Kyle46N

Key in on this. I'm relatively new to the Potomac, only been fishing it for a little over two years, but the above advice has put me on a bunch of fish when the grass starts getting thick. Even better if that splashing looks to be schools of shad. Find that, and you will find feeding frenzies.

Not bass fishing, but related to cormorants. Fish punch bait or stinkbait on a slip float rig for catfish under the trees where cormorants roost overnight. You'll slaughter them. Cats love the cormorant crap. Digested fish basically. This is a very popular method in Texas. I know a couple roosting areas directly over the water along the Ocoquan river.

I have to tell about my customer service experience with Lews. They deserve this. I had a 5 year old tournament pro lock up on me.....as in the sideplate would not slide off. Kind of caught be by surprise, and for the life of me, could not get the thing off. Yet everything else functioned perfect, to include the spool. I kind of jacked up the side plate a little trying to pry it off. Anyhow I gave up and sent it to Lews. I was very forward in my accompanying letter. I fully acknowledged the damage to the sideplate I had done, told them my issue. Also admitted to not registering this reel for the warranty. I expected to pay something. Fast forward to today, and after one phone call, they repaired the whole reel for free. Sideplate is new, and even repaired the thumb bar, saying it was sticking, which I never noticed. I was already sold on their reels, even some rods, and now, after my first experience with their customer service, I'm sold on them completely.

Find the upper reaches of the tributaries feeding the Potomac. Then wade these creeks. They are usually full of bass. If you have access to Ft Belvoir, in the next month fish the shoreline of Pohick bay. A bunch of bass will flood that shoreline in the next few weeks to spawn. You can wade some back there too, as alot of the bottom is gravel and shell.

Check out Wal-Mart.com's fishing section, specifically lures. Everything, and I mean everything, to include that 10 pack of black panfish curly tails at 6 bucks a pack, are 2 to 3 times their normal prices at other locations. It's a blatant rip-off attempt for those who don't know any better. It was so blatantly wrong, I even wrote them in the customer feedback. Normally I wouldn't care, but it's 2 times the cost of items in their own store fronts. Seriously, go check it out for a laugh. The problem though, as fishermen who know the typical cost of various brands of lures, you will be taken aback by these prices.

If you get neoprene waders a size too big, you will really avoid leaks. This does not include something from puncture. I had neoprenes for years that always seem to leak within a couple years. I've had my current pair for 5 years, with somewhat frequent use. The difference was one size too big. Significantly less pressure on the seams. Of course warm weather is an issue. But once the water gets to warm for neoprenes....usually you can go without waders.

Someone asked about the tournament MB. I have 2 TP's, 1 BB1 Pro, and 3 MB's. I've bought all the MB's most recent. I love the TP's but won't buy anymore because the MB is basically a TP without the kevlar handle. I can't tell a difference in performance between the two. The BB1 Pro is nice, but I like the MB's and TP's much better. Not sure what it is about the BB1 Pro, but I don't like throwing light lures with it. Just seems to perform better throwing heavier stuff. I throw a Spro Rat with it.

That's the kind of winning bag that will help 2nd-5th place sleep easier tonight. Because..."What are ya gonna do?"

Braid on everything except for mono on a medium action topwater rod for throwing smaller topwaters. Like mentioned, I'll have leaders of various lengths and pound test for different applications. Just can't beat the no stretch of braid. Sure you can read all about people losing fish on crankbaits because of braid, etc. I've never had it happen.....so no reason for me to switch. When it comes to lines and techniques like using braid, flouro, etc......do what you want to do, not what you're supposed to do.

Anyone ever had a side plate stuck to the reel? I have been trying to get the side plate access to the centrifugal breaks open. The screw pin is disengaged, but this bad boy is on there good. I think something may be corroded inside, preventing me from breaking it free. I've tried to pry it open, but looking at my other TP, there is a slide lock mechanism, so prying it won't work, and would eventually break something.

Just kind of an FYI, my local Dicks Sporting Goods had a couple Loomis GL2's on sale for half off the other day. One was a heavy punching rod. 110 bucks. They sell for 210 normally. I would scout around on the internets and onlines to see if these things are on sale elsewhere.

Been fishing panfish with ultralight and lures my whole life.....20 plus years. I've tried almost every brand of ultralight reels and rods under the sun. Not bragging....just comes with the territory when fishing panfish for so long. With that said, I try to always improve my equipment, but keeping it under a 100 bucks. The differences between ultralight high end and low end gear is not as vast as say bass fishing gear for example. So, currently I've stumbled upon this setup and its the best I've used so far. Dicks sporting goods sells a Field and Stream Tec Lite ultralight rod. It's the 6 ft version. Green color, cork handle, two piece. It has THE perfect action for slinging light jigs 1/32 to 1/16th oz. They are 49.99, but should be at least 10 bucks off if you fill out the DSG survey on the receipts, or just get a coupon on their website. I pair this with a Pfleuger Trion, 120 size. I think it's the best bang for your buck in ultralight panfish reels. Smooth and durable. And 29.99. I've got four of these combos now. I would highly suggest you at LEAST go pick one of these rods up at DSG just to check it out.

Just curious if anyone has had a chance to hit up any of these Wal-Marts closing around the country. Looks like most of them are throughout the south. I read an article of upwards of 50% off, and finishing at 75% off of everything in the store. Sorry, just in case I'm not clear, curious if anyone is hitting up their FISHING TACKLE.

Of the rods mentioned, I only own the blue ethos, 7ft medium heavy. I've had it for about 5 years now. Awesome rod. Light, sensitive, and it's done battle with big red drum and jack crevalle. No issues with it at all. I can't name another rod that has the same feel and performance as this rod for under 100 bucks.....let alone 50 bucks.

I've been using some glue on the FG knot for about a month now, and that was the key to it not unraveling. I've been tying it for about 10 months now, and got pretty good at it. Add the glue, and it's perfect.

At what point will you juicers start using live bait? I'm messin with ya'. Seriously though, for those of you saying JJ's is amazing or whatever, what kind of success are we talking about? Is it a HUGE difference between smell verses non smell lures, or is it just a noticeable difference?

Anyone lay eyes on the res or the river today? Just wondering if it got muddy or not. Thanks!

Sounds like you really enjoy the mag brakes. I do too, and have all magnetic braking (Lews TP, BB1 Pro, Tourney MB) except a Shimano Caenan (will be replaced soon). Even the BB1 Pro, cetrifugal, has a exterior adjustment for the centrifugal system. And I feel exactly how you describe when using that Caenan.....I really like having that option to adjust multiple settings really quick as I move through different conditions. Technology gives it to us......why not take it and enjoy it? Maybe sell the Revo S and get an STX? I have an STX and the magnetic options are nice, but do understand that you may run into problems with a sticking thumb bar. I have issues with mine...as do alot of other people. I would have sold mine already, but have too much integrity in selling a defective reel.

I think this might be it. I'm going to give this a shot before I go to superglue.

Not really....anyone who has read any FG knot threads knows there are a ton of naysayers...and that's fine. But, with that said, anyone who has kept up with all these FG knot threads would also know the importance of me making the above statement...IF I want to keep the thread on topic. Don't believe me? Look at the first post from A-Jay......

After about 30 minutes of searching and reading the topic on the interwebs, I think I found my answer. Apparently this unraveling is occuring because of the tag end hitting the guides on the way back in. It's smooth going out, especially with micro guides (which is the reason this is so popular, thin diameter), but it gets damaged on the way back in through the guides. Makes sense from my own experiences. Some suggest putting a tiny bit of blue on the tag end to protect it and keep the half hitches from sliding up and unraveling the knot. I'm going to try this, as it's still worth the effort to have a knot that is far and away more thin than any of the others.

I thought I was clear.....so I'll add, I'm not interested in any opinions on the efficiency, effectiveness, or any other aspect of the FG knot....nor any other knot. Just want to know if anyone has had the above issue, and if so, were you able to fix it.

I'm looking for a specific answer here. Does anyone have a solution, or figured out how to keep the FG knot from unraveling? I've been using it for about 8 months now, and can tie them pretty quick. Not a single one has broken on me. With that said, say every 3rd or 4th knot I tie will unravel at some point while fishing. With this knot, it's easy to tell when it starts to happen because it will make noise in the guides allowing you to see whats going on before anything bad happens. It's just extra work though and kind of annoying. As of right now, I "finish" my knot with 3 overhand knots. For some of the FG's that tag end will unravel though. I've checked over and over to see if I'm doing something wrong, and surely I am, just wanted to see if any one else has had similar issues and found a fix.

And yes, that was only blue cats. I didn't add channel cats to that count.

Funny you say that, but it's true. I've only lived here two years and fished the Potomac for bass for most of those two years. As "bycatch" while bass fishing, I've caught 20-30 blue cats vs just one snakehead. That's fishing everything from shallow (less than a foot) to deep, from chatterbaits and even a soft topwater plastic, to cranks and lipless cranks.