Choporoz

oops...hadn't seen that bassun beat me to it.... so to answer the actual question.... My wife likes to fish. But she doesn't LOVE to fish like I LOVE to fish. She loves to catch, but doesn't quite have the patience that I do. First time I took her out she caught a 3 pounder in the first 20 minutes and was hooked. Her interest ebbs and flows but a 6+ last fall got her pretty stoked. She's a photographer first and a fisherwoman second, and it complements my fishing. Some days if it gets slow she spends more time shooting to pass the time. Lots of other days, she goes her way on a shoot and I go fishing. When she's in the boat with me, it isn't unusual for her to outfish me.

My significant other fish is walleye. We don't see each other very often, but we have a history and I love 'em.

I'm going to add little value except maybe something to look into while waiting for someone with actual knowledge comes along....I only rent jon boats (out of Lake Ridge and Fountainhead), so I'm a decided non-authority To best of my knowledge, there's only three ramps: Fountainhead, Lake Ridge and Bull Run Used to be that Bull Run requires you to have a season pass and key to the gate. Lake Ridge Park isn't too bad, but hours aren't as good as Fountainhead and their season is shorter. Fountainhead is a pretty good operation, opens at dawn, operates into November, and is farther 'upstream' than Lake Ridge, which many bass fishermen tend to prefer. Not to say that there isn't quality fishing closer to Lake Ridge.

Yes. You can put your boat in. I can't find the 'regulation' about whether you need to disconnect gas lines, or what. But I was out there about 6 or 7 weeks ago and there was a 'club' or group of 8 or 9 big boats trolling the rez. I asked 'why here'? They said they try to get out there a couple times a year because even without gas motors, they enjoy fishing it as much as other, bigger waters. Unrelated more or less.....I suspect the lack of info on the 'law' is not a complete coincidence of the fact that I've never once been approached by a warden there in 4 years. So, it seems to be self-regulated. I've been convinced that some boats are being pushed by a lot more than 10HP, but without enforcement...... I suspect the most likely reporting entity would be the high school rowing coaches if they think their kids are getting rocked too much

Certainly, it depends... I have most confidence tossing plastics with M spinning rod. I do suggest 6'6" over 7', however. I've worked with both lengths extensively, and for me, at least, I have far better accuracy with the shorter spinning rod. I'm largely a bank beater/cover guy vice dragging the depths when it comes to plastics and I place a very high value on accuracy.

The only fluorescence I have any confidence in is chartreuse JJ's Magic and a touch of blaze orange or chartreuse on a crank bait. I've completely discounted plastics that are bubble gum pink, methiolate, blaze orange, etc.

Thanks for the reports, guys! I went out in the rain Saturday morning.....trolled south out of Fountainhead. Through a lot of different stuff, but I think nearly all my fish were on green Rage Cut-R's - and a couple dinks on earthworm colored roboworms. Biggest was just shy of 3 on a Cut-R; very stealthy bite that I didn't feel so much as watched the line go sideways. I was marking a lot of fish between 15 and 20 feet, but couldn't get a bite. I kept going back to tossing plastics and jigs into the banks with steep drop-offs. That's really the only type of location I regularly have any confidence in out there after May. I was in the wind for a good part of the day, which makes chasing bait balls tough. Numbers weren't great, but enough not to make me regret going out in early in the rain. I think I caught about a dozen total, but 5-6 were smallish ones that all came in a short burst of a bout 40 minutes in 3-7 FOW at the edge of grass. I probably wasted too much time tossing deep cranks, but I've done well with them in 'similar conditions' in the past and I'm hard headed.

I have more confidence in five inch Senkos. I'd like to think it is unrelated, but maybe its my subconscious at work on my confidence.....one thing the four inch Senko is better at is bluegill bites....which are fun for about five minutes

Everything is in the car 24/7 from April into November.....except the bag with the jar(s) of JJ's. I don't leave those inside the car if its going to be hot.

No offense intended, Bassun, but I doubt that I'm not the only one who is NOT surprised that you're an engineer. LOL Thanks for the discussion!

Normally weighted when I want the bait to fall faster than it would if it were unweighted.

I bought a kit from BPS and used rubber collars a few times with the tool that comes with the kit. But since I bought a pair of dikes and some 24 ga. copper wire, I'll never touch rubber collars again. Wire tying is no more difficult and much more satisfying.

-I don't think it takes me any longer to retie than to use snaps or speed clips -My fumble-fingers and thumbs don't handle snaps or clips all that well anyway -My knots almost never collect salad debris -Back when I used snaps and clips, I got lazy about checking line for nicks -I don't know if it makes a difference to the bass, but if not having the extra hardware MIGHT help, its good enough to boost my confidence, even if just a little. ....and....maybe just because I'm old(er) now, I kind of like tying a knot....at least I get some small measure of satisfaction from a good knot that I don't get from fumbling with a snap or clip

Fascinating discussion!! Everything you've written Bassun makes sense to me. Unfortunately, every time I read more about bass instincts and tendencies, I manage to amuse myself to the point of distraction.....I want to know what the bass was thinking!....but, really....who the heck is ever going to know what a fish was thinking....what was I thinking....lol I'd like to coax the discussion towards a little more empirical aspects. Are bass as likely to gravitate towards the underside of dock if it is cloudy? What about at night?

I concur with all of the above. This is my fourth summer with a 110. I rent jon boats from a half dozen different places and I use it weekly from March to Nov. It does tend to rattle at higher trolling speeds -- so, when transiting, I lift it from the cradle and set it in bottom of boat. (You don't have to unscrew the mount to remove it from the water.) Battery life is great. My most serious complaint is that the wires on the battery pack inside are very flimsy and exposed to abuse when changing out the batteries. I had to do some rewiring/repairing after two years and then a couple weeks ago I had to order a new battery pack. $13 shipped and I got it within a week, so its as good as new now. Two suggestions: get the optional case/carrier. I rarely add on these types of extras to any purchase, but I'm very thankful I did with this. The carrying case is great padded protection when you're storing/transporting. The other is to always remember to use the screw in handle. It comes off for putting in the case, but if you forget to put it on when on the water, moisture will get inside the unit, and that is....bad.

I've used it this summer, but I'm going back to Yo-Zuri. YZ seems to have a little less memory and less susceptible to kinks which are the real drawback to hybrid, IMHO....get a crease in it and its toast. PLine seems to 'crease' more frequently on me.

Just seeing the title of this thread pop up makes me depressed every time I read it

Many (most?) spoons are painted on just one side - generally the convex side. And they tend to fall wobbling with the painted side down (or forward if trolled/reeled.) I've got a very thin, fluttery that's painted on the concave side - it flutters nicely, but seems counter intuitive for the painted side to be UP as it is falling. Thus, I've rarely tossed it and never with any confidence. I suppose I should give it a shot, however. Does this sound like any spoons that you guys are familiar with? I believe I got it from my Dad or Mom's tackle box years ago...no idea make or model or weight

Not sure how they're 'supposed' to be worked, or designed, but I only use 1/8 mojo weights and generally don't even get bottom contact. I use them for lightweight worms and sometimes with flukes to get 12-24" below surface, but generally moving the bait. They do come through grass and other weeds very well. Alternatively, I use Carolina rig to maintain 100% bottom contact - with or without constant lateral movement.

Been a lot of years since I tried it....because it ALWAYS resulted in disaster very quickly

Thanks, Glynn. I've got a bunch of old spoons in the basement left over from my walleye/northern youth. I look at them longingly every so often, but never take them out. Cleos, Johnsons, Daredevils, Webers..... I don't know why I've never thrown them. Seems perfect for those deeper, suspended bass I find on ledges, but can't entice with jigs, cranks or plastics. My spoon experience was with trolling and long casting, but I imagine a fluttery drop might be just what I need some days. Going to go digging tonight.....

I've had a pair of Rapala 7 1/2" forceps for nearly 10 years and they are one of the most used, most important tools in my tackle box. They are long and thin, but sturdy. They make quick work of MOST any hooking.

I am left handed, but turn handle on spinning and casting with my right hand and refuse to switch the rod each cast. I'm fine with the options out there so far. Maybe what we really need is for the casting reel engineers to figure out how to make them 'switchable' like spinning gear.

Hit it for a lot of hours on Sat south out of Fountainhead. Dinks and more dinks. They were few and far between and probably nothing over about 1.5. Good thing it was a beautiful day. I had a broken wire on my fishfinder right out the chute and that was a bit of a hit. I generally struggle on that water without it. I did, however, catch another large cat on a DT6. Never caught a cat on a crank before a couple months ago and now it seems like it happens every time out there.

Its Combined Federal Campaign time again -- when the Federal Government makes giving money to charity a little easier for its employees (and military.) I give to a number of charities, but when it comes to conservation, I've jumped around to a number of different ones from year to year; never settling on one for too long. If you give to one or more -- or are just a fan or advocate of one -- please let me know which organization(s) you favor and why. For example, in the past, I've supported National Parks, WWF, Natl Fish and Wildlife, and others. Scanning the CFC catalog briefly, I easily count a dozens that would specifically impact fisheries. If anyone has information or strong feelings about any orgs, please discuss. Thanks!