Jeff_NHBA

Congrats on the new boat! Please check out the New Horizon Bass Anglers, www.nhbayouthfoundation.org if you are interested in learning more about fishing without the added stress of competitive fishing. We are fishing 18 tournaments this year, 12 of which will be in the Potomac. Our 6 away tournaments will feature Lake Gaston, Buggs Island, Chick River and Lake, Lake Anna, and Roanoke Rapids. Some of our club members are retired fishing guides and really enjoy passing on information. We have a philanthropic side too as we host two Kids' Fishing Derbies in the summer. I believe this will be our 17th year doing so. I think if you spend some time on our website, you will learn everything you need to know about us.

The flea market is scheduled again this year. The Hillendale VFD might have a contact number for you.

Jigging a blade bait like a Silver Buddy near the bottom around a pod of baitfish can be very productive.

Check out New Horizons Bass Anglers at www.nhbayouthfoundation.org. We fish the tidal Potomac, Kerr, Gaston, Roanoke Rapids,Smith Mountain Lake, Anna, the Chickahominy and the Rappahannock. We are more about fishing and comraderie than competition plus we put on two youth fishing derbies each year to help grow the sport. We are always looking for new members and you don't have to have a boat to join.

Make sure you have your DC fishing license and boater safety certificate if fishing DC waters.

When I go on my business trips to the South, I always manage to buy a bunch of crankbaits, plastics and hooks. I check it in my carryon baggage and have never had a problem.

For routine oiling and lubrication I do the following: 1. Remove side cover. 2. Wipe the side cover down to remove any dirt. 3. Inspect the bearigs for freedom of movement. 4. Add a drop of reel oil on the bearing in the side cover. 5. Remove the spool and line. 6. Wipe off the ends of the spool. 7. Add a drop of reel oil to the bearing on the reel side. 8. With a q-tip, apply a very small amount of reel greas to the ends of the spool shaft. 9. Replace the spool and side cover. 10. lean the line guide pawl assembly. 11. Add a bit of reel grease to the worm gear. 12. Loosen the drag and turn the crank. This will spread the grease into the worm gear. 13. Remove Tension knob and apply a drop of reel oil tothe bearing in there, if there is one. If this doesn't help, follow everyone else's advise and get them serviced. Tight Lines!

Excellent reels! They are on sale for 79.99 online. If you have a BPS near you, you can take the printout off the website and they usually honor the sale prices.

Hi Nitro Man, Check out the New Horizon Bass Anglers. http://www.nhbayouthfoundation.org/ I've been a member now for a couple years and you won't find a better group of guys to fish with. We are all about having fun and teaching others to fish. We fish two weekend tournaments each month, one home (Leesylvania) and the other away (Buggs, Chick, Gaston, James, SML, Lake Anna, etc.) We fish both Sat and Sun but you don't have to fish both days as only the best day counts. This works out well for people that can't one day or the other. Like I said, we are about fun. The tournament fee is $6.00 for both days so it won't break the bank. Expenses are shared evenly between the boater and the non-boater. Please take the time to look at our site and check out the pictures. You will also note that we have a philanthrpic side. We host two kids fishing derbies each summer at Lake Fairfax. We just host a derby last weekend and all of the kids (250+) had a great time. The parents were amazed that there is still something a family can do together that doesn't cost them anything. Needless to say, I'm very proud of my club. Please consider it. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Sincerely, Jeff NHBA Treasurer Check us out. You won't be disappointed.

I'm so glad I live two minutes from the ramp.

I always check the weather and the tides before I head out on the Potomac.

Pflueger Presidents work just fine too.

A lot of shad spawn back in there. Not all of them make it through that ordeal (similar to Salmon). I don't think there is anything to worry about.

drill an 1/8 inch hole through the trigger and now you have the worlds best hook keeper. Great idea! Thanks.

I havn't had any problems with any of my BPS rods. I do wish they would add a hook keeper (looks like they have these now on their Crankin' Stick). They also sellthe balancing kit for another $10.00 or so. Buy the rods when on sale and just pick up the balancing kit to go with the rod. Keep in mind though that not all BPS rods take the kit.

Hi, I'm a member of NHBA. We hold one mid-week tournament each month, but we launch first thing in the morning. By the way, we had a blast this last Wednesday. The river was so uncrowded, I thought I saw an Indian in his canoe from the 1600s. I'm not sure how late in the eveing you're talking about, but Leesylvania closes the gate shortly after sunset. You have to have prior permission in order to stay overnight.

A lot of uys will start throwing top waters after the spawn. Spawn won't hit full swing until the full moon in May. You might have been seeing gar slap the surface. They do that a lot.

Senkos are great for skipping under docks! Use Parasite clips if you have problems with your senkos ripping.

I haven't fished it for a while because the water levels were way down (5 ft ot so) due to last years drought. You might want to call there first to see if the waters come up. My buddy couldn't even launch his tracker without the trailer wheels droppiung off the ramp. The pass is $10. You can get it at the tackle shop right there at the lake.

Trex will not be strong enough to take the place of 2 by bunk boards. There are composites out there but they are very pricey compared to wood.

I caught a nice two-pounder on a bLuegill colored FLick Shake worm. I've just started using them this year but so far, so good. It's a different look for the fish which may be enough to get a reaction.

I sent you a PM last night. Not sure if you got it.

For what it's worth, Gene Mueller writes for the Washinton Times, not the Post. Angus Phillips is the outdoor writer for the Post...

If you haven't done so already, buy a good map of the river. I recommend the GMCO map of the Tidal Potomac River. You can find it at Dick's, Gander Mountain, and BPS.