Sam

As you enter the racetrack from Laburnum Avenue, the Expo is in the buildings to your LEFT. The entrance is in the last building on your left. You can't miss it. Just follow the crowd!!!

If it is OK with everyone, how about meting at 1 PM at the Richmond Fishing Expo by the entrance inside the convention center. There is usually a plastics vendor to the right as you walk in the door and we can meet in his area. I will be wearing an LSU sweatshirt and a MegaStrike blue cap so you can't miss me. This will give everyone time to visit Green Top, Bass Pro Shop and Gander Mountain in the morning or afternoon and also enjoy the Expo. Hope to see as many guys as possible on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the Richmond Fishing Expo at the Richmond International Racetrack.

If it is OK with everyone, how about meting at 1 PM at the Richmond Fishing Expo by the entrance inside the convention center. There is usually a plastics vendor to the right as you walk in the door and we can meet in his area. I will be wearing an LSU sweatshirt and a MegaStrike blue cap so you can't miss me. This will give everyone time to visit Green Top, Bass Pro Shop and Gander Mountain in the morning or afternoon and also enjoy the Expo. Hope to see as many guys as possible on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the Richmond Fishing Expo at the Richmond International Racetrack.

Give 'em a call and see if they have the rods.... 757.566.9050. If they do, I am sure they can mail them to you.

Great thread. Can't wait to see thos pics, Muddy!

Hooker Bait and Tackle is have a sale through next weekend (the Richmond Fishing Expo weekend) so if you can, head on over and enjoy the savings. Here is what they have discounted: All Rods 20% All Reels 10% All Baits 25% Hooker carries St.Croix, Kistler, Loomis, Shimano and Carrot Stick rods plus Shimano and other reels. I picked up a Spro BBZ-1 Shad Floater and am going back for the Slow Sink and Fast Sink models next week as they are due in early in the week plus two RICO's. All 25% off. Hooker Bait & Tackle, Inc. 7828 Richmond Road Toano, Virginia 23168 757.566.9050 www.hookerbaitandtackle.net Two blocks away and around the corner is ProTech and Andy told me that Lynn will be at the Fishing Expo with his Japanese and new baits. I picked up, at 10% off, the new Damiki Crank DC-200 in Shad and two of the new Action Lures Fan-tastic cranks. The Action lures have an opening through the crank with a wheel inside producing bubbles. I have never seen such a bait and for $5.00 I figure I will give it a shot. ProTech Fishing 100 Depot Street Toano, Virginia 23168 www.fishingprotech.com Just wanted you guys in the Richmond/Williamsburg/Tidewater areas to know of the sales. See you all at the Fishing Expo on the 17th. Looks like we will be meeting around 1 or 2 PM that Saturday.

When using a trailer on a spinnerbait I usually use a trailer hook when in tournaments. Or, I will add a plastic. *** has spinnerbait trailers. Russ *** says to up-size your spinnerbait blade size in lieu of adding a trailer. He also discuss using Gitzit's and other trailers. In other words, there is no "one" spinnerbait trailer you can use. Google spinnerbait trailers and read about them, especially what Russ *** has to say. Just keep chucking those suckers!!!!

Dominion, is that a Japanese lure? If so, I can understand the pricing. The lure is beautiful but at that price, no thank you. How about joining us at the Richmond Fishing Expo and seeing what is being offered, if anything???? Happy New Year

Suggstion from an old guy: Use the gift card for other purchases. Save your pennies and dimes and then order your Zillion. Just a suggestion.

Do not limit yourself to one sector of the fishing industry. Check out the I-Cast and the Bassmaster Classic vendors. If possible, attend the Bassmaster Classic and speak with the guys working the booths for the various manufacturers. You may even meet one or two vice presidents or company owners. Go to your favorite tackle shop and write down the names of the manufacturers and then go on-line and contact each one. Go you your favorite library and do some research on the fishing industry manufacturers, etc. Your college research librarian will be glad to assist you. Send out resumes to as many places as you can afford. Go on-line and get the names of the Human Resource or Vice Presidents at the companies of your choice and send your resumes and a nice cover letter. Companies are always looking for high quality people who are entering the industry. If you have tattoos, earrings, look shabby and dress like a buffoon, don't bother searching for a good career. Go to McDonalds and apply. Just a word to the wise. Good luck.

Meet the Spartans.

Yes, RW, tonight's winner is the BCS champs. Texas did not do that well overall. USC has the talent but has not been able to put it together and the PAC-10 has been given very little respect by the pollsters. Utah may be a second or third, but the Utes do not play an SEC or Big 12 conference schedule. As I see it, the top five would be: Winner of BCS Utah USC Loser of BCS Texas JMHO.

Still, It was a great game. Texas got the calls at the end. Questionable calls, but that's the game. Oh well, you all beat Michigan and had a good season so it is on to next year.

Wayne, thanks a million. I will remove the old site and replace it with the new site in my favorites.

Senkos - Wacky Rigged under docks and piers. Shaky Head - A must! Crankbaits - Shad. Ghost Minnow and Sexy Shad. Spinnerbaits - Something with blue in the skirt. Worms - Anything goes. Rage Tails - Give 'em a try in the grasses. Jigs - Work 'em around docks and piers and mouths of creeks. Topwaters - Don't forget your buzzbaits and topwaters in the AM. Here are some excerpts from an article on Buggs and Gaston in the April, 2008 Bassin' Magazine: Lake Gaston does not rise and fall very much. Usually not more than a foot at a time. The lake is mostly clear. Gaston has hydrilla and aquatic grass. The shoreline is developed so you will have lots of docks and piers to fish. Gaston seems to produce better on the lower end in the spring. More creeks and channels and the fish are starting to spawn. The bass will be moving into the creeks so fish them about half way into them. If they are there, you will catch them. Try to cover as much water as you can. Look for areas where a big group of bass are moving out of deep water ito the shallows to feed. Look for bass anywhere from 3 to 8 feet deep with a shallow or medium running crankbait. Model A's Bombers, Bandit, Lucky Crafts are good. On the lower end where you have hydrilla you need to throw a spinnerbait as the lake is clear. Try Pea Hill Creek and Lee's Hamlin and Sledge creeks. Look for the pine trees and sandy bank for spawning. Try your luck finding where the bass have moved up to feed. If you catch one bass, there should be more around. Docks can be fantastic and there are so many of them. Fish the banks where the bass are moving. In April, you can move up lake and fish for aggressive, prespawn bass, or sty on the lower end and start to hunt for the early spawners. This entails fishing a floating worm, fluke or tube, skipping them under docks and sight-fishing for spawners. If you go up lake into the stained water, use a spinnerbait, Chatterbait or jig. More power fishing. Upper lake is from Six Pound Creek to Kerr Dam. On either end, look for the hydrilla as it comes out of its dormant period. (Lost a big one two years ago at the mouth of Popular Creek throwing a Bandit 200 shad crankbait. I could not control her and my line popped. She is probably in Chicago by now. Friend in boat landed a 6.5 lunker across from where I lost mine.) Try to find grass. Bass will stay with the grass on Gaston. Can you direct the boat operator as to where you want to fish? If so, let me know!!!! I can fax a copy of the article to you if your parents have a fax machine in their offices. Just let me know. Or I can scan the article and send it to you. Good luck.

Suggestions. 1. Call this number to find out the water level: 434.738.6371. 2. You may have to to Extension 275 to get the report. 3. 300 is the normal level of the lake. 4. 303-304 is in the bushes. 5. You want to be in the bushes. Higher level, better fishing. 6. Get on-line and secure a Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake) map from GMCO. www.gmcomaps.com. You will need this map to plan your trip and to be able to return back to your launch site. 7. Plan to fish an "area" or coves and creeks. There are too many places to fish this body of water as it is a very big lake. 8. Moving baits and plastics in April. 9. Docks are "floating" due to the water levels rise and fall. Sometimes a Carolina rig in front of the docks can be productive as can the Split-Shot rig along the shore line when the bite slows down. 10. Study the GMCO map for humps, submerged structure, creeks, coves, etc. 11. There was as site, www.kerrlakefishing.com, but I can't find it. So Google Kerr Lake and see what comes up and then visit those web sites for some local updates and information. CHECK THE WEATHER. Kerr is a big lake and it can get rough out there if there is a lot of wind. So always wear your PFD and be cautious. Get the GMCO map so you can begin to study the lake and plan your fishing adventure. Good luck.

Hey guys, it is time to make plans to meet at the Richmond Fishing Expo. Which date is best? Saturday the 17 or Sunday the 18? I would like to set it up for Saturday the 17 around 1 or 2 PM, unless KVD or Alton Jones is having a seminar at that time. So let me have your feed back so we can set up a time. Now, for a place? I have no idea. But we can attack that problem next week. Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year.

Please view the Richmond Fishing Expo in the above's Important Topics. Thanks.

Let us know how you enjoy the show. I am planning to remind everyone about the Richmond Expo on the 16, 17 and 18 of January so we can meet. Have a fun winter in those beautiful mountains around Boone.

Nope. Do not have one nor do I plan to buy one.

Shimano. Anything Shimano.

Low tide? Heck, the river just dried up. The Dark Side lost to the boys from Utah. The Good Side one. Satan did not win and that is good. Beware of the Dark Side.

Ole Miss won and Alabama lost. Go figure? Herb-street said Georgia Tech would beat LSU by 20 points. Go figure? Talking heads, with the exception of Mark May, have been wrong more than they have been right. Especially Herb-street who flaunts the Big 10 everytime he can. Fun football season this year and great bowl season, too. Ole Miss and LSU will reload; Florida will continue to dominate if Tebow returns; Georgia looks to turn it around; Kentucky will have another "crazy" quarterback next year; and Alabama starts a new QB so Satan will be in the tank, again. Joe McKnight did nothing in the Rose Bowl. He should have gone to LSU. McKnight is like a Jaguar. Runs great but it is in the shop way too much. Nine months to go before we tee it up again for college football. Can't wait!

When spooling line on your reels, take wash cloth and spray a "wet spot" with Lure and Line Conditioner, makeing sure the "spot" is totally soaked. Run line through the "wet spot" as you spool your reels. Rewet the "wet spot" as needed. Spray the line on your spool as you put line on it, at different intervals. As for spraying your reels, I don't do this. I use warm water and wash them off when I come home. Usually do this in bathtub and then I wash down the rods. Always check your level wind guide to make sure it has grease. KVD Lure and Line Conditioner is expensive but it is worth it.

I am right handed and all of my baitcaster reels have the handle on my right hand side and I use my right hand to reel. My spinning reels have the handle on the left side so I can use my right hand to direct the rod. I had not idea of the philosophy behind the two reel's handles. Thanks for sharing.