Sam

Sent PM. Good luck. Probably will be getting rain from Hurricane Fran this weekend. Stay dry.

I like Owner and Mustad but I do use Eagle Claw and Gamakatsu, too. Some of my Eagle Claws like to rust for some unknown reason.

That's one heck of a guy. Why is the article in the UK and not the USA?

Hey Ron, If we go out next week we can check out the bass and then fish for Snakeheads. Will double check my schedule and we can make plans. Did Jason's wife have the baby????

May I suggest viewing the different rod racks in the BPS catalog? When the new store opens in Richmond I plan to use my Outdoor Rewards points and pick up the one with the three drawers and the rod holders on each side. After viewing the various models we know you can come up with a few ideas.

OK, so everyone agrees they look nice. But can they catch bass? We need some testimonials Dave, if you send me some I will give you a testimonial. ;D Really, you did great. That photoshop finish is like the manufacturers lures. Let us know what you catch or send me a few and I will try them out.

Helpful Hints for the Carolina Rig Look for grass or stumps or rocks, etc. on the bottom. Fish points. Close your eyes and feel the line with your fingers and rod to get an understanding of what you are fishing. Keep rod tip high so line is tight. Remove as much slack as possible. You will always have some slack but try to remove as much as you can. Get ready for a fast "tap-tap" or "bump-bump" and set the hook with power. Keep rod handle against your belt and use your arm and stomach muscles to set the hook. Set the hook hard as you not only have to drive your EWG hook into the fish but you have to pull through the weight and some slack which will always be in the line. Try a trick worm or a Sweet Beaver to give the fish something to see. If you are a wild and crazy guy, go with a floating crankbait just to see if you can get anything. Do this when you are fishing a flat bottam as the crankbait can get hungup easily. Be ready to lose some baits and rigs. You can set up more swivels, leaders and hooks and wrap them around pipe insulation foam to replace the ones you will lose. All you need to do is to add a tungston weight and glass bead and then tie the swivel set-up back onto your line. Check for nicks and cuts after 10 casts, if not less. If you are fishing rocks or stumps your line will get damaged. The depth of the water and current will determine the weight of the tungston weight. Try not to go too heavy but enough to keep weight on bottom. Bring another baitcaster (or two) with you so you can change out if you start to run out of line on your first baitcaster or get a backlash. Then all you have to do is change out baitcasters and not sit there without a reel or trying to remove a backlash. Balance your reel with your set-up to help stop backlashes. I can't think of anything else but you get the picture. Be sure to read the articles on this forum regarding Caroline rigging and go out and get snagged. ;D ;D ;D

Some suggestions by the numbers. 1. Use a baitcaster and a 6'6" or 7' medium heavy fiberglass rod. You may want to go with a heavy rod if you are fishing very deep or in heavy structure. 2. Use extra tough flouro line as you will be on the bottom. You may want to use 17 pound test or braid. Personal preference. 3. Tie swivel onto your line using a Palamor Knot. 4. Pull off enough line after you tie on the swivel so you will have enough line for your leader which will be attached back to the swivel. 5. Cut the line after you pull off the amount for your leader and now you have the swivel and the line (12 to 24 inches) in your hand. 6. Place your tungston weight and then a glass bead on the line going towards your reel. 6. Tie the swivel back onto the main line via a Palamor Knot. You will have to pull all of the leader line through the loop. The tungston weight and the glass bead will now be in place above the swivel and the leader line will be hanging from the swivel. 7. You now have your line attached to the swivel so estimate how much leader you want and tie on your extra wide gap hook via a Palamor Knot. You now have three Palamor Knots that will not break off. Or, you can use a heavier test for your leader if you wish in lieu of using the same line for your leader. Personal choice. When rigging your creature and lizzard baits consider putting the EWG hook in the side of the bait to give it a different look. Tungston weights are expensive but you will be able to feel what is on the bottom so much better. If you do not want to do all of this then use a Carolina Keeper which will keep the weight and glass bead in place up your line to create a leader. The Carolina Keeper will move so you will have to check on it during fishing and move it back into place if it moves. Be sure to have a black swivel. A barrel swivel is the best. Have fun.

Now that you know that we all love you, where were you fishing? Potomac? Pond? Reservior? Lake? Other river??? ;D

1. Talk to him to set up how you are going to fish - fast, slow, etc. 2. If he throws spinnerbaits you throw something else until you all find out what the fish want - spinnerbait vs. Chatterbait or crankbait or buzzbait. 3. Half day in front of boat? - Do you get the boat for half of the day - if not, then work out a deal to go to his favorite places first and then some of your favorite spots. 4. Who knows the lake the best? - if it is him, then let him lead you. If it is you, then you have to give him some guidance. As long as you two communicate you will not have any problems. And remember your plastics and jigs and try to fish the way you like although he is going to lead the way with his techniques. Have fun.

John, I have no idea of any penalty for releasing them. Maybe the VDGIF web site has the information. If you catch one, go home and cook it and let us know how it tastes.

Frogtog, Remember, your memory is the second thing to go. ;D ;D ;D

I think I know them all. I remember sitting with my cousing and grandmother watching TV waiting for the Beatles to come on the Ed Sullivan Show. 1. A Silver Bullet 2. Ed Sullivan 3. On Route 66 4. Protect the Innocent (Dum-De-Dum-Dum) 5. The Lion Sleeps Tonight 6. Do the Limbo (I did pretty good at this) 7. Chocolate 8. Louie Armstrong (has New Orleans Airport named in his honor) 9. Timex (Wish they made cars like Timex watches) 10. Klem Kadiddlehopper, God Bless 11. Draft Cards (Women burned bras for their feminest movement) 12. Beatle & Bug 13. Buddy Holly (Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper were killed with him when the plane crashed) 14. Sputnik (Beep-Beep) 15. Hula hoop (I had blue and yellow ones) Yes, I am an old geezer. ;D

P.S. - Go to Weather Underground to see the computer models and tracking of the storm and future storms. Great site and it is a must to check before you go fishing. www.weatherunderground.com

I hope that sucker hits all of Virginia this weekend. Local pond is three feet low on water. You can walk across the Historic James River. And the crops are not in good shape.

Bass are invasive all over the world other than in the regions that supported them in the first place, such as the central USA. But that is not the issue. The issue is that Snakeheads are not a fish that we want in our Virginiq waters and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has asked all fishermen to kill all Snakeheads caught within the state. More investigation is needed to find out the damage the Snakeheads do to the fish populace and environment before a final verdict is issued. As for now, it is open season on Snakeheads.

Putting mono and flouro lines in hot water will make them soft and easier to put on your spool. Old timers will spool up their spinning reels, remove the spool, and soak it in hot water to remove the memory. I use KVD Lure and Line Spray which works great. Some folks use Silicone to do the same thing. I never use anything on braid so hearing that the guys use the KVD spray is a surprise to me. But if it works, then it is a good thing to do. Later.

Wow! A 4000. Big reel that needs a big rod. All Star's are great rods. I would suggest the All Star brand. But any name brand should do fine. Fiberglass will have more feel than graphite so go with a fiberglass rod for cranks and jerkbaits. 6'6" to 7' should suffice. So how big are the bass you are trying to catch with a 4000 size reel? They must be monsters. I use the 2500's and they do fine. Just wondering.

1. Where is the dam? The pond is the deepest by the dam. Fish may be deep looking for oxygen and cooler water. 2. Any vegetation? Fish it if you find it. 3. How early are you going to the pond? Remember topwaters early AM and late PM. 4. Bring both heavy and finesse rigs. 5. Heavy rigs - Baitcaster for crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, long casts, any wood or cover you find, Carolnia rig for the fun of it and your frogs and swimbaits. Senkos and getting your Texas rigged worms to a good depth, too. Don't forgt to fish wacky worm for both Senkos and your finesse worms. 6. Finesse spinning tackle for your drop shots and light presentations and wacky finesse worms. How about the split-shot rig? 7. Pink or white trick worms fished on the surface near the shore and parallel to the bank. You will have to fish it to 1) find the fish and 2) see what they want to bite. But you know this. Colors? Watermealon and pumpkin seed with black flake seems to work in ponds but try your luck with any color you like. Maybe they will want your swimbaits; or the Rage Tail products; or the *** plastics; or your Chatterbaits; or jigs and pigs; or Senkos. Have fun trying your luck and let us know how you do. Remember to SMILE in your photos.

Jimzee is a wonderful example of the guys on this forum. We should be proud to have him with us. And Burley, too. ;D

Sorry, but I use the Shad Raps in #5's and #7's. They are great baits for Virginia lakes and rivers.

Yes, easiest way to remove the hook when it is deep. And the fish will survive.

Someone had to place the spotted bass in the pond. And maybe a number of them, too. Or, they have been there for the 18 years and this is the first time you have caught them due to your excellent techniques and baits you learned to use on this fourm. ;D No matter, fish for them, too. As you practice catch and release, I am sure their population will grow in the future.

Primus, I bought a Johnny Morris baitcaster two years ago and on its first trip to Smith Mountain Lake it blew up. I returned it to the Hampton Bass Pro Shop and the clerk told me that I would do much better with a Curado. So I gave them the Johnny Morris and got a nice Curado 100 and the Curado has worked beautifully. Sorry, but I now stay away from all Johnny Morris reels. A word to the wise........

$5,200 for the boat? Do you think it hit something and had to be repaired? That seems like a very good deal, if it is true. New Iberia is just up the road from St. Bernard so maybe you can take a road trip and check it out. Then, let us know. Thanks.