Choporoz

I have the same kayak. I love it. It handles bigger water quite well, too. I'm not taking it on the ocean any time soon, but large bays on the Potomac are fine even with reckless waterski and jet ski craft swarming all around. I got it new with paddle and 'extras' (rod holder, light/flag, tracks and screw balls) for under $500 at an off-season sale. In addition to PFD, consider near term costs of car top rackage, anchor and trolley, crate, rod holders, fish finder, etc..... Not all required immediately, but you'll be considering some or all after your first trip on the water. It can add up...BUT....it will always be cheaper than a boat Well, almost always...I do know some Hobie 'enthusiasts' who could probably sell their yaks and buy a small island.

I use Big Ugly Knockers from ebay. Worth their lead weight in gold.

I am still uncertain that I will be in town. ...I do hope so. But I did want to remind all to get your new BRM key. Locks changed last week

Interesting discussion. Would love to learn more definitive info about the decline (of the grass and of the bass.) I'm sad to hear about the personality towards the center of the tourny controversy. I've learned about from his writings and had a lot of respect for him.

Not all screams, but a fascinating compilation of extremely high, mostly controlled notes:

Couple of good ones in Rockstar. Jeff Scott Soto singing for Wahlberg's character in Rockstar during the 'audition', early notes from Blood Pollution after Wahlberg falls down the stairs, and of course, Stand Up. One of my all time favorite rock vocalists screamed a little:

I use these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-Electronic-Hanging-Fishing-Digital-Pocket-Weight-Hook-Scale-40kg-10g-/201182152447?hash=item2ed76406ff:g:vxYAAOSwnDZUKd7b and just subtract the weight...only because I never figured out how to make the tare weight persistent. I'd have to weigh the fish grips again each time I turn it on. I bought three of them. One's in kayak bag, one's in boat bag and a spare...

I do a lot of times. My fish grips weigh .19 lb....this year. I coulda swore they weighed .21 last year...they were dieting over the winter, I suppose.

d**n!!!!

I didn't make it out this weekend....I'm glad that I got a cold virus out of the way on a weekend with crummy weather. No reports from the tourny??? That mean it was a tough day out there?

I keep seeing a commercial for new crash avoidance system that automatically brakes to keep from rear-ending someone. While I see huge upside to this...I can't help but wonder if we keep asking the cars to do the work of avoiding crashes, aren't we enabling the distracted drivers to some degree? I mean, doesn't this lessen the incentive to stop texting while driving?

Bought like new Elite 4x for $100 on ebay

or once, even?

....

I have 3 or 4 each of three different kinds; thin red vinyl (beckman, maybe?), thick, somewhat stiff (triggerx) and med/thin blue. All work just fine, though the thin ones can get poked through on rare occasion. I can't find any of those three for sale at the moment, but I wouldn't hesitate to get whatever is cheap via ebay/amazon. Just get a couple different sizes. When I don't use them, I can guarantee getting a hook stuck in a backpack, rod glove, pfd, car seat, wife, etc. I highly recommend getting and using a few.

I'm probably late, but Occoquan Regional Park is where you want to launch from. Good luck. No idea about stripers. I've never fished for them, but I have caught rare individuals on swimbaits.

Is there a quarter pound penalty for using a rag?

At some point you may find yourself wanting a rod that will handle smaller stuff. If you need to finesse a ned or small shaky, you might find it a little frustrating. I know you aren't interested in baitcaster, so maybe that's part of the reason you don't have frogs listed. For me, my jig and frog fishing became a whole new, better experience when I stopped trying to throw them on spinning gear. Certainly, it can be done, but I find that I can do them better now.

I'd be surprised if it went much over 4. But then fish always looks smaller to me when someone else is holding them.

In some respects, better. In my humble and limited experience, I think the river is better overall. BUT, I strongly suspect that those who have been on the rez for many years will disagree. The Occoquan reservoir can be a tough nut to crack. I think, though, that the guys with a LOT of hours on there are able to do well fairly consistently. It takes a while to learn the ledges, flats, channels, humps, deep forests, etc. It can be quite fickle. The river has different challenges, but for me, are easier to overcome. You have to deal with tides and heavy pressure on the river. Not just sustained seasonal pressure, but sharing a marina dock with 3 or 4 other boats at times. I just seem to find that the river seems to give up its bass in more 'predictable' ways...or maybe just better for my style of fishing.

I've been really looking forward to it, Sonny. I was told yesterday, however, that there is some risk of having to be out of town that weekend....I'll let you know as things firm up. BTW, the surface temps on Saturday were already 56 degrees. Both Tami's fish were caught on white/blue chatterbait with white Rage Tail Structure Bugs, thanks in large part to @roadwarrior, both for the suggestion and the generous, spontaneous shipment of packs he sent me last year.

If you stop and think about it....how does this harm you? Except to elevate your blood pressure, give you an ulcer and maybe an aneurysm? Take a deep breath and let it go.

I don't understand. Is he a guy who lies, cheats and disrespects you? Or is it a friend? Landmines in his yard? Drill holes in bottom of his boat? Put lead in his water? Lots of things you can do....get creative.

Spent about 6 hours out today, all between Fountainhead and the Fingers. Water is murky, but not brown now. I caught only one bass, just shy of 3. My wife caught two, but they were good fish 4 and 6.1.

I don't even try when bass fishing. However, I (and the rest of my family) do it during NW Ontario walleye trips. Problem was that they fly into the boat so fast and furious that we had to improvise our tally process. Settled on using a grease pencil and making tally marks on inside of the boat. Wipe them each day and start over. Almost got to 1500 last trip.