Traveler2586

Ya, what he said......

Zoff, are you talking about the VA side of the river?? MD has Smallwood State Park with camping, cabins, and the best launch facilities along the MD side; also the LaPlata and Waldorf areas (20 to 30 min drive) have excellent hotels that regularly see tournament anglers. B.A.S.S. has held tournaments out of Smallwood many times. Get Nitro and come on over one weekend and I'll show you around.

Look to the Maryland's Who's Who thread post 1787 + for some tips: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/43647-marylands-whos-who/page__st__1785 I've only found them in shallow slack waters around wood & weed.

X2 on all points. in tidal waters, also look for deep holes with some kind of structure in it that the fish can move around depending on tide direction. Also, some small bays, coves, inlets have the same sun/south wind effects as lakes/ponds, but a nearby channel can suck the warm water away on an out going tide.

When I get hung up I'll send down a lure knocker (torpedo), or a chain type lure retriever, very very seldom do I loose a hung jig. With the chain retriever the chains seldom snag the hook but it allows my to repeatedly ram the lure by pulling on the retrievers line. Try it, hopefully, you'll keep your jigs.

I read some time back, or maybe it was a Discovery Channel episode, that long ago pants (pantaloons) came with each leg separated and with an open crotch, each leg was somehow attached at the waste (think cord) then something that looks like a Dipper was used to cover the crotch and butt areas. So I guess back then they refereed to them as a pair of pantaloons (two separate leg coverings). If you believe all that, I have some bottom land for you..... Just a thought, but if nature (natural selection) was consistent we would have everything in pairs, not just eyes, ears, arms, legs, etc. Just think how we would look with two of everything; if we had two mouths, we could literally talk out of both sides of our face. Maybe we would really be two faced........ Boy, have I gone off topic!?? Again! I would really like to have a pack of Snowballs and a nice, tall, cold, glass of milk........

Hay Zoff, Just had an epiphany, do you have birds roosting in your barn? If so, cover your boat/boat cover with a plastic tarp. D**m birds will mess up a boat cover.

"They do come in pairs." warnings???

"Honey, tonight you drink from the bottle!". Me, I would have asked for a new boat, electronics, tackle, etc. and a cabin on a good Bass lake; but that's just me.....

X2 Get some good Foul Weather Gear and dress in layers and you'll be fine, just don't fall in - then your done for I want to try the power plant at Lake Anna one day, I was told last year they were hitting in the winter on drop shots and jiggin spoons.

You think if Hostess comes back they'll bring back the Snowballs, G they were good They remind me of a sweater my wife wore when we were dating.

It all boils down to the membership, there are some very good hardworking unions out there, it's like people, some good some bad..... I believe what I ran into on more that one occasion was some hard core short sighted members. Now... back to subject

If you have an "on-board" charger you don't have to remove them, just leave them plugged in and the charger will trickle-charge the batteries to keep them up; just don't forget to turn off all circuit breakers. Then you'll be ready for that one good day that may come along. Make sure the water level is correct (you know to use only distilled water) and all connections are clean, tight, and have Dielectric grease on all surfaces. Most people never think about the trailers electrical connectors, they also need a good coat of Dielectric grease on all contacts, including your tow vehicle; you can pick up a small tube of it at any auto store or hardware.

I have to keep mine in the driveway, not what I want to do but it's better than in the yard at the marina. Keeping the boat dry, inside and out, is the big thing. Keep the drain plug out and jack the front of the trailer high to get the best drainage; I support the center of the trailer tong with a heavy duty automotive jack stand for safety. I take everything out of my lockers/storage spaces and prop my lockers open with blocks of 2X4 so air circulates freely throughout the boat. Keep your fuel and oil tanks full. Keep the batteries charged. Do you have power in the barn? Does the barn have a hard floor or dirt; if dirt, does it get wet?? I've been told not to park for any length of time on the ground, i.e. a field, because it will speed up tire dry-rot. This may be an old wives tail - I don't know. At one time I was parking in a field at the Marina and did loose two tires to dry-rot. being in a barn I don't think you'll have to worry about UV light exposure so you good there. I don't have a good suggestion for mice, you can try mothballs in each locker and area where you think mice will try to make a nest, I've heard of using old socks to hold the mothballs; otherwise you could visit the mouse section at the hardware store. Man, I wish I had a barn

I try not to put the boat up for the winter, cause as soon as I do we get some really nice days and I start with the fishing anxiety where I can't stand being in the house,, or is that cabin fever???

My Jon Boat was used mainly on electric lakes & ponds at first; then we ventured onto the tidal creeks off of the Potomac River using a gas motor, but we never went out on the river its self as that would have been suicidal. At times we fished in areas that you could only get to using a push-pole. I sometimes miss the quiet and slow pace of my old Jon Boat.

LOL, no that would have sunk us for sure...

X2, and they have/had a Bill Dance retriever that worked well also. I like the line reels, but change out the line to something better.

X2 I used a 14' Jon boat for years; I could take that boat on the water where the big bad glass boats couldn't get to; but I couldn't run & gun like them either. I started with just a built-in live well, trolling motor, and battery, but by the time I sold it, it had two depth finders, a 15 hp motor, the trolling motor, decking, two fishing chairs, rod tie-downs, running lights, anchor winch, and I can't remember what else. Add two men and their rods & tackle and the free-board was almost gone, boaters would come to us and ask if we needed any help - they thought we were sinking. That's what you get when you use Harry & Charlie's ( of Bassmaster fame ) boat as a guide on how to build out a Jon Boat.

It' working for me so far, the packages are easy to flip through. It's just Duct tape, a two-hole punch, and snap rings that you can get anywhere. I always know what I'm using, what works and what don't ( most don't ), and when I'm out of something I know exactly what to reorder.

IMHO, I've found the chain retriever to work best on crank baits when snagged in wood structure, weeds, or wrecks; they can go as deep as the cord line you have on them (I use 100' high test Brade) and they take up less room in the tackle box or boat locker; on worms or jigs I'll send a home-made (teardrop weight & snap-swivel) plug knocker down to do the job, they fit in your pocket. BTW, You can make your own chain retriever very easily with a sinker, snap-swivel, and a couple feet of small chain; if your snag is so bad you break off the retriever line you haven't lost much. Look here to see the type of chain to get: http://www.basspro.com/EZ-Lure-Retriever-Kit/product/52869/ Here is a good weight type: http://www.basspro.com/Trolling-Sinkers/product/4648/ Tie the retriever line to one end of the weight and the chain and snap to the other end and your good to go....

Here is how I do my soft plastics now. I've gone down the road of box's, zip-locks, etc. I found this approach more effective, if I use the last bait I know by the empty package what to reorder. And I don't have to worry about chemical interactions between soft plastic types.

This off topic subject of unions borders along the lines of politics so the Mods will probably step in, but I don’t totally disagree with unions, or know the part they played in the demise of Hostess; unions are only as good as the members. What I can say is I’ve worked on both sides of the union line (union & non-union), attended union meetings both on and off the job where we were taught how to conduct a work slowdown; I’ve seen, and been injured by, co-workers sabotaging job sites; been badgered by union stewards to toe the line; and found co-workers had hid and/or stolen my tools, and other co-works tools, so we couldn’t do our jobs. All in the name of union pressure to get their way. A union and its members can make, or break, a company in subtle ways not seen by outsiders. So, I hope Hostess returns, I’m on my last loaf of Wonder Bread.

BS

Ouch !!! Let me guess, it was snagged - you pulled it free - and it shot back at you, so you put your hand up to protect your face??? Again, Ouch!!!!