Sam

As I have written in the Forum in the past, my house is haunted. Every so often I will see a flash of something moving fast in the upstairs hallway. Of course, nothing is there when I check on it. You and your wife could be reading too much into the situation. Then again you may not. So sorry to read about your last pet's condition. Pets are members of your family and to lose one is very heartbreaking.

Suggestions: 1. When you felt the pain was anyone with you to confirm what you felt? 2. Consider filing Workers' Comp claim to pay 100% of your medical bills and 66% of your weekly income. 3. Be ready to explain why you were late in reporting the Work Comp claim. 4. Get a list of approved Work Comp "panel of physicians" and go to one of them for starters. 5. Do this today so as not to continue to be "late reporting" and opening up a box of a lot of questions. Sincerely hope it is a muscle problem that is impacting your nerves and not a rotator cuff situation. From what you wrote it sounds like a muscle problem that is being magnified by your neck movement. Good luck.

1. Tides. Plan to fish on an outgoing tide for as long as you can. 2. Grass. Lots of it and know how to fish your drop shot, punch rig, spinnerbait, Chatterbait, Rat-L-Trap, weedless plastics, and Tokyo Rig above, along, through and under all grass. 3. Look for submerged wood in creeks. 4. Always keep an eye on the weather, especially the wind. The Potomac can become like the Atlantic Ocean in a New York minute making it very dangerous. 5. Do something different. Go to the back into Aquia Creek past the marina. Go back as far as you can in Mattawoman. Fish Arkendale Flats. Get close to the "off limits" area and see if you get shot at. 6. Creeks. Hit the creeks. 7. Snakeheads. Release them or kill them. Depends if you are in Virginia or Maryland. They are very bloody and can bleed all over your boat. Just adding to an excellent post above.

Tennessee is a beautiful state. I have a number of UT friends and they are first class. Pigeon Forge is a fun place, too. Like being in Myrtle Beach without the beach and traffic.

Get a GMCO map of the Chick River and Chick Lake before you head to the area. Look at it closely and then read the posts above and any that are posted below so you can follow along on what is suggested. I would think some of the tackle shops around SML would have the GMCO maps in stock. There are so many places to fish Chick Lake that it would not be fair to give them to you as some may produce and others not. But I agree with Cheeseburger Eddie on his post and suggestions. Just fish the trees, Lacey and Johnson Creeks, the area southeast and across the lake from Eagles Landing, and the trees by the duck blind up lake by Old House Landing. If you decide to head up lake from Old House Landing be aware of the snakes. Show your map to the Ed. Allen guys and they can point out some places to fish. If you are going to fish the Chick River, check out the tides to look for a high to low falling tide in the areas where you want to fish. And as far as I know, the lock from the river to the lake is still not open. Don't quote me on this as I don't go up to the dam that often and when I do I fish across from Roc-A-Hoc so I have not paid attention to the lock. https://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/virginiasites.html#james You can call Ed. Allen's and ask them about the lock. Have a fun time. Post pics!

Great post. The weather is playing havoc with roads all over the south and east.

Everyone have a great Mardi Gras weekend culminating on Tuesday with parades, girls, and fun times on the water because everyone will be in the streets watching the parades and the local crazies and going wild. Post pics of your catches, even of those bull reds and big speckled trout.

Interesting proposed rules changes to be discussed and voted upon in April by the NCAA. Here is the article for all of you college football lovers out there: https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/football-rules-committee-proposes-modifying-targeting-protocols

Yes while on the Mattaponi and Potomac Rivers in Virginia. For some unknown reason, the bass in these two rivers seem to like the color pink.

Getting ready to hit a local pond once the weather cooperates and I could not find my Ned Rig jig heads and plastics. So I hit Green Top on February 28th and bought two colors of Ned Rig plastics and some weedless jig heads. Cost of plastics is $1.00 a package less that BPS and the jig heads were less costly than what BPS has. So that is my latest purchase.

I know people with Type I and they are doing fine. In fact, one of my best friends I met at LSU in the 60's was diagnosed with Type 1 his senior year. He went on to have a great career, got married, had two nice kids, and is now in his 70's and is doing great. He also played high school baseball without any problems. You and your wife will have to control the Type 1 with diet and shots and lots of checkups. The baby will do better than you and your wife so just hang in there and all will be fine.

Aaron Martins has a formula for a drop shot leader: the length of a Plano tackle box as a starting point. I use fluorocarbon or braid with a drop shot, including the leader. I also go with Aaron's suggestion unless I want a little longer leader. Depends on the depth I am fishing. I also use either a medium or a medium heavy rod to get a good hook set when I raise the rod to set the hook. As for my knot, I use a Palomar Knot on the hook by taking about three feet of line, run it through the hook's eye, then tie the Palomar Knot. You now have one continuous line between your reel and hook. I then measure the length of leader I want and cut off the remaining line before adding the weight. And yes, you wil be pulling all that line through your Palomar Knot and then back through the hook's eye from the front of the hook (over the barb). Give this setup a try and see if you like it.

Go to a lawn tractor shop (John Deere, Cub Cadet, Kabuto, etc.) and ask them to show you their yellow plastic fuel lines. Purchase about one foot of the fuel line with the inside diameter and thickness you are seeking. Cut the fuel line into the sizes you need for your situation and use it as a keeper. One word of advice: the fuel line can be very tough and you must be extra careful when putting it on your hook. Use two pliers and keep hands and fingers away from the hooks. Just food for thought.

GReb, I have never tipped a bass fishing guide. I have tipped the first mate on saltwater charters and redfish fishing in south Louisiana after he helped with baiting the hook; landing the fish; and cleaning rthe fish so I could take the meat home. Tipping is up to you and the amount should reflect your opinion of how the first mate performed.

Glacus, congratulations on the taming of your situation. Kudos to you on what you have achieved. I have a friend whose son has the same condition and he can't hold a job; he gets into arguments with everyone about anything; he can become physically combative; and all he wants to do is sit in his mother's home's basement and play games on the computer. He does not want to work or go outside. He has had strong therapy and treatments at a specialist clinic but to no avail. Now, let me tell you about polygraph tests in bass fishing tournaments. Only the larger tournaments with thousands on the line usually have polygraph tests. And many do not. Club tournaments; local tournaments; regional tournaments among clubs or individuals usually do not have any polygraph tests. Some of the larger BASS and FLW tournaments have the option of polygraph testing. Some of the large private tournaments can also perform polygraph tests. But it has been my experience that these tests are few and far between. If you are concerned about the tests just ask the tournament director before you enter the tournament if they are going to test the top three to ten winners. You will then know what to expect. If you want to fish the tournament and there is a possibility of a polygraph test, you can consider your options. One option is in lieu of you taking the test have the tournament director agree to having your fishing partner take the test and be asked questions about you and your catches. This will a test about you but taken by the other guy in the boat. I have seen your situation destroy a family. Not a nice situation as the father bailed leaving the son with the mother who is having a terrible time coping with the situation. Once again, congratulations for beating the syndrome. You deserve an award and so does your family. You are a special guy. Keep up the good work no matter the challenges. And fish a tournament and knock it out of the park! Be sure to let us know how you do.

The Historic James River is flooding in the greater Richmond, Virginia area due to all the rain we have received west of Richmond. Roads adjacent to the river are flooded and are closed. River current is screaming east around 15 to 20 MPH towards the Chick River. The problem concerns sand bars and mud flats. The ones we know about may be gone and new ones will be created. If you have a kayak please stay out of the river. The current will take you for a ride towards the bay.

Love it! Love the late sunsets and the time it allows us to do more fishing at the end of the day. Hate the late sunrise when you have to drive and get set up in the dark. But it is what it is and you just have to roll with the punches.

Protein and sugar. Roast beef along with Snickers bars when I start to feel weak. And don't forget to drink water. Carbonated drinks are not the same as drinking pure water.

Your grandpa must have been a special guy. Cherish those great memories of him and your interactions.

BEST SMART ___ ANSWERS SMART ___ ANSWER #6 It was mealtime during an airline flight. 'Would you like dinner?' , the flight attendant asked John, seated in front. 'What are my choices?' John asked. 'Yes or no,' she replied . SMART ___ ANSWER #5 A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets. As a man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened his trench coat and flashed her. Without missing a beat, she said, 'Sir, I need to see your ticket, not your stub.' SMART ___ ANSWER #4 A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store but she couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked a stock boy, ‘ Do these turkeys get any bigger?' The stock boy replied, 'No ma'am, they're dead...' SMART ___ ANSWER #3 The police officer got out of his car as the kid who was stopped for speeding rolled down his window. 'I've been waiting for you all day,' the officer said. The kid replied, 'Yeah, well I got here as fast as I could.' When the cop finally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket. SMART ___ ANSWER #2 A truck driver was driving along on the freeway and noticed a sign that read: Low Bridge Ahead. Before he knows it, the bridge is right in front of him and his truck gets wedged under it. Cars are backed up for miles. Finally a police car comes up. The cop gets out of his car and walks to the truck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, 'Got stuck, huh?' The truck driver says, 'No, I was delivering this bridge and I ran out of gas.' SMART ___ ANSWER OF THE YEAR A college teacher reminds her class of tomorrow's final exam. 'Now class, I won't tolerate any excuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury, illness, or a death in your immediate family, but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!' A smart-ass student in the back of the room raised his hand and asked, 'What would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?' The entire class is reduced to laughter and snickering. When silence was restored, the teacher smiled knowingly at the student, shook her head and sweetly said, 'Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your other hand.' IMPOSSIBILITIES IN THE WORLD 1) You can't count your hair. 2) You can't wash your eyes with soap. 3) You can't breathe when your tongue is out. Put your tongue back in your mouth, sure you can still breathe, you fool. Ten (10) Things I know about you. 1) You are reading this. 2) You are human. 3) You can't say the letter ''P'' without separating your lips. 4) You just attempted to do it. You are an idiot! 6) You are laughing at yourself, 7) You have a smile on your face and you skipped No. 5. 8) You just checked to see if there is a No. 5. 9) You laugh at this because you are a fun loving person & everyone does it too. 10) You are probably going to send this to see who else falls for it. "Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many."

Hey guys, it is worse than I figured in Richmond, VA. TriCitiesBassin' post is correct. Check out this post for Monday, February 25th, 10 months till Christmas. The Historic James River is about to reach a level not seen in nearly a decade. Get yourself down to the water's edge!

Funny, but very serious. If you do have a weapon in your house be sure you are licensed and that you have taken the safety course.

Welcome, Attic. We can use all the SEC guys on the site during football season.

Welcome, Matt. Glad to have you in the family.

Wow! And I thought we were getting a lot of rain in Virginia. Nothing like you are seeing. Be safe. Stay home. Wait it out.