Sam

Suggestions: 1. Use a heavy pegged weight to get the bait on the bottom. 2. Use rattles in your plastic crawfish baits. 3. Go weedless with your hook or Texas rig the bait. 4. Rage Tail craws have fast moving flappers which makes them great for warmer water presentations for jigs. Use them. 5. Match the crawfish colors as best you can, especially the flappers on your Rage Tail plastic craws for jigs or just fish them out of the package on your hook. 6. Understand that you are in grass and it is a pain and you will have to fight the grass and remove it from your bait after every cast. 7. Do the opposite: go with an unweighted crawfish bait and fish it on top of the grass, moving it slowly like a crawfish on top of grass and letting it pause and sit on top of the grass during your retrieve. Sometimes doing things backwards works best. 8. Experiment. Large presentations; small presentations; with rattles; without rattles; different color combinations; fast; slow; on the bottom; on the top; in between; swim along the grass lines; out from the grass into open water; and whatever. Let us know what you do and what you catch.

Ware long sleeve shirt and long jeans. Spray arms, legs, tops of shoes, ankles, back (as best possible) with DEET type spray. I watch how I handle the plastics and hard baits very carefully, trying not to get any bug spray on them. Then check myself in the bathroom mirror when I get home for any little buggers that got through the barriers.

X2

Agility. Speed. Power. That backflip defines all three. Chief's got a good one. The LSU Fighting Tigers had only three guys selected in the draft. Coach O has done a fantastic job keeping the others eligible for the draft to return for their senior year. LSU also had a few guys signing free agency agreements with Cole Tracey trying out with the Saints as a field goal kicker. Now to sit back and wait to see which draftees will help their teams and which ones will be a bust.

Other than for a tournament, I fish on weekdays and avoid the idiots on the water. As for others invading your space, it happens all the time. Other than to cast into their boat there is really nothing you can do to stop it. Of course you can move your boat to block them; throw something in the water to scare the fish away and then go elsewhere; have a shotgun in plain sight and smile at them as they get closer; go in a circle with your boat's motor fully open a few times throwing up a wake in the area before driving off; taking off all of your clothes and grossing them out; or just ask them to back off in a polite manner. I like the taking all of your clothes off as the best deterrent .

I, we throw them all year in all conditions. Consider giving 'em a try!

Jighead, the Dogwood trees have bloomed for the past two weeks in central Virginia so the bass are on their beds. Good luck and be safe.

CJ, you start going deep after the spawn is over and the big ladies have recuperated, have had time to eat and rest, and then go deep for safety. After a few days the females will start their normal routines and milk runs. The male bass will go deep after they leave the beds and the fry which is during the spawning time, which can continue for a month in some waters, and the males will become aggressive and start to feed after they move off the beds. You test the waters based on water temperature, with the spawn beginning in the low 60's, to its peak in the mid 60's, and then it is over in the high 60's to low 70's. Just remember, as stated above, each body of water is different and the spawn can go on for over a month for individual bass. In other words, they all do not spawn at the same time. How deep to fish? Each lake and river is different and a 5-foot depth can be "deep" for one body of water while a 50-foot depth is deep for another body of water. So don't think about a specific number to find your bass "deep." You have to know your bodies of water and where they are deep and shallow as compared to other places within that one body of water.

J, bass have to eat no matter what the water temperature, and you know they will not move far for a snack if the water is cold. So down here in Virginia we still throw spinnerbaits when the water temperature is in the 50's and we fish the spinnerbait slow as possible, sometimes slow rolling it on the bottom. We also like to throw our moving baits where the sun has warmed the water as that is where the bass will go to enjoy the sun and warmer water. We also keep an open mind and change presentations and baits if the spinnerbait does not produce bites, going back to it during the day off and on.

Have you considered the Ugly Sticks? Great catfish rods and they do a good job with the Alabama rig and can be used as a frog rod. After playing around with an inexpensive Ugly Stick and learning how to frog fish, you really need to get a "frog specific" rod. There are a number of them in the marketplace so you will have a fun time trying to consider which one is best for you. Go to the Ugly Stick web page and type in "frog rod" and view what they suggest. Then consider a "heavy" rated rod or move up to a rod designed for frog fishing. Good luck and remember to bend those frog hooks outward a little with your pliers to help with hookups.

Not in a bowl, but I mix it together on the bread. Jiff Crunchy peanut butter and Smuckers Concord Grape or Strawberry jelly.

Chicago! Like dead people in the water like New Jersey? Rivers flow so they will be cooler than lakes depending on the depth of the lake. So where the river water and streams enter the lake will be the coolest water. Check the water temperature at the ramp and up and down the adjacent bank and to the second parking lot. This will give you a good idea of what is going on with the bass and where the water is a few degrees warmer. There are some great spawning flats. Do you know the path the bass take to get to them? Everyone will run to the South Dam. May or may not be a good idea. You need to consider hitting the fishing wall and fish out from it, too, for the ones that have not moved up. Note where the map lines get close across and up lake from the Fishing Wall. This will warm up as it is on the western side of that part of the lake. There are lots of good places to fish along the banks. Look for blow downs, any structure in the water, some grass (if possible), concrete walls or rip rap and anything that will hold heat. Shallow water will work when it gets warmer. Just try your luck as best you can and have fun.

Lynchburg. Hummmm. Here we go. 1. Its known as the HISTORIC James River. 2. The HISTORIC James is not tidal above Bosher's Dam in Richmond as mentioned above. 3. Smallmouth are abundant in the upper HISTORIC James so read up on catching river smallies. 4. When the train derailed, it killed everything in the river. Throw everything back you catch just to make sure you don't poison yourself, family members or the dog. 5. Wear your PFD at all times. 6. Bring your needle nose pliers. Bring two if possible. 7. Protect your self from the sun. 8. Wear a good pair of polarized sunglasses. 9. Have your fishing license with you. 19. If you come out of the rocks and see a ramp to the left with lots of toothless people, you have gone too far. You will be in Powhatan County at Watkins Landing. As for baits, throw small hair jigs; small lipless crankbaits; small square bills; Senkos rigged weedless Wacky; and use a spinning rig to control everything better. Have fun and let us know what you catch. All the best for a safe adventure.

Patrick, any way you can go to the river or lake and get a water temperature reading in three or four places, if not more? Remember, the water temperature guides the bass' behavior, followed by water clarity. If the temperature is in the low to mid 50's then you fish s-l-o-w and deep. Or, look for shallow places where the sun warms up the water on the western and northern banks in the morning. If the temperature is in the high 50's the bass are starting to get ready to spawn. Low 60's means the bass are moving up and are following established paths to the spawning grounds. Mid 60's means the bass are on their beds. Now being in Michigan with snow means that the water temperatures have dropped making the bass lethargic and looking for some warmer water, mainly via the sun warming up shallow areas, rocks, or trees/brush, sunny sides of boat docks and boat houses and the western banks. If the water remains dirty go with these colors for starters: Black or June Bug for plastics as a base; Fire Tiger and silver for both square bill and lipless crankbaits; white and chartreuse for spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits. Jigs fished on the bottom can produce results but you have to fish s-l-o-w if the water temperature is in the 50's. And don't forget your Shad Raps if you have any. The bass will tell you what they want. All you can do is experiment until you find the pattern. Be sure to search for some warmer water. Even a few degrees can make a big difference. Not knowing the actual body of water does not help us with our answers. Please include the type of water (lake or river) and its location so we can consider other baits that may work. Good luck in the tournament. Be sure to be flexible and change colors and baits as you have to. Keep an eye out for any pattern you find. Let us know how you do.

1. Google Earth - study the Google Earth map in small sections for hidden ponds. 2. Google Maps - look for the blue ponds and lakes sprinkled all over the place. 3. Does the Wisconsin Game and Fisheries publish a booklet listing places to fish for bass? Invest in a long distance call and ask them if they have any information or can give you a web site for you to study looking for new places to fish. 4. Subdivisions and office complexes have ponds. Check them out. 5. There are hidden ponds on commercial property that the owners could care less if you fish. But you have to either hear about them or find them on Google Earth/Google Maps. 6. Go to a local tackle shop and ask the guys for some tips on local ponds and lakes that are not known to the public. Do your homework and you will be surprised at what you can find. Good luck.

That is a wonderful story, Mo. Congrats. As they say in the Gloucester, Virginia newspaper when you do something good, "local guy does good!" Proud of you helping the guy. And yes, one day we all will be in his place.

Speak to the guys at Susquehanna Fishing Tackle for help finding others to fish in the Lancaster area.

Hey everyone, just wanting to get some advice. OK, THATS WHAT WE AR HERE TO DO. I was fishing last week and the bite was very hard. YOU MEAN SLOW AND DIFFICULT? I was trying multiple different tactics. -GREAT! I tried working a lipless crankbait, jerkbait, and a jig some and kept getting hooked on under water cover. -THAT'S WHERE THE FISH ARE. YOU HAVE TO FIND THE WATER COLUMN THEY ARE HOLDING. I was about 30 feet off bank throwing to about 3-5ft deep and bringing it back. - OK. BUT DID YOU BRING YOUR BOAT TO THE BANK AND CAST BACK OUT AND RETRIEVE YOUR LURE BACK TO YOU IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS FROM THROWING TO THE BANK? There wre quite a few trees down under the water and just kept getting stuck. - THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE FISH LIVE. It was so frustrating.- THOSE LITTLE GREEN MONSTERS ARE FRUSTRATING ON A GOOD DAY. Spent more time trying to kept my lure free than actually fishing. - NOT GOOD. YOU HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON FISHING AND PRESENTING THE PROPER BAIT TO KEEP YOUR LURE AND BAIT FREE OF GETTING HUNG UP. My question is, was I doing something wrong? - WELL YES. IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING BITES YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. THE QUESTION, IS "WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?" Should I have switched to weedless? - DEFINATELY. YES. YOU NEED TO THROW A SHAKY HEAD OR A DROP SHOT OR A WEIGHTLESS SENKO (OR OTHER STICK BAIT) RIGGED EITHER TEXAS STYLE OR WACKY TO HAVE SOMETHING TO THROW INTO THE STRUCTURE THAT WILL NOT GET HUNG UP. USE WEEDLESS HOOKS FOR YOUR PLASTICS. START THROWING AT THE OUTER BOUNDRY AND WORK YOUR BAIT INTO THE STRUCTURE. REMOVE THE REAR HOOK OFF ANY CRANKBAIT. AND GO WITH A SPINNERBAIT OR A CHATTERBAIT IF POSSIBLE, WITH NO TRAILER HOOK. Do you only throw crankbait when there’s no under water obstruction? - OF COURSE NOT. SPINNERBAITS, CHATTERBAITS, SQUARE BILL CRANKBAITS, LIPLESS CRANKBAITS AND VARIOUS TYPES OF PLASTICS TO EXPERIMENT TO FIND THE PATTERN. I LOVE TO THROW SENKOS AND WEEDLESS TRICK WORMS ON SMALL JIG HEADS OF 1/16 IN WEIGHT. RIGHT NOW THE NED RIG IS TAKING OFF LIKE CRAZY. WILL THROW IT LATER THIS YEAR WHEN THE BASS GET OFF THEIR BEDS. Obviously I need to continue to perfect my accuracy. But it didn’t seem to always be accuracy as the issue...it was more trees and brush under the water that I couldn’t see. AND THATS WHAT WE ALL ARE LOOKING FOR, EITHER WITH OUR BAITS OR EXPENSIVE ELECTRONICS OR A GUESS FROM SEEING THE STRUCTURE ENTERING OR ON TOP OF THE WATER. YOU FOUND YOUR "HONEY HOLE" WHERE THE FISH WILL LIVE. KEEP IT TO YOURSELF AND DON'T SHARE IT WITH ANYONE. KEEP FISHING THIS AREA. I know crankbait are great and I want to use them...just tired of getting hung up and losing lures. Thanks for the help! -THIS IS WHY WE HAVE SOOOOO MANY BAITS TO SELECT AMOUNG. TRY TO GO WEEDLESS AS BEST YOU CAN. AND REMEMBER TO CONSIDER REMOVING THE REAR HOOK OFF YOUR CRANKBAITS TO HELP THEM NOT GET HUNG UP. NOW, TO ADD TO YOUR ANSWER: PLEASE PUT YOUR LOCATION AND WHERE YOU FISH THE MOST IN YOUR AVATAR. WE CANNOT HELP YOU UNLESS WE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND FISH. OUR ADVICE WILL CHANGE DEPENDING IF YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, KANSAS, OHIO, NEW YORK, NOVA SCOTIA OR CANDA. OR SOUTH CAROLINA!!! DO YOU FISH LAKES OR RIVERS? ARE THE RIVERS TIDAL? YOU ALSO DID NOT GIVE US THE WATER TEMPERATURE AND WATER CLARITY IN YOUR QUERY. THESE ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS TO KNOW TO UNDERSTAND BASS BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR LAKE OR RIVER. AND IF THE BASS ARE ON THEIR BEDS, YOU WILL BE FRUSTRATED BEYOND YOUR WORSE DREAMS. JUST WATCH THE DOGWOOD TREES AND WHEN THEY BLOOM THE BASS ARE ON THEIR BEDS. YOU MAY WANT TO WAIT TWO WEEKS BEFORE HITTING THE WATER WHEN THIS OCCURS. SO GIVE US SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU BETTER INPUT. BASS FISHING CAN BE LIKE PULLING TEETH FROM ACC FANS, OTHER THAN FOR CLEMSON FANS, WHO DON'T HAVE ANY TEETH. OR BAMA FANS WHO LOST THEIR TEETH IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, 44-16. ALL THEY DO IS COMPLAIN AND COMPLAIN AND COMPLAIN, ESPECIALLY THE CLEMSON FANS WHO HAVE NOT WON A COLLEGE WORLD SERIES. WELCOME TO THE FORUM. GREAT HAVING YOU WITH US. AND WE DO KID EACH OTHER FROM TIME TO TIME.

I always fish the wacky rig weedless. Never had any problems.

At the Poplar Creek ramp on Lake Gaston in Virginia if you fish the bridge you will lose your tackle. Now, the fishing can be great in this area, as long as you understand that you will lose your tackle. At American Legion Post 354 on the Historic James River in Midlothian, Virginia, there are rocks of all sizes under the water and you will get hung up and lose your tackle. But this is a great place to catch catfish and you have to put up with the aggravation of replacing setups. You fish where the fish are, which means in rocks, trees, shrubs, and in Chicago, dead bodies. As how to not get hung up. That is the $64,000 question. You can go weightless or Texas rigged, but you can still get hung up. When you find the solution please let us all know. In the meantime, just realize getting hung up is part of fishing where the fish are.

Great!

First, I always decide what test I want, with 8 pounds winning for my spinning rigs. I go with a 12 pound test for baitcasters. Second, I make sure I have the same test strength for the mono I use as backing on the reels to keep the braid from spinning. Third, I look at the diameter to note how the leader will tie to the braid. Keep it simple and make sure you use fast drying glue on all knots to and from the braid to the mono/flouro.

Mantis, welcome and it is great having you with us. Be sure to make as many contacts and friends in DC as you can so you can use the contacts to get a great career outside of DC by offering your future employer your contacts and knowledge of DC and how it works. Now, for fishing in Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland, I am of little help. We have quite a few NOVA guys and gals in the Forum and they can give you some good advice. Get the 2019 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia free booklet from VDG&IF at a local tackle shop or drive down to the BPS in Ashland or go to the one on Arundel Mill circle in Hanover, Maryland. This will give you the places to fish in Northern Virginia, including the ramp off Route 1 south of DC and north of Stafford to get onto the Potomac. Or, you can drive down to Hope Springs or Willow Landing outside of Stafford, put in there, and paddle up creek towards Aquia or go down creek towards the Potomac and hug the bank. Great fishing from kayaks where the bass boats can't fish. Check out the GMCO maps of the Potomac and other places to fish in Maryland and Virginiaa that they offer: http://www.gmcomaps.com/ Plan to attend the fishing expos in Virginia and Maryland in January and February. The Richmond Fishing Expo is in January so watch the Forum as I usually post the details when they are released. There is/was a big show in Timonium so check it out on the Internet. You will meet lots of kayak guys and obtain a lot of information on where to launch and fish. All the best and don't forget for DC and NOVA you need 1) WAZE on your iPhone; 2) lots of gas in your car; 3) patience in traffic; 4) your needle nose pliers and fishing licenses for Maryland, DC and Virginia. Welcome to the Forum. Have fun in traffic.

$45 annual dues. $5 each tournament you fish and we have 8 tournaments Open tournament every year or so open all fishermen Did a Brunswick Stew a few years ago

I agree. Used to have Mike at all football games. But then, back in the day the LSU band played Dixie at the games, too. Both are gone. Did you hear what Coach Saban did after the spring game? It was classic. Here is the recap as I recall it on the radio: BACKGROUND Newspaper reporters coached each team in the spring game. WHAT THE COACH SAID At the press conference, Coach invited all of the reporters who coached the teams onto the stage with him. He then lit into them by telling the losing team that they had the best quarterback on the team; the national Player of the Year on their team; a Belintnicoff (?) winner on their team; and the most number of returning players from last year on their team; so how could they lose the game? No comments. He then lit into them about making one or two players "world famous and sensational" which makes coaching them more difficult. He asked the losing reporters what went wrong? How could they lose that game? No comments. It was really great listening to Coach tear up the reporters. Doing what the reporters do to all coaches all the time. Try to listen to a tape of this encounter after the spring game and you will get more out of it than I can pen here. SEC SEC SEC SEC SEC SEC SEC SEC SEC SEC SEC