes in the bottom structure then fish those areas. Sorry to say you will have to experiment and keep a log of each day you go fishing so you can try to find the pattern. Good luck.

Money and product. If KVD, who is a businessman as well as a bass fisherman, can get a much stronger deal from another reputable sponsor he may jump at it. But he seems to be a loyal person who has hooked his trailer to Quantum and so far I have not heard or read anything that would change this situation.

Docks. They are a challenge. We have docks that sit close to the water; floating on the water; high above the water; wood docks; metal docks; docks with boats and jet skis tied to them; docks with brush piles and grass around them; docks with piers; docks without piers; docks in shallow water; docks in deeper water; docks with lots of support beams under them; docks with stairs leading into the water; docks with water slides; docks with fishing poles; docks with nothing on them; docks with furniture; docks with people; docks with dogs; docks with people swimming around them; docks with guys fishing off of them; docks with boat houses and junk boats in them; docks with $500,000+ boats in their boathouses; docks with big distances between support beams so it is easy to skip your bait under the dock; docks with close support beams meaning you can't skip your bait under them; docks that get the morning sun; docks that get no sun; docks that get sun all day long; docks on main rivers; docks on creeks; docks on the main lakes; and I am sure the guys can add to this list. So which types of docks do you have? Let's figure it out. You are in a cove. No high school girls in bikinis. No dogs. No people. Just you, the docks and the bass. You are moving as quietly as you can. Being stealth. Having your rod and reel cocked and loaded. So here is a suggestion: fish 'em all. Hit them one by one, throwing anything you want. Skip that Senko or shaky head Zoom trick worm under either or both. Fish out from the dock. fish parallel to all three sides. Throw to where the dock/pier hits the bank. Go with a frog all around the dock. Stay on each dock for at least 15 minutes, changing boat angles and your presentations. Throw a shaky head followed by a Senko under the docks. Run a frog all around the place. Go with a crankbait or your plastics, like a brush hog or lizard or crawfish, dropped by any outside pilings. Get your bait into the shaded areas under the dock. If you have bluebird skies the bass will be under and around the docks. If you have cloudy skies the bass will be moving all over the place. If water temperatures are high the bass will look for deeper and cooler water. If there is any grass around any dock fish it as the bass will hand out on the grass, stumps and rocks around docks. After the spawn the big ladies will go under docks to recuperate. Look for docks that have fishing equipment. The people are catching fish, probably catfish or bowfin, but they are actively catching fish and there may be a hidden brush pile around or under the dock. Lots to know about docks. But no matter how you slice it, the bass love docks and will sit under them for hours, just waiting for you to come by. Just go out and fish those docks and let us know what happens when you start to throw other baits and techniques. Now, to answer your query; "are the bass more likely to be on the docks with shallow water or docks on the deeper side of the water?" Answer: Both. Depends on how close to the water's surface the dock sits. Closer to the top of the water the more comfortable are the bass. Having deeper water near by enhances the dock experience as the bass have a refuge to run to for safety when needed. So fish both. Good luck.

Just as you get to Carnegie Hall in New York City. Practice, practice, practice. Take that one presentation with you and throw it all day. Throw it for two or three days until you get it under control and you have confidence in it. Make adjustments as necessary to fit your style. It will drive you crazy at first but then you get into it and you will learn a new technique or bait.

Dre, first, if you take too many topwaters with you it can be confusing as to which ones to use and for how long. So I take Cavitron buzzbaits and RICO poppers with me unless I want to change out to a Whooper Plooper, toad, buzz frog, and of course, the famous frog. but only one at a time. Otherwise, it can get frustrating and you change your baits too fast. Most of us start out in the early morning and also fish topwaters as the sun sets. No specific reason why, we just do it. Maybe to get it out of the way and go to our confidence baits. If there is "chop" on the water during the day or I just feel like throwing Cavitron I will do so no matter what time of the day it is. There are no "in stone" rules about what to throw and when so experiment. And I like throwing the Cavitron around Cyprus trees and laydowns. You will be surprised at the number of strikes I get during the day with my Cavitron. So you are not doing anything wrong. The bass may be in deeper water; just finished eating; in a holding pattern in a lake or pond after a cold front has passed, or they just don't like you. The most fun I have with topwaters is hitting my Double Secret Pond with Cavitron's and frogs as the sun comes up. Then switching to a Whooper Plooper after a half hour of buzzbaits and frogs. They will hit the Whooper Plooper until the sun rises above the horizon. Then it is to spinnerbaits, crankbaits, wake baits, finesse plastics, brush hogs, plastics, etc. Now with all that said, you need to hit YouTube to see and listen to what the guys say about topwaters. So go to YouTube and search for Cavitrons, topwater frogs, wake baits, RICO's, etc. and then come back to this Forum and add to your knowledge base. Always add a trailer hook to your topwater buzzbaits. More guys will chime in and give you their input so get ready for the onslaught. And think Cavitron for buzzbaits and get a white one and a black one and start casting all over the place!!!!

When I go to the link it is about shore fishing, not ducks. Ducks taste good.

Kevin, a few suggestions: 1. Please post in the Central section where Louisiana is discussed. 2. Be sure to always wear purple and gold when fishing. 3. Always yell "Geaux Tigers!" when setting the hook. 4. Keep us up to date on your great fishing adventures in Louisiana. 5. Post some good Cajun recipes for us all to enjoy. (First you make a roux). 6. With a name like Guidry, fishing is always great! Catch some for me.

Sandy, as you know, is a small impoundment, so all will have a fun time making your milk runs around the lake. The spawn is over, for the most part, so anything goes. You will have to find the patterns each day. With Sandy being small you can have a lot of fun trying many varieties of baits as you travel around the lake. Topwaters, crankbaits, Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and plastics. Senkos can be great.....then again. Zoom Junebug or green pumpkin with black flake trick worms on a shaky head presentation. Anything goes. And the smaller the baits the more hits you will get, just like at other places. Briery is another story. Can be slow fishing but very rewarding with the big ones that live in that body of water. Just be sure your trolling batteries are at full charge each day. Have at least one floatation cushion on the deck at all times. VG&IF conversation officers can appear at the ramp at any time. They are very nice guys and gals and they may be able to give you some pointers. Wish I could give you the exact bait and presentation to use but as you know, those little green monsters just keep changing their minds. Have fun and be sure to let us know how you all do. Since this is your firs post please do the following for everyone: 1) list your geographical location to help us give you more precise data; 2) go to Introductions and introduce yourself to us so we will know your level of bass fishing; and 3) hang around with us. Don't post and run, never to return. Good luck to you and your friends.

Awful situation. Let's all hope that this will be the last one like this in the USA and around the world.

Darn. I guess the bass are on the side by the trees. Salisbury Golf Club. Mondays. When the club is closed. Park on King Lynn's Road across the street from the easement. From Robious Road, go on Salisbury Road to King Lynn's Road and turn right. When the road makes a 90 degree turn to the right get ready to park. Walk on the easement between the two houses and when you get past the two homes. As you enter the golf club property you can go to the right or left. I like the pond on the right. It is the one with the golf cart bridge over one end. You will encounter some golfers playing when the course is closed but so far no one has said anything. Good luck and let me know how you do.

Go to "Links" at the top of the Forum page and then select Bass Clubs. Check out the Virginia FLW and BASS data and send them an email. There are bass clubs in your area plus you are between Richmond and Tidewater so if you don't mind driving to meetings or launch ramps you can check them out. Go to Virginia and contact the Federation's plus you can hit on the clubs that are listed. Good luck.

As Blackshirt states above, please contact a local tackle shop or some of the guys who fish tournaments in one of the big box stores as there are many "Tuesday Night, Sunday, Wednesday Night, etc." tournaments all over the place. If you win any money in any tournament then you are considered a "professional." Of course, there are levels of professionals in bass fishing so if you want to be a well known "professional" you have to win tournaments and fish and win the FLW and BASS Northern Open tournament trail events. Also consider fishing the Fishers of Men tournaments. Please introduce yourself in the Introductions section of the Forum. Good luck and we look to read about you in Bass Times real soon!

Scarborough, you prepare as a nonboater just as you would for a boater. Review maps; speak with others about the waters you will be fishing for their input; have two or three plans of attack; be as flexible as you can; bring two or three of each hard bait you want to throw; but most important - speak with the boater to get an idea of what he will be throwing and if he wants to fish fast or slow. As for rods, remember you have limited space adjacent to your seat and in the back of the boat so plan accordingly. One good baitcaster setup ca handle a number of presentations (buzzbaits, Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs). Try to limit your spinning rods to handle those presentations you have the most confidence (shaky head, Ned rig, Texas rigs, drop shot, Shad Raps, poppers). If you believe a Carolina rig will be a good choice then have that rod/reel combo rigged and ready to go. Always bring an extra spinning and baitcaster reel just in case you have a bad backlash or encounter problems with your reels. Speak with the boater while on the water. Note what the throws and where he goes so you can mark your map when you get home. If he is throwing a crankbait you may want to throw a spinnerbait. If he gets lots of hits on the crankbait then you change over to a crankbait. If he is getting hits on a Junebug trick worm on a shaky head you may want to try green pumpkin on a shaky head. In other words, with each of you throwing search baits until you find the pattern you both can be successful. Being a nonboater can be a wonderful learning experience. Some boaters will like having you with them while others will not speak to you. Some fish fast while others just plug along. You can learn a lot by being a nonboater so go out there, have a good time, and make notes when you get home as to what the boater threw, where and on what.

Yes.

As long as that young man stays interested in bass fishing then it makes no difference what the fish weighs. And speaking of catching those big ones, I love it when the TV guys pull in a 2 pounder and right away it is at least 5 pounds. Bill Dance for one is one of the biggest culprits followed closely by Jimmy Houston and Roland Martin.

Call Ed. Allen's and ask them: 804-966-5368 A closer place would be the state park but if you want to hit Chick Lake do it now before the grass takes over. Have fun and let us know what you guys catch. And if you go send me a PM and I will be more than happy to give you guys some input on Chick Lake.

PRZ, how about contacting the California fish and game commission and ask them if they have any knowledge about the lake and if their records reflect the types and number each species.