Sam

I hope they are filming this year's series. If not I know there will be a lot of unhappy guys on Saturday mornings.

And I thought you were talking about Basspro48 or Triton9. Another VanDam? Man, if Ike had had two boys instead of two girls........ That would have been a lot of fun...3 Ikes running around on tournament days.

Super. Good luck. We know you will do well. Have a fun time.

I always check out the Bandits first. Then the Lucky Crafts. Followed by the Rapalas. Then Bomber. Rat-L-Traps are favorite lipless cranks.

Yes, not only loyal but superstitious. It goes back to when I played sports in high school. I would only wear specific brands of protective equipment and my shoes had to be the same brand I always wore. Then, I went with Bass shoes when I hit college. Now I like only Shimano reels, Kister, G. Loomis and St. Croix rods for bass; Ugly Sticks for fun fishing and catfish; so far Trileen and AN-40 and Vanish for line (but will try the Yo-Zuri band this year). I always buy the same brand of coffee (Community Coffee); the same soft drink (Barq's, although I am trying to go with Coke Zero to be thin and happy); and I like GY Senkos and Zoom plastics; Bandit cranks; Rico and Pop-R poppers; Gulp!; JJ's Magic; and Chatterbaits. Owner hooks are super although I do have some Gamakatsu and Eagle Claws. According to a study by Exxon Corporation many, many years ago, when I was in college and the world was all water, people will stay away from a brand for up to nine (9) years if they do not believe it is satisfactory or if they have a problem with the product or service. So if you purchase a Bass Pro Shop Johnny Morris baitcaster and it blows up on you when you take it out for your first fishing trip with it, it can take you up to nine (9) years to go back and consider another BPS Johnny Morris baitcaster. (Gee, that sounds like me) Even today I still purchase the same athletic protective gear brand. For what reason, who knows as I do not go to the gym to lift weights that often. But that is what I have always purchased and will continue to do so. Interesting psychological situation with brand names as the manufacturers use color, packaging and advertising to keep their brands in our minds at all times so we will just walk into the store and automatically purchase their products.

Interesting question. For guys who are experts with their sonar (like Don Iovino) they may be able to tell a bass from a carp from a crappie from a catfish from a pike from a muskie from a striper from a bowfin, etc. But for us normal guys, we usually cannot do this. You may also have a nack to "feel" the bite and know what hit you other than having the fish take your bait and head out, never to be turned or landed, and believing it was a striper. I agree with the guys that you have to catch the critter to see what it is. And the bluegill, white and yellow perch and Crappie can drive you nuts with their tap-tap-tap and never get caught. If you ever find the secret please share it with us. And welcome aboard.

Smallmouth around Fredericksburg in the Rapp is always good...in the spring, summer and fall. I would not take a chance going in the winter due to the ice and slippery conditions. There are guys on the site that fish the Rapp for smallies around Fredeicksburg so please ask them in the Southeastern Fishing board. I know they have a lot of good suggestions.

Denny Brauer's "Advanced Flipping, Pitching and Jigging" by Strike King. A Jud Bender Production; Gateway Productions. Approximately 60 minutes running time. Excellent. Shows you all you need to know to pitch and flip. Google it to see if it is still available. Check out your local Bass Pro Shop, Gander Mountain and Cabella's, too. Maybe Books a Million or Barnes & Noble can order if for you. But only get it if you want to be a better pitcher and flipper and learn some secrets to jig fishing.

Umbasser, Were those beautiful cars or what? What craftmanship we have in this country. I can't imagine how the guys can do what they do on those cars. When you think about it, you realize how talented the mechanics are. And the money being spent. I thought we were in a recession that only Hillary can fix. There are some guys out there with some money or who are bidding for others with money. The winning bids can blow your mind. So which one are you going to buy? ;D

Wow! What caused this, Burley? Going to make smallie fishing tough.

2x what Paul says. Roadwarrior...where are you?

One more suggestion other than my PM. Go to Southeast Bass Fishing and look for the VA Guys post. The Virginia guys have posted their two cents and you can contact them, or the ones that will be in Fredericksburg. And Tin, don't throw a match in the water!!!!!

I sent you a PM.

If I am posting a long post then I will do so in the Word document and then copy and paste for transmission to the board's topic. Should the site go down, like it did yesterday and not at midnight, you still have your post. I cannot go back to the Forum as my computer says the site is not available so if I hit the send button the post is lost. Live and learn.

Welcome to the forum. Richmond escape the snow. We now have a light snow cover on the grass. It is in the 20s now with little hope of getting into the mid 30s so I stay home today. As for fishing this winter, may I suggest checking out the articles on this site and also consider visiting some of the pros' web sites, like Woo Daves and Ike for examples. First, look for the "warmer" water, if any. The north shore usually gets more sun and warms up faster unless there has been some wind which has negated the warm water by blowing it Coves heat up faster than the main body of water so you may want to hit a few coves, too. If you are going to have an overcast day, then green pumpkin should work for any plastics you throw. You can dip the worm's tail in either JJ's or Spike-It chartruse or use a worm with a chartruse colored tail. Fish the worm slow. The slower the better. Yes, the jig and pig can work well; as long as you fish it slow. The strike zone will very small. Very, very small. Very, very, very small. The bass may not want to travel far for a snack so you will have to throw many times to the same spot if you think the fish are holding in the area. In fact, you may have to aggravate them into hitting your lure. And they will be deep. So you may want to fish the area by the dam, which are usually the deepest parts of a lake. Or by rocks that can heat up and retain some heat. If you boat has sonar look for holes, humps, drop offs and structure on the bottom. You may want to fish "verticle" with a jig and pig or a spoon. Do you know how to rig a drop shot rig? You may want to use that rig as it puts the bait one or two feet off the bottom and (maybe) in their faces. And you want a s-l-o-w fall. So don't over weight your baits. Good luck and let us know 1) how you do; and 2) did you catch a cold? ;D

Gander Mountain just opened this summer at the I-95 exit at Elmont on the way to Green Top. Stop in and see what they have, too. The Bass Pro Shop has broken ground north of Green Top and Gander Mountain at Lewistown Road off I-95. Look for the sign. Can't wait!!!!

Snowing in Richmond, Virginia. Temps should be in the low 30s tomorrow and through most of next week. No fishing for me.

Lipless dragged over the pads and grass and along the grass and pad lines. You should do good. If you do not do good your dad will do good. And you want to do good. Are you good with this? ;D

I think it depends on the water clarity and temperature. If the water is clear then a small trailer is appropriate. If the water is stained then a larger trailer can produce good results. If the water is very cold or very hot, then you have a smaller strike zone and you may want to go larger as they do not want to move for a snack. If the water is warm then you can use either presentation. I know of a pro that uses the pork trailers and sqeezes all of the fluid out of them. He says they last longer and the bass love them. I think your final decision will be based on the water clarity and temperature. Remember, the trailer can bulk up a bait making it more attractive to the bass. It is my opinion that the size of the claws does not matter. It is the total size of the bait you are throwing and its color.

Welcome aboard. Lots of good info on this site so we look forward to receiving your input and having you ask us questions.

Glad you found us. Great site and you will learn a lot. Just read and ask questions. And post any pics of your catches, too.

Muddy, No phone. No secretary. No irate clients. No dumb questions from office staff. No interruptions. No wife (God Bless her). No kids. No dog. No TV No Radio. No traffic. No noise. No yard work. No "honey do's." No neighbors. No business associates. All nature. All beautiful. All quiet. All to eat and drink when and what I want. All doing what I want to do it and how I want to do it. All of the challenge. All of the exuberance when catching a bass. All for me. Any questions?

Ain't, Look on the good side. You can now go out and replinish your tackle. I know it can be expensive but at least you have an excuse to take the Bait Monkey with you and start all over.

Burley, I almost went out today to try my luck on some local ponds and then changed my mind. It is overcast and cold in Richmond and we are expecting about an inch of snow later today and tonight. I must admit that I did fish in the snow on Lake Gaston last February and we did great. My buddy got his limit; I got three beauties and missed two others; one of which is still headed towards Chicago with one of my favorite crankbaits. We had an inch of snow and ice in the boat. A lady came onto her porch and told us that she was going to take our photo as she could not believe anybody would be out fishing in that weather. Let us know if you have any luck.

Be sure to take a plastic grocery bag or another bag to carry all of the stuff you will be getting for free at the Classic. Pick up as much as you can and meet the pros and ask questions of the vendors. It is a fantastic experience.