DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only

Just wanted to add to this. Use the restroom (1,2 or 3 (1+2) Make sure there is paper towels or TP. Turn water on and put soap on you hands Wash your hands With paper towels or TP turn water off Discard and dry hands with fresh paper towel or TP Open door to exit with paper towel or TP Discard paper towel or TP in trash can near door. The End!!!! Jay

.40 That would be impossible to track down the owner of that round. There is so many .40 cal not to mention all the lost stolen and unmarked weapons. That same story happens every year on the 4th and New Years Eve. People don't realize that the bullet has to come down somewhere. People just have to get educated and stop doing what they see on TV. Jay

Darren I can tell you this much about Gar fishing or at least gar fishing on the river where I do. It is great fun! I can see gar beaks breaking the surface or long shadows. I cast and can see them turn, strike, or follow my bait like a shark with fins out of the water. Then BOOM fish on. The initial hook set can be powerful with some out of water displays and some major head turning. Once you get them turned towards you they kind of come str8 in until they get close to you, then fight again. I can say this too if you just want a amazing fight put a rat-l-trap on and snag them by the tail or any other good size fish. It is great fun anytime you can pick your fish and see the strike. I just can't wait to create a bait that works more than not. Jay

I did try something similar so far. I took a baby minus bent the lip to prevent it from diving and replaced the front hook with rope. So far it has not held them on the hook. I think I need to add a bigger split ring so that I can add a thicker piece of rope. It amazed me that the rope thus far has not majorly effected the wobble of the bait. Jay

M-F I fish during lunch. There are hundreds of gar beaks breaking the surface of the water. I get them to bites several surface/subsurface baits. I once in awhile land them. They are way out from the bank (30-50yds)so it's hard to get my rope baits out to them. The ones I do land get hooks tangled around their beaks. I will make something soon that cast well and has a high hookup ratio. Jay-

If it keeps raining like this we can launch from my house near Manassas! Jay

Thanks Quan! You know me bank banger. When I do fish deep stuff (15-30) never considered hitting it with a shakyhead. I am just trying to get my offshore game on point! Thanks again. j-

Is everyone serious about fishing a shakyhead deep? I have never thought to use a shakyhead in water deeper than 12 ft. Are you using a heavy shakyhead something over ¼ ounce? Usually when I am fishing deeper water I only throw a C-Rig, Jig, or Crank. You have my attention with the thought of a shakyhead. I love throwing them but like I said usually I stay pretty close to the bank with them. ENLIGHTEN ME! Jay

WOW! Putting VA on the Map one member at a time. Welcome Nazbom maybe with your experiences with getting the family involved you can bring families closer together. I have several friends with kids and their families are just not into it.

I know that back in the day they use to stock below the d**n with trout in the fall or winter. The trout I use to catch were jumbo's (good size ones over 17 inch). I have not heard of anyone fishing there in a good long while though. Keep me posted if you find anything out! Jay

Thanks Kevin and Lucky Craft I will try both out. Jay-

I have caught then on a popper before also, I haven’t found a bait that they won’t hit if presented right in front of them. I used the over sized hooks but bend them almost to the shape of a circle hook the big bend that is created ends up hugging their noses, I will have to try smaller hooks and see if I have better hookup ratios. Thanks Snakehead.

Thanks all who have posted!

I am curious to know if anyone has read this thread and used what I have writen to catch some of these amazing fish. Post your snakehead experience please! Maybe someone will tell there story and make something click for those people who have not yet caughten a snakehead! Jay

Delta I can't give up any of my spots but I can say this. All the creeks, coves, and marshes that feed down into the river are good. All the public fishing areas in Fort Belvoir are good too. Just try to use the info I provided. It will get a snakehead on your hook. Tight lines.. Jay

Have you tried that rope lure before? I am just curious, I made one slightly different that I am prototyping. I took a crankbait blank and cut it in half at a angle. Then took a wire and pushed it through tying it into a loop on each end one for tying and the other for the rope. I added no lip because I wanted it to float and added weight so I could cast it and so it would swim true without spinning. I only have a 3" piece of rope so maybe I need to make it longer. I will keep all posted if it works. If not back to the drawing board I go. Thanks Hanover and flyfisher. Jay

The small basin I fish is teaming with the Gar right now. Bass fishing is kind of slow so when I am not targeting snakeheads I am targeting Gar. Some of the strikes I have had are amazing, and some of the hook ups remind me of tarpon fishing. They kind of come straight in most of the time but on the initial hook set they fight pretty good and even jump out of the water with big head turns. Then of coarse spit the hook. I have noticed its better not to set the hook and to loosen your drag and work them slowly. Either way the strikes are amazing and fun to watch. Jay

I have heard of people making rope lures with no hooks to catch gar. I am not sure how well that actually works though. I have made one with rope I just haven't tried it yet. If it does work I will post it. Thanks for the tip Stren_g. Jay

Okay where to began... I have been working on a line of gar baits. Needlenose Gar not alligator gar. So far I know that these gar are always near the surface and love hot sunny days. I have caught them on rattle traps, but mostly on topwater type baits. The best bait I have found so far is a kvd square bill crank bait with the bill modified to prevent it from diving. I think it's the oversized treble hooks which I curve back in almost circle hook style. I do that because I have noticed that gar don't get hooked but do get the hooks pinched on there face or or the wire leader goes in their mouth and the big body of the kvd is to big to come through it's lips. Although they bite it very often the hookup ratio is still 6/7 to 1. Does anyone have a lure that has a better hookup ratio? I have some Louisiana boys at work that are requesting them. Jay

Not sure fish know how much stuff cost!!! LOL Sometimes the cheap stuff is something the bass havent seen before.

Every fish you take a picture with looks like a four + pounder. You referenced your new born as a citation! ( smh guilty ). You know at least 10 other names for Bass. You call out sick at least twice a month! Your lawn mower is broke every other weekend! Talking dirty to your ole lady involves lure names. You randomly while walking around pretend to set the hook. I can do this all day long! LOL Jay

I have a strange request for someone! I am in need of a partner for a tournament at fountainhead regional park this Sunday July 7th. The strange part is I need a partner that can tow my boat. Wifey has by tow vehicle on a road trip. All my other partners and subs are working and/or out of town! Tournament is from safe light till 4pm and will cost you 25 + 10 for insurance. I will pay 25+ launch fee and gas. Big fish and all other winning will be split down the middle. If interested please pm me! Game plan is flipping shore cover and some offshore channel drops and points. Bring plastics, jigs, cranks, c-rigs, and any other confidence baits. Experience prefered but not necessary! Jay

My pet peeve is are hunting shows centered around a food plot! Be it bear, deer, hogs, etc. Anyone can train a critter to come to a food source. The real hunt is all natural, you, your weapon of choice, and the natural elements/environment. Hunting a farm to help a farmers harvest is good to do but not show worthy. Walking into a Forrest finding deer signs and taking game is where it's at. Jay

You have a large mouth mail box and welcome mat. Your truck has fishouflage trim. Your only button to shirt is a fishing shirt. Your sons first name is Bow middle name is Hunter( guilty, lol). Jay

PROPOSAL TO STUDY GROWTH RATE OF SNAKEHEAD FISH AT MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO INVITATION TO SCOPING MEETING The public is invited to attend a meeting concerning a proposal to stock snakehead fish in Buffalo Pond at Marine Corps Base, Quantico (MCBQ), Virginia. The meeting will be held April 17, 5 P.M., at building 27007 (Log Cabin), at MCBQ. This meeting is held per the National Environmental Policy Act to provide the public opportunity to comment on the proposal. Please RSVP to the fisheries program office at MCBQ if you plan to attend or need directions. Contact numbers are 703-432-6776/ 6777/ 6780 and 6782. The proposed study will be managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). The following is a description of the study. There are no known validation studies to support the aging procedure that is currently used for snakeheads. Validation studies using known age fish are a prerequisite to completing an accurate assessment of a given population and have been conducted for other species but not for snakeheads. This is an urgent matter of not only regional but national importance, as this species continues its colonization of Chesapeake Bay tributaries and other waters throughout the United States. Buffalo Pond is located east of U.S. Route 1 in the lower Chopawamsic Creek watershed and adjacent to the tidal portion of this creek where snakeheads are already known to exist. The study will be contingent upon successful collection of an adequate number of juveniles in spring 2013 (at least several hundred) and successfully marking them with oxytetracycline (OTC - a method currently used to stain the bony structures of fish for future evaluation). VDGIF needs a secure site (Buffalo Pond) to stock the marked fish and return annually to collect representative samples as they age. The OTC stain on the otolith (ear bone) will be the validation needed to confirm the fish's age. An added benefit of the study will be an evaluation of the impacts of northern snakeheads on an existing warm-water reservoir fish community. The non-native sportfish assemblage currently inhabiting Buffalo Pond (including largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie and channel catfish) will be monitored annually by boat electrofishing. The pond is currently open to public fishing on a limited basis. OCS training often closes road access to the pond, especially during the summer season. Recreational fishing will still be allowed when the roads are open but on a catch and release basis. VDGIF will assist the MCBQ FWA Section with monitoring the fish population in Buffalo Pond over the life of the study. VDGIF will be responsible for posting signage explaining the project and any rules pertaining to fisheries management in the pond. Per MCO P5090.2A Ch 1, Chapter 11, the release of exotic organisms into an installation's natural ecosystems is not authorized. However, the northern snakehead is already established in tidal Chopawamsic Creek and its tributaries. This project will cause no new introduction to this watershed. The proposed research will develop biological knowledge that may contribute to future control technologies that will help restore the natural balance within the watershed. MCO P5090.2A does authorize research on invasive species to develop environmentally sound control technologies. This project is consistent with the sound working relationship established between VDGIF and MCBQ per the Sikes Act Improvement Act.