Sam

Tips: 1. Tie line directly to frog, no snaps. 2. Use mono as the line floats. 3. Use braid as the line floats but be prepared to lose some as braid has no stretch. 4. Take two pliers and holding the hooks with one, bend the hook tip outward a little, away from the body. You want to see space between the hook and frog's body. 5. Cut one leg to be shorter than the other. 6. Cast, wait for rings to clear out, then bring back in the rhythm of your choice. 7. Hits will come when frog stops so be ready at any time. 8. Count to 2 or 3 after frog is hit and then set the hook hard over your head. 9. A white or black/yellow color is a good color but you use the color you have confidence. 10. Move the frog like a frog and have move it on top of any pads and let it sit there. A bass may come out of the water to hit it so be ready. 11. Throw everywhere. Even in open water. 12. Throw onto the bank and then drag into the water, let sit, and then work it back to the boat. 13. If pond fishing, throw the frog parallel to the bank in both directions from where you are standing, if possible. 14. If you can skip the frog using a baitcaster do so under overhanging bushes or trees. 15. Squeeze the frog after 3 or 4 casts to remove any water that has gotten into the frog. 16. Read. Yes read. Read, read, and read some more about frog fishing. Try to find them on the Internet. 17. Check out YouTube for frog fishing: 18. Check out some of the pros' web sites to find any of their write-ups about frog fishing. As usual, Ike has a good one noted above but there are others out there. 19. Google "frog fishing" and note the videos that come up. 20. Last, don't get frustrated. Your hook up ratio may be 50% which is great. Your landing ratio will be lower. But that's frog fishing!!!!

John, as Richard said, sign that bass book. I caught a six-pounder to the left of the bridge heading towards the main lake right after going under the bridge on the pad line. Caught her on a Senko.

Senior moment.

Only problem with the Historic James is that you are blocked in due to the dams other than up at Watkins Landing. But the dams make it possible to head up current. You can go from Flatwater to Boshers Dam. At Watkins Landing you have the rapids about a half mile from the ramp as you head towards Charlottesville. Robious Landing is a good place. You can head west to the rapids or east to Boshers Dam. Get the GMCO map of the Upper James River at Bass Pro Shops and you can then have a visual of what I am speaking about. Have fun.

John, family boaters at Seven Springs are from around Chesterfield County. Plus the fact that the lady who manages the marina is there to collect the $10 ramp fee or give you advice on where to fish, etc. Chesterfield County police make rounds at Seven Springs during the day. And there is a restaurant plus very nice boats stored at the marina. The free Dinwiddie ramp has some nice people, too. However, no one manages the ramp. Dinwiddie sheriff deputies visit the ramp on weekends from time to time. People play in the water and this is where the jet skis are launched. I know of no drugs or vehicles being broken into or anything stolen at any of the Lake Chesdin ramps. Whipponock Creek Marina may be easier for you to access and if you know the back roads in Chesterfield/Amelia Counties. You can get off 288 at Hull Street Road and then drive west to Route 153 and turn left (can't turn right) and then follow your WAZE to Whipponock Creek marina. You can also put your kayak in at the Robious Park Landing ramp on the Historic James River off Robious Road just pass James River High School. Very nice place to launch your kayak as it is designed for kayaks and the James River High School rowing team. Take the road past the high school and keep going until you hit the parking lot at the park. Get a map of the Upper James River and also use Google to find the park and how to get there. At Flatwater at the foot of the Huguenot Road bridge crossing the Historic James on the south side of the bridge you will find where kayakers launch their kayaks. There are a lot of kayakers that enjoy this part of the upper Historic James river. It is not tidal so it is easy to go towards Richmond to the Z-Dam and then back to Boshers' Dam. And this section of the Historic James is one of the best fisheries in the state but don't tell anyone. You can see the Flatwater landing from the Huguenot Bridge as you cross into the City of Richmond. Look down on the south side of the river and turn off Huguenot Road as you exit the bridge. You can also see kayakers and paddle boarders enjoying the river, too. However, if the rains hit above the Historic James then this part of the river can get flowing fast and have debris in it. Boshers' dam will help protect this section of the river but stuff does get over the dam. Heavy rains up river also will cause problems if you put in at Watkins Landing. Watkins Landing. Off Route 711. Watkins Landing Road is about 2 miles after you cross 288 in Powhatan County on Route 711. Nice ramp; nice people; great place to launch; good section of the river towards Boshers' Dam. Look it up on Google. Go to Dick's in the Short Pump shopping center and pick up a copy of the free booklet, Freshwater Fishing and Boating in Virginia. It has other places you can launch your kayak safely plus lot of information about fishing. Also Google all the ramps from your house to see how to get to them. Please take Teal's offer on the Lake Chesdin map. Teal is a great member of the Forum. And don't forget the local rivers. Pamunkey, Mattaponi, and Rappahannock. Finding their ramps is not easy and that is why I suggested you purchase maps of all rivers and lakes you plan to enjoy. Good luck and post pics of your catches.

Free ramp on the Dinwiddie side but it is a long drive from Short Pump to this ramp. $10 ramp fee at Sevens Springs marina which is a good option. And check out Lake Chesdin campground. I have no idea if they allow individuals who are not staying at their camp grounds to use their ramp. No idea if there is a ramp fee at Whipponock Creek Marina but this is your best option. Living in Short Pump you may want to go with the Seven Springs ramp as it is safe. Only problem for you is that it is located by the dam and you need to hit places other than around the dam. So this brings us to the Whipponock Creek Marina ramp. GMCO no longer makes Lake Gaston maps which puts you behind the 8-ball. I don't know if you can find any Lake Gaston maps so if you stumble upon one grab it. And you can contact GMCO and find out when they will have a new map ready for release, https://gmcomaps.com/ So use your computer to find out how to get to each ramp and then put the addresses in your WAZE iPhone app and follow WAZE to the ramps. Now, places to fish. If you put in at Whipponock Creek Marina you can fish above and below the bridge. Bass boaters like this area so they will arrive sooner or later in the day. But you get to Whipponock Creek marina early and start fishing the grass and pads before you go under the bridge and then after you go under the bridge to beat the big bad bass boaters. https://www.discoverdinwiddie.com/index.aspx?nid=142 Only problem is that if you want to venture out into the lake you have a ways to paddle and then you have to watch the wind as the lake can become dangerous with white caps when the wind starts to get stronger. Go on Google maps and Google Lake Gaston so you can see the layout and what roads to take to either Seven Springs or Whipponock Creek marinas. You can then put the Sutherland, Virginia address for Whipponock or the Petersburg address for Seven Springs into your WAZE program to find the places. sevenspringsmarina.com And it is not easy to find them as you will be going on the back roads. Just beat the bank and have some fun. Welcome to the Forum.

I had a friend who has since passed away and he would change his spinnerbait skirts to a glimmer blue color. I still have some and maybe one day will get off my fanny and make the change on a few of my spinnerbaits.

I go to Walmart at 6 AM if it is open and the people stocking the shelves may not have a good grasp of English but they are very nice, clean, and helpful. They have their cell phones where they will look up the product I am seeking and then bring me right to it. One day a few years ago I had an English speaking lady try to help me when I asked her about where the moth balls were located. This was when I was putting boxes of moth balls in my boat to chase the rodents away. She had no idea what moth balls were and I told her they were the only part of the moth that was edible and walked away. I still remember her facial expression trying to compute what I just told her.

Interesting, but nothing personal, I know how these panels work and sometimes it is hard to believe what they say. In Virginia the store fishing aisle shelves were empty. Walmart was hit hard. Favorite baits were gone at local tackle shops. Boats of all types and jet skis on the water everywhere. Ramps were backed up'ed. People[tubing and skiing all over the place. Long lines to purchase fire arms. Green Top, Cabala's, and BPS in the greater Richmond, Virginia area were hit hard with gun sales. Ammo flew off the shelves. Kayak sales went through the roof. People all over the place while on the water and at the ramps without wearing any masks or keeping six-feet apart. So yes, it is nice to see these associations and councils get together and discuss their problems but in reality what is really going on?

First you boil the ribs to start them cooking. Put some Mazola on the grill to help stop sticking and heat grill or oven to around 300*. Put ribs on grill and let cook for three hours, or longer, basting now and then with your favorite BBQ sauce. Take off grill and let sit for 10 minutes. Lather in BBQ sauce once again. Meat will fall of bones. P.S. I like the vinegar based North Carolina BBQ sauce.

Always measure visibility. The bass can see up to six (6) times farther than we can see in water so keep that in mind. You can have clear, stained, heavy stained, and dirty water. It is up to you to decide which condition you have and then select the baits and colors that will fit the water clarity. A simple way to consider using colors is follows: Clear water use Watermelon. Stained water go with Green Pumpkin. Heavy stained go with June bug. Dirty go with black or black/blue. Of course there are so many off-shoots of these basic colors that you can drive yourself nuts. After you select a color do you want it to make noise and vibration or be silent? And at what depth are you fishing? What is the type of line you are using? What is the line test you will be throwing? Baitcaster or spinning rig? Water temperature? Sunny or overcast? Front just move through and you have blue bird skies or a normal day with fluffy white clouds? Rain or sunshine? Windy or calm? Plastics or hard baits? Use a scent or not? Just a few questions that also influence what colors and types of baits you use. After trying some options you will find the best bait and color that will give you confidence and you will use that color and bait type and presentation the most. Check out the two catalogs to see the various colors that are available from Zoom. http://virginiaguidebaitco.com/vag_7_002.htm Good luck and tight lines.

Hello Squishy, here is my answer to your query: Some believe the bass can see braid and therefore the fish will be spooked and swim off. Using a fluorocarbon line as a "leader" means that the line is invisible to the fish and they will hit the bait. Only problem is that another knot in your line creates a weak point where the line could snap. I know of a pro who uses straight braid, no flouro as a leader,and he does really well. Using a "leader" is a personal choice and it boils down to confidence in your bait presentation. Experiment and try fishing both ways at your favorite pond, etc. at the same time and keep a mental record of which setup works best. Then you will have a good idea to use a leader or not. Have fun and let us have the results of your experiment.

Look up the various colors for a Zoom Super Fluke, #023, in both catalogs. Try to find the ones that match bluegill and baby bass. http://virginiaguidebaitco.com/vag_7_002.htm If this link will not open try Virginia Guide Bait Company and look at both the Standard and Special Run catalogs.

Fantastic. You and your family did good with this puppy. She is beautiful, too. Now to take her on the boat fishing!!!!

M, it boils down to confidence in your jig set up. The bass could care less if you use an NRX or a Bass Pro Shop or Zebco rod. The bass could care less about you using fluorocarbon or braid line. The bass do care about your presentation and color selection. So use the rod that gives you confidence when fishing with your jigs and don't sweat the details.

As Dr. Chisholm, who was a fantastic economics professor at LSU back in the 60's said, "always follow the money." Still true today. Note what is happening around the country and give some thought about "following the money."

My barber gets Field & Stream which I find interesting reading or scanning the articles waiting my turn.

Pair them with the Storm 360 GT Search bait rattling jig heads and see what happens.

Purchased an oldie today. A Lew's BB-1NH High Speed Speed Spool reel (tear drop shaped) from the 60's or 70's. Lin at Fishing Pro Tech in Toano, Virginia, was not sure when the reel was made but it was in either the late 60's or 70"s. He figured it was made by Lew's before Lew's and Shimano joined forces and then went their merry way. What is funny about the reel is that it is "high speed" of 5:3:1, which back in the day was high speed. It says on the side of the box "Three stainless steel ball bearings. Rugged brass pinion and main gears. Zirconia paw. One piece. Diecast aluminum allow frame. the Exclusive "Power-Up" drag system." The line capacity is 12/155 and 14/125. There is a small medallion on the left side of the reel that reads "Lew's Speed spool reel with a largemouth bass in the center. Box says the reel was made in Japan. Lin has some others like this one and if you are interested in purchasing one please give him a call. Here is his web site: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech/

So my wife and I go out to a nice neighborhood restaurant last night and the menu is on two sides of an eight (8) and a half by 14 inch sheet of paper so it can be thrown away after we look at it and order. Last night we went to a very nice Sicilian restaurant, my favorite, and had to take out our cell phones to look at the menu and order off what we saw on our cell phones. The waitress forgot to mention their specialties, which are usually out of this world. And Tom, I remember going to a chain restaurant a few years ago where you ordered from a small computer on your table. I think it was Applebee's but I am not 100% sure. So yes, print and paper may be on the way out within the next 10 years. Newspapers are having a hard time with paper subscriptions and you can subscribe over the Internet. Our Richmond Times Dispatch wants over $260 a year for the week and Sunday editions. We noticed the paper was getting smaller and smaller as the years rolled by during our 39 years of subscribing.

Beautifully presented. Please follow this advice. Only thing I can add is to speak with other guides, in and out of your geographical area. Find out how they got started and their pros and cons of guiding.

Bass are part of the sunfish family. I thought Dr. Jones brought in the bass species a lot in the book. Just my two cents. Hey Catt, all OK after the storm? Let us know.

Jonas, if possible, try a Chatterbait or a bladed jig near the top of the water. You may make it through the grass without snagging. If you do snag, at least you have a good bait for other bodies of water you will fish. Also, if you can find some "weedless hooks" use a #1 and rig up a green pumpkin stick bait (Senko, YUM, BPS Stick-O) for wacky rig fishing and drag the Senko across the grass and then let it fall into the open areas.

Catt is correct, but for a scientific approach we must have a controlled environment to gather the data and statistics. When in the "wild" things can be different but the basic instincts, the sensors, and other conditions play a role while fishing. Catt's position has not changed and he is totally correct. However, as a basis of study of our little green opponent Dr. Jones' book gives us a starting point. Take the information with you on the water and try to turn the tables in your favor. Cowboy, I understand your logic. However, Berkley and other bait manufacturers have clear, open pools that they test their baits for movement, vibration, color, shine, etc. before releasing them to the public. Give the book a read and then let us have your input. Living in the greater DC area you have lots of time sitting in traffic to read the book!!! ?

Go weightless. The movement of the plastics on top will create enough vibration. And the addition of the propeller is great as long as it does not pick up a lot of grass. Go to your local tackle store and look at the Crappie baits and hooks, etc. Also use the finesse worms in lieu of the trick worms. Keep the bait on top of the grass unless you stop it and let it fall between the grass. Good luck.