burleytog

The season isn't even over and I'm ready to forget it. I wish Tribune would sell the team since they obviously have no interest in fielding a winning team. Baker can't be fired soon enough. >

For sheer numbers, around 70 fish on a local 50 acre lake. My friend and I went for trout, caught our limits and then started fishing for bluegill and largemouth. Between us we landed around 150. I went back two days later and caught another 50. For size, it was a float trip on a local river about 4 years ago. I was in the front of the canoe and caught around 35 smallies, bluegill, and spotted bass. One of those spots was about 17" long and at least 3.5 lbs. Never thought I'd get it in as the line on my reel was old (I hadn't fished much over the previous few years) and brittle. Could barely get my knots to hold. For me, a good day is any day I catch fish. One of my best days this year was a float trip where I only caught 4 fish. But two of those were 19" and 16" smallmouth.

SW VA lakes and rivers. Concentrate on two or three lakes within 30 minutes of home base. Spend a lot of time on a small river at work and a decent river I grew up fishing (Clinch). Heading upstate this weekend to fish the James for the first time. I'll get home Sunday night and turn right back around and go halfway back across the state Monday to fish a 90 acre bass haven for a couple of days. Once I get a bigger boat, I'll fish some of the NE TN lakes occasionally.

Twice this year. First time was less of a fishing trip and more of a 'try out the new motor' trip. Wife and I hit a local lake about 9:30PM to try for some catfish. Stayed till 2AM and didn't get a single bite. But I did have fun with that outboard. Second time was a couple of weeks ago. Went out with a friend on his boat. He caught one nice bass on a drop shot, I only got a couple of bites and landed quite a bit of abandoned line (only bad thing about the carolina rig). I am determined to catch fish every time I go out. If that means putting the big tackle away and resorting to the tiny tackle and mealworms for bluegill, then so be it.

I have no idea what kind of cover is on the lake, bottom composition, etc. The lake is managed by the VDGIF, although the surrounding lands are managed by the county parks & rec dept. I'll probably fish an evening, camp out that night, do some night fishing, then fish in the AM. Here's the main page on the state's website for the lake. http://www.dgif.state.va.us/FISHING/waterbodies/display.asp?id=112 I just wish they would allow night fishing on this lake. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/maps/Laurel_Bed_Lake.pdf

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/maps/Rural_Retreat_Lake.pdf Water temp should be in the 80-85* range.

A 78 Fisher 12' flat bottom jonboat. My dad bought it in 84, we fished it for 2 or 3 years. Sat idle in a pasture for about 5 or 6 years before I salvaged it. Had a really nice trailer, but nothing to pull it with. So I sold the trailer for $125 to a sorry excuse for a man. Took me 14 years to get another trailer for that boat. :-/ The boat was used quite sparingly until 04. I would borrow my dad's truck about once a month and hit a local lake. Finally got tired of that this spring and spend my tax refund on a trailer at BPS. Had to rebuild the transom, added some seat brackets. Still using that old Shakespeare trolling motor that dad bought back in 84. 30 lb. thrust. Probably hasn't been used more than 50 times since he bought it, and at least 20 of those have been in the last 6 months. Found an 81 model Evinrude 4.5 horse outboard for $250, bought that a month ago to use on couple of local lakes. I mostly fish TM only lakes, but there are a couple that are too large to navigate with just a TM. I have dreams of a larger boat (my current lust draws me to the Tracker PT175), but I make do with the 12 footer. Perfect for one person, a little small for two. Been toying with the idea of making a removeable casting deck for the front. Also have a Old Town Discovery 169 that the wife and I bought at BPS last summer (almost a year ago to the day). We mainly use it to just go out and float around. Only been used once this year though (will change this weekend) and that was on a 5 mile river float.

My 78 Fisher has one of those plates, but it has long since faded out. One would think they would make them a little more durable. :-/

I've got an old bow mount foot control Evinrude TM waiting on me. I bought at 4.5 horse Evinrude from the guy, asked me if I wanted the TM too. $20, but I didn't give it any thought and said no. Three days later I changed my mind and sent an email to his cousin (the middle man in our deal). Got the guy's phone number, haven't been able to reach him and set up a pickup time. No reason to spend $400 on a TM when you can find deals like this. ;D

Why coat the trailer with a bedliner product?

Not as much as I would like. Varies according to the weather and life's necessities. I try to take the boat out at least once a week. Isn't unusual for me to go out 3 times during my 6 days off. Try to go out at least one morning after work during my 8 days on. My workplace is only 40 yards from a small river, I try to fish 2-3 evenings at work during my 8 day shift. I'm always ready to go though.

Exactly. I find myself getting a little too hopped up if I spend more than 2 or 3 days straight on the water at a time. Have to take a break and mellow out every now and then. Plus the fish need their rest.

The Day on the Lake article in that issue is quite educational.

I run a 25 year old Shakespeare 30 lb. thrust TM on my 12' jon. I've got the biggest deep cycle battery Wal Mart sells. I have yet to run the battery to exhaustion. I don't have a good place at home to charge, so I usually charge the battery at work once every two weeks. Usually go on 2 or 3 5-6 hour trips every week that I'm off work.

Unless you've got the steel lying around, making an exact copy would cost you just as much as buying the ones from BPS.

That looks like a fun little project. Look forward to seeing the completion.

Hate to bring this one to the top, but it certainly hit the spot for me. I've got a 12' flatbottom Fisher Marine aluminum, stupidly sold the trailer about 15 years ago. Been looking and looking for a used trailer but not finding much of anything worth buying. One question to the fellow who posted the photos. Does the spare carrier on the Blazer swing out all the way with the trailer hitched up? I've got a Blazer with the spare carrier and I'm worried about clearance. Very tempted to drive to Northern tomorrow and pick one of these things up. I had pretty much given up and was getting ready to build my own. But this trailer looks pretty nice. Will need some bigger tires, but it will do for now. Might even be able to modify it a bit to carry my 17' canoe.