Sam

Andrew, how in the world did you do that? Just kidding. It was not you, it was the reel. Be sure to throw the bail with your hand, as you know, to try to avoid this problem in the future. May I suggest visiting a local tackle shop. They should know someone in your area who repairs reels. In Richmond, I found a guy out in Powhatan County who fixes rods and reels. We have a great guy in my bass club who fixes reels and I got his name from a local tackle shop. You can call the tackle shops and they probably have the names and phone numbers of guys in your area. Good luck and try not to break any more equipment!!! ;D ;D ;D

May I suggest you slim down your presentation? Pull some strands off the skirt to give the bait a smaller profile in clear water. Go with natural colors, such as a brown or green. Use a pork trailer the same color as the skirt. Go with a smaller jig weight on a lighter flouro line, such as an 8 pound test on your baitcaster. Then experiment, fishing the jig like a plastic worm; skipping it under trees or bushes; bringing it through any wood or grass in the pond; hopping it along the bottom. Remember, in clear water the bass will get a good look at it so you want to move the jig to get them to hit it. May I also suggest a good book or DVD to read or watch this winter? Get Denny Brauer's book, Jig Fishing Secrets or his DVD, Jig Fishing Secrets to Hugh Catches. Both are excellent and you will learn a lot about jig fishing. Winter is the time to brush up on your techniques and study baits so next year you will have better results with different baits, techniques, etc.

How long are you soaking the bait in JJs? A few seconds? A dip and run? Ten seconds? The entire bait? The tail, only? What color are you using? I have never had any fish avoid my bait due to JJs. At least I have no idea of any fish avoiding my bait due to JJs. Try it again and send an e-mail to the boys at JJs. They are some of the nicest people in the world and they will be glad to help you with your situation.

LMB use three senses when feeding. Sight Vibration Noise So what the guys are telling you is to use baits that appeal to the vibration (lateral line) and noise senses. The bass will feel the vibration and go in search of its origin. Then they will hear it and head towards the noise. When they see it at the last instant or just before they hit it, they have to make a decision: Hit it or not to hit it. Remember, when you see your bait disappear into the blackness of the water, multiply that distance by four (4) and you will have a good idea of how far the LMB can see your baits in the water. I would suggest following the above suggestions and remember how the LMB seeks and finds its next snack. Good luck.

Super story. Great photo, too. Just right for your Christmas cards. Maybe you can use it for your avator???? Congrats and keep on fishing that secret pond.

Do what Catt says. Also, don't forget your crankbaits. A deep diver can get strikes when fishing deep ledges, drop-offs and humps. The secret is to keep the bait either bouncing on the bottom or in the strike zone for a long as possible. What pound flouro line test will you be using? This will make a difference in getting the baits to the target and keeping them in the strike zone. Be sure to look for those drop-offs and ledges on your map. They are easy to find.

If you ever study crankbaits you will understand what happened. There are two basic types of cranks and each have sub-types. Some go through brush and grass with ease while others do not. What you experienced is something that crankers know....that crankbaits do well moving through brush and over wood and they not only produce hungry strikes but reaction strikes as well. In fact, as you bump something make the bait go with a burst of speed. This can cause a reaction strike. Depending on the type of crank (lipless or billed) and its material (wood or plastic) and the bill design (various) you can manuever through cover and structure when others will not even think about throwing a crankbait. And some of the pros will float behind guys who are throwing spinnerbaits and the pros will throw a crankbait and the pros are the ones catching the fish. Kevin VanDam is a great cranker so read his books and articles. KVD likes reaction strikes and he can really manuever those cranks all over the place, including skipping them under docks. Colors? Have we discussed colors? Not now, don't have enough room. ;D

I remember when the crash occured as it was on the local news and in the Richmond Times-Distpatch. Didn't he have someone on the ATV with him? Or he was out with another person on a separate ATV? Since we have not heard any more news I thought he was doing well and on the road to a total recovery. So sorry we lost him.

Quinn? Quinn? What type of Cajun name is Quinn? Now Hebert is a good one. But Quinn? OK, I will still cheer for the boys from Louisiana and hope they can take the title. Hot Boudin, Cold Cush-Cush, Come on Lake Charles, Push, Push, Push! ;D

71Rig, Do you think we can sneak on the golf course on the day the course is closed, like a Monday evening? Just wondering, although I would NEVER do such a thing. ;D

KC Masterpiece. Original. To knock it up a notch or two add some brown sugar and a little Louisiana hot sauce. Great stuff!

Micro, I wear the Columbia cap with the cloth flap down the back to keep the sun off my ears and neck. I also wear my National Guard TBF cap all the time when I don't wear the Columbia cap. In fact, I wore my TBF cap to a B.A.S.S. tournament this year and my friends let me know it. I thought it was funny. ;D ;D ;D

The question is....did this type of decoy increase the kill-ratio? I don't believe it had that much affect on improving hunter's bag of limits. So now it is back but you still have to call them in and then make the shot. Easier said than done!

We go to the spring race, which just had its date moved to a later time. We have frozen off our fannies at that race. But it is great exercise walking around the track and there is not a bad seat in the house. Plus the fact that the pits are on both sides of the track so everyone gets to see the pit action. My only gripe is that the Big Johnson Tee Shirt trailer no longer is at the race. In fact, the Big Johnson Tee Shirt trailer has disappeared. I know some women in Richmond complained so they banned the Big Johnson people from coming to RIR, but what happend at Bristol?

OK Anthony, we give up. Where is it?

Matt, You hit the nail on the head. If you catch two or three fish early in the AM you have to be concerned with their welfare all day long. And with hot water and dirty conditions in some of the creeks, your well can get full of dirty water in a heartbeat. Fish mortality is a tremendous problem with long, summer tournaments. Good point.

They work great as long as you remember to...... check the connection as you are fishing and make sure it is tight. I have thrown the front half of the rod when casting as I forgot to check the connection and tighten it. Lucky for me no one was around but I did feel like a dummy. ;D

Welcome aboard. Glad you are with us. Here are some suggestions to keep you out of the funny farm. Go Easy on the Rods and Reels All you need is a 6'6" medium heavy graphite spinning rod along with nothing larger than a 2500 series spinning reel. Anything over 2500 is overkill. In fact, I suggest the 2000 size as it will perform great for you. Don't Be Concerned With All the Lines Line can put you over the edge. May I suggest an eight (8) pound floruocarbon line? Extra Smooth will do fine. Run your line through the Keving VanDam Lure and Line Conditioner when spooling the reel. Terminal Tackle Don't go overboard. Purchase some WEEDLESS hooks in sizes of 1/0, 2/0 and 3/0. One package each. This is all you need for hooks. Then consider some 1/8 to 3/16 bullet weights. Pick up a package of the rubber pegs to peg your hook. Baits Don't drive yourself silly with baits. Pick up some Zoom 4 to 6-inch finesse worms in watermealon and green pumpkin. Get a pack of the same color Senkos or a "stick bait" like a Senko. Learn to rig them both Texas and Wacky rigged. Get a package each of the pink or white trick worms, too. They work great on a spinning rig and I love to fish them. Other Items You will need a sissors and a long nose pliers. Keep them with you at all times to change baits, re-rig and to remove the hooks from the fishs' mouths. Now you have a simple, economical and fun rig to go out and start fishing. Remember to ALWAYS CHECK YOUR DRAG ON YOUR SPINNING REEL. Make sure you can pull the line off the reel with about 2 to 2.5 pounds of pressure. You can build on this setup in the future after you read articles on this site and forum and watch DVDs and videos this winter (nothing to do in your area until the Indy 500). Your homework assignment is to start a Fishing File and to copy the articles from this forum and the posts to the folder for future reference this winter. You are to also visit various professional fishermen's web sites and read what they have to say and copy and past their information in your Fishing File. Also get a subscription to Bassin' Magazine. So don't go bonkers over your rig. Just make sure you purchase quality name brand items and one day you will look back on your first set up as it stands in the rod holder, collecting dust, among your many high-end and expensive rigs.

I like their "Choose Your Language" as it says US Dollar. ;D Skirts can drive you nuts so go and get some good ones. I have one that actually changes color to a blue tint to imitate a bluegill. Never have used it as I am waiting for "just the right moment."

May I suggest playing it smart and registering your watercraft unless the state tells you otherwise. If the craft is stolen or damaged you then have proof of its existance. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Has the club become a reality? With football season a week away I wonder if the guys will have time to fish before the Saturday games? Let us know how you did in forming the club.

This is a wonderful serendipity. I wish I was so lucky. Now send pics of what you catch out of all four ponds.

Thanks guys.

Are you allowed to fish Lake Manassas? If so, is it "shore only" or can you take your boat and use the trolling motor? Are there set hours to fish? Is the area patrolled and if so, by what law enforcement agency? Just wondering.

Wear personal floatation vest. Let someone know where you are putting in; when you will get out; and when you expect to get home. Take cell phone with you in a waterproff container. Put sign in car telling Chesterfield police what you are doing so they won't think the car is stolen or illegally parked. Have a waterproof flashlight with fresh batteries. Watch out for critters in the water and shore. Just be careful and safe. And don't forget the bug spray.