Sam

That's a beautiful picture. Thanks for the information and photo. Brings back lots of great memories.

I have read many articles; attended a number of lectures; and asked a few pros about leaving your sonar on while fishing. The majority of opinions and information is that those little green monsters get "conditioned" to various noise and sights that may, or may not, have an impact on their behavior. Remember, going all the way back to Uncle Homer Circle's and Glen Lau's video series, Bigmouth Forever, Uncle Homer stated that his and Lau's study of the largemouth bass showed that the larger ones get "conditioned" to move into safer areas at the sound of a trolling motor. So how do the "pings" of your sonar impact bass behavior? Don't know. No one really knows. I don't recall any studies on this specific subject so if you know of one or two please let me know. I do know that some pros believe the pings do interfere with bass behavior while others do not. And I have never seen any studies or articles by the manufacturers that suggest the bass will avoid areas where the sonar units are pinging. New technology allows us to watch our sonar screens like a TV program with fantastic resolution and clear pictures. Ray Marine had one of the first units that really showed what was under our boats in a clear and concise manner. Lowrance and Garmin followed and now we can purchase sonar units that give us TV quality pictures that allow us to see our baits on the screen. The bass, and other species, do not seem to swim away when we use these new units. So it may be correct to state that the "pings" do not interfere with the bass' behavior. I am not concerned about the "pings" from my Lowrance unit. I am more concerned about the noise and vibrations from my trolling motor. Both units are important when we bass fish and it is up to you to decide to leave them on or turn them off. In other words, it boils down to what you have confidence doing. You may want to conduct your own experiment by fishing with 1) both on; 2) sonar on, only; 3) trolling motor on, only, 4) both off, and let us have your conclusions. Thanks for a good post that should generate many replies.

Oops! It is NOT Providence Forge. It is Bottom Bridge. The pond is the Tom Brooks Lake and there are four ponds. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Providence+Forge,+VA+23140/@37.5087781,-77.1846464,16.3z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b0e53076179157:0x613b6e82b992a8f1!8m2!3d37.4418131!4d-77.0435799 Have not been there in a number of years so I was confused. Sorry. Check out Bottoms Bridge on Route 60 and you will see the ponds with the one by Route 60, on the same side of the road and east of the McDonalds and Food Lion. Sorry, but glad to have figured it out.

And toads. Don't forget your toads. Buzzbaits work at all hours of the day and night.

In one of Uncle Homer's and Glen Rau's videos, Uncle Homer stated that the larger bass withdrew into their safety areas when they heard a trolling motor or motor prop. Seems the larger ladies got used to knowing that they could be hooked and dragged out of the water when they heard and felt the props turning. So what Tom penned above is true based on years and years of study of the largemouth bass. I suggest everyone get the Bigmouth series by Uncle Homer Circle and watch them. Fascinating footage of the largemouth and its behavior that is still true today. https://www.bassmaster.com/news/homer-circle-dies-97

Hey Greg, you are doing everything correctly. Please bear with me as I offer some suggestions. With the grass that high you have to fish on top of it with a buzzbait, popper, frog, unweighted wacky Senko and an unweighted trick worm on a spinning outfit, spinnerbaits, a walking bait of your choice, and flipping a drop shot/shaky head with a finesse worm in any openings or boarders in the grass. If you have any Rat-L-Traps use the smaller ones and remove the rear hook that accumulates grass. Do not use any trailer hooks on your buzzbaits or spinnerbaits. Rig all hooks Texas style or use weedless hooks. When the grass gets high on the Potomac River we go to a spinnerbait, unweighted Senko rigged Texas or Wacky style, an unweighted trick worm to move like a snake over and through the grass using weedless hooks, topwaters, frogs, and of course, we have openings in the grass where we flip and pitch our shaky heads and drop shots. We drag the Senkos over the grass, letting them sink about 6 to 8 inches before pulling them up to the surface and moving them again, like a snake. We do the same with very lightly weighted or no weight trick worms, too. Experiment with different techniques and baits. Have patience. Fish slow. Concentrate on your bait at all times. Remember the circumstances of every hit and catch to try to develop a pattern. Fish each bait in a "fan" pattern from left to right and right to left. And then do it over. Take your time. If the bass are there you will aggravate them into hitting your baits. Bring us up to date on what happens. Good luck. P.S. When you have clear water you can see the bass and they can see you. So be as quiet as possible.

Otis, Please go to Introductions and introduce your self so we can know more about you. Go to BPS, Green Top or your local tackle shop out your way and get a copy of the 2019 Freshwater Fishing and Boating booklet from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Look up the areas you want to fish and see what they have listed. On Route 60 east of Providence Forge there is the "three lakes" subdivision. You can fish the pond along Route 60. Park in the parking lot and walk around the pond. It is east of the Food Lion. There is a large dam on Route 60 but if you look for it, along with the buildings and parking lot, you should find it easily. Check out Google maps for ponds and then Google Earth to see the homes and businesses around them in Providence Forge and other areas. You will see many ponds on the Google map for Providence Forge. I don't know if the "three lakes" subdivision's three ponds are shown. Good luck.

It is my humble opinion that you know too much about bass fishing and you are over-thinking the situation. This happens in school when an individual studies, takes the exam, and walks out thinking they did poorly, only to score an A. The individual knew too much about the subject and had a hard time finding the answers they wanted. The guys and gals who did not study as much walked out thinking they aced the test, only to be horrified by receiving a C. This could be happening to you. I suggest you sit back and think about the water conditions, water temperature, water columns, and what baits will work best over, under, inside, outside, and around the grass. Try to keep it simple. Take two or three of each moving and treble hook baits with you, plus your plastics that you have confidence to punch through the grass or fish over or around it with you on the boat. Think about the baits you don't use any more, such as your Rapala's and other smaller treble hook baits, that you can fish over the grass on lighter line. Keep a log of every trip to try to find the hidden pattern. You know you have to find what the bass like to eat and where they like to rest inside, under, and around the grass. Good luck and be sure to let us know what you are throwing, where you threw them, and any success you have.

Rocks in Kerr (Buggs Island). Use a jig and pig crawfish imitation. Get ready to lose some baits, too.

Today, Friday, June 7, is National Donut Day. Krispy Kreme and Duncan Donuts are giving away free donuts. I think you may have to purchase a drink at Duncan but the donut is free. May be other retailers giving away free donuts, too. Just thought I would let everyone know.

Way to go, Amanda!!!! Congrats! Proud of your high honors and the scholarships you received. And congrats to your dad and your family, too. Just remember, it is easier to get into college than to get out of college. College can be the best five or six years of your life. Have fun!

No ethics in real estate. It is, Caveat Emptor: buyer beware.

Dumb, here is the deal. Ranger is a very nice bass boat. Nitro is a very nice bass boat. Nitro is supported by Bass Pro Shops and you know they stand behind their products. I am not a fan of their service department. Too expensive and the guys are not factory trained. I will not take my Ranger to them any more. I go to a local guy who works on boats and motors at his house. So factor in who is doing the service; what you get with the warranty; and the final price and make your decision. Then send us a photo of your baby!

Yes, thunderstorms in the afternoon can ruin a good fishing trip. But you have to think safety first. If you can wet a line as the storm gets closer you may clobber them. You have to quit when you hear the thunder as lighting can strike 5 or more miles from the storm. And you have to watch for lightning in the distance. Some of the best fishing I have enjoyed was when a storm was approaching, just before the thunder, lighting and rain arrived. Just be aware of thunder and lightning when you hear and see it you go.

John, there are four places you need to fish to catch your monster: 1. A private pond that has monsters in it. 2. Lakes on the Texas/Mexico border. 3. Florida for the big Florida strain bass. 4. California Delta. Good luck.

Flatrock, good question but just too many variables to consider to give you a valid reply. Then, you take all of the variables and multiply them by each fisherman to get a total and you have a good idea of what to throw and when. All I can add is experience and your confidence in whatever bait and technique you want to use. Just focus on using that bait and if it does not work you go with something else. if it works, congratulations! You have found the pattern.

Great having you back. And congrats on your marriage; your first daughter; and the one heading your way. You will have many hours of fishing fun with the girls. Welcome!

Excellent! Hope you showed her your appreciation with diamond earrings.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/megabass-dark-sleeper-swimbait?searchTerm=dark%20sleepers

Since the world was dirt.

With my wife in rehab from her back surgery, I fished the facility's concrete pond for bluegills and caught one on every cast. I was using rolled up dough from white bread on a small gold hook with a small bobber. Was lots of fun getting back to fishing with ultra light tackle. And the bluegills were beautiful. Rich colors and very active. Sorry to say there are no bass in the pond. There were dinks last year when I went and fished the place but could not get one single bite from a bass yesterday. Oh well, you take what you get.

Very upsetting topic. Hate to lose anyone. In Virginia rivers we have lots of kayakers who mind their own business. You then throw in the bass boat dummies who go way too fast in the creeks and rivers and you have a recipe for a disaster. I always go slow in creeks just to make sure I have total boat control (easier said than done) and I keep an eye out for kayakers especially on turns when you want to avoid the shallow bottom in a turn and a kayak is in the deep part of the turn. T&P to the family of the young man.

Caught them on spinnerbaits and Senkos while not trying to catch them. Tried to catch them on one of the Rappahannock River creeks and they would not touch anything we threw. Go figure.

Rooster Tails or One inch white Curley tail grub on a fly fishing 1/32 or 1/64 gold or silver jig head on 4 pound fluorocarbon on a spinning rig.

You should be very concerned. You can’t control water, electricity, hurricanes, or tornadoes. All four can cause a lot of havoc and destruction. Be safe my friend.