Choporoz

I could be in the middle of the community hole....surrounded by half dozen boats hauling them in on drop shots and never get a bite on it. I use it...and on a rare occasion catch fish with it, but much fewer and farther between than ...anybody, it seems....partly because I probably give up to soon and switch to shaky head or jig or crig, but my dropshotting is awful

I have a Mat Daddy. About the sensitivity you would expect from a 7'11" heavy rod. I have no complaints, but it is relegated to punching, c-rigging, and rare (for me) swimbait...it doesn't get a ton of use.

Huh? T-storms?

I throw Rage Bugs a lot. 90% of the time, its on a Gamakatsu weighted hook with an 'add-on' hitchhiker or cps.

Unfortunately, the bass don't keep one eye on weather channel, nor do they have barometers in their homes. Frontal activity (and precipitation) can affect fishing, but in my experience, fatter, slow fronts are easier to tie to changes in the fishing. I think that you'd find that recent afternoon fronts (from TN up through NE) have come in with a hammer and produced quick, dramatic changes. My limited experience has led me to believe that these types might give you a little uptick for a short period, but I figure it has more to do with rain than pressure. I do think that generally, those wide, slow fronts that spend most of a day rolling through will give you some noticeable increases in active feeders. I have little data and no science to back any of that up, but maybe its just subconscious self-preservation, as I'm more likely to try to get off the water before predicted harsh fronts roll in....but steady rain, with gradual cooling will find me sitting through it for hours.

It may be counter-intuitive, but I suggest that you not focus on the initial cost per jig head very much. You can easily find yourself with inferior hooks or designs that end up getting lost/snagged more than better (possibly more expensive) heads. Once I decided to concentrate on getting to the right design for my type of fishing -- the fine tuned differences in line tie and hook angle is pretty overwhelming... I found that certain designs work best for the way I fish jigs. Meaning, I lose less and ultimately save money. If you already know exactly the design you want and just want cheaper options, I only caution to use sources you trust. Buy minimum quantities until you know what you're getting from them. May be just me, but in the early days of my tackle bargain hunting, I ended up with so much worthless crap from ebay; I particularly recall about 100 light heads that I bought -- straightened a hook on the first fish with them....turned out they were all crap

Can't stand buffs, so I use (and like) Columbia PFG hoodies from Amazon. I've done some googling, but wondering if anyone else has found other summer hoodies that they like

I used to carry and use a variety. But, Except for very rare occasions, I rarely see any reason to use anything other than a Rage Bug. It is a creature, a jig trailer, a chatterbait trailer, a swim bait, a c-rig creature, a flipping bait, a slow dragging t-rig, bait........

I get checked a couple/few times a year and am always glad for it. VA, like Kansas mentioned above, also encourages reporting of violations. I rather enjoy the emails I get from the state detailing poachers who've recently been arrested. How to Report a Violation Call 1-800-237-5712, or Email WildCrime@dgif.virginia.gov When reporting try to provide as much information as possible, such as: What happened Where it happened, being as specific as possible Who was involved, describing persons (names if known), vehicles (license numbers are crucial), names of other witnesses When did it happen (date and time are very important!) Don’t allow the actions of a few outlaws to tarnish the reputation of Virginia’s sportsmen and sportswomen! https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/conservation-police/wildlife-violation/

I suppose that it depends....Whose boat? How often do you fish? How often with him? I guess I'm imagining a good friend who only goes out with me every few trips....I fish for bass, almost exclusively -- but, I recognize that bass fishing is sort of a different kind of commitment than lots of other fishing....If I still wanted to fish with this friend, but I was getting my bass fix on five out of six trips, I'd maybe focus on crappie or walleye or bluegills or something when with my friend. It might be less aggravation for you both, but still fun

a different lake....I mean...sorry, but small water with lots of people, few fish caught, no big ones....sounds less than fun

and which day? Friday was completely different from Saturday and both were different than Sunday...the only consistency was a relatively 'soft' bite -- hooksets have been a bit of a challenge the past week -- they spit it faster than you can set it, oftentimes --and even when I've had them coming in, I've lost more fish the past few days than I can remember. Most success came when I crawled lure as slow I as I could stand

Navionics The Weather Channel Tides Near Me Google Earth

https://www.google.com/search?q=split+shot+method+bass+fishing&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1

Don't think that I've ever considered that it shouldn't just go in the household trash....I suppose I might think twice in the future. What's the risk? I mean...I guess I don't really know what the local waste companies do with our trash as it is...I'm not even sure the recycle-ables get recycled. Landfills, I suppose -- but it is tough to imagine that in the big scheme of things, that line volume is more than a fraction of a fraction of a percent of overall general trash volume...of course every little bit helps....If there is true recycling available, I'll have to consider doing that.

Religious use of the sunscreen puts you ahead of the average yahoo. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses....you're in pretty good shape. But as to whether you should better protect yourself and your family? Maybe. I'd be most concerned about the kid. One thing about melanoma that's, I think, established as fact, is that multiple bad sunburns as a youth increase your chances of skin cancer later in life....by a lot. I'm fair skinned and had a father with 'sun allergy'; so I'm pretty attuned to the risks. Yet, still...I went out last spring in shorts in the kayak and forgot sunscreen- I was out about five hours and my legs were so bad that I had trouble walking for about a week. Normally, I wear fishing pants, summer hoodie (Columbia PFG), hat, sunglasses and sunscreen; but not gloves. Just haven't found gloves that suit me yet. As to sunscreen, I'm a big fan of Banana Boat Quik Dry Sport Dry Spray. I spray it on all skin that may get exposed during the day and it is awesome. Doesn't run into my eyes, not filmy or sticky or slimy -- lasts all day, even if it gets wet. And its reasonably priced - a bottle at less than $10 lasts me all year.

http://www.mercuryracing.com/oddities-rarities-part-2-bass-boat-power/

Missed this on my first dozen visits to this thread....just curious, but why no sunscreen?

I usually get to Hunting Run a few times a year, but I haven't been down there since October. I do like it a lot, though. I never learned anything good about Motts and after one mid-summer visit, seeing the mass of humanity and talking to skunked anglers, I never gave it a shot. I knew there was a Ni River, but never even knew about a rez. I'll have to check it out. Keep an eye on the NOVA thread. Hunting Run gets some love in there.

That's me, too. And THAT'S where my plan to deadstick...or dropshot....or jerkbait.....falls apart. I blame both the dingy water I fish, as well as being low to the water in a kayak, but I rarely see fish and often have little confidence that I'm on good ones. Especially, on a slow day. I'll go to finesse stuff that I can move around, figuring that I'd have a better chance of putting it near less active fish if it's moving. I just have very little patience, I guess. Like @scaleface, 30 seconds or more without moving my bait probably means I have a backlash. I do like the idea of letting something sit and fishing another rod, but I don't know if I can fish another and still watch the line on the first very well.

Going to be sunburn weather this weekend here in the DMV.

Not a sticky, but I am happy to keep topping this:

+1 Was a time when I thought the idea of specialized 'fishing pants' was silly. A few years ago, I was gifted a pair and I now have several. Love them. Sun protection is a huge deal, but light weight, instantly drying and lots of pockets are big pluses, too. I have Columbia, and others - differences are minor: button vs snap; zip vs velcro pockets; snaps vs velcro cuffs, etc. I mostly kayak and when I wear jeans and wade in, the cuffs are wet for hours some days. When I wear light 'fishing pants', they're dry before I realize they were wet.

I, too, like to be more 'active' fishing for bass. I will soak a worm in the summer, and I have grown to love shakey heads. Still hate drop shots, but that may change this year. But, I still feel the need to work my lures. Good suggestions above; spinnerbait, especially. Two things I suggest you try that will do you well in most seasons: 1. Lipless crankbait - steady or stop-go or ripping -- will catch you fish, cover water and keep you busy. 2. My favorite rig is a weighted swimbait hook with something Rage Tail; usually a Rage Bug or Cut-R or Menace. This will offer you the versatility to flip into cover, slowly drag on the bottom, skim over salad, or swim anywhere in the water column....You get to fish it and play around until you find what the fish want. I typically use 1/8 oz 3/0 weighted hook with a hitchhiker. Owner Weighted Twistlock CPS Hook is a great one. Load it up with a green Cut-R or Rage Bug and you may not need another lure 'til fall. A truly great extra benefit is that this rig is hard to lose. So if youkeep that hook point in the skin, it is pretty safe in most conditions.

I know that look! I got the exact same look from my son when I handed him a slide rule and asked him to give me the cube root of 12,000