Logan S

Hey MD guys, Wanted to put a plug out there for our club, Fish On Bass Anglers. Our first meeting for 2015 will be Wednesday, January 7th at 7PM. The location is Dicks Sporting Goods in Gaithersburg. Come on out and check us out if you are interested. We meet the first Wednesday of every month and hold 13 tournaments a year from April through November. It's a great group of fisherman and a very friendly atmosphere with a big emphasis on sharing/learning. We hold tournaments on local waterways like Black Hills and the Potomac and we also visit places a little further away like Anna, Gaston, Deep Creek, and others. We also do things like an annual picnic/BBQ after a Black Hills tournament, a Kids Fishing Derby, and other informal fishing trips. The 2015 schedule has been posted on our site so if you are interested go check it out. Details on membership are on the site as well, membership is open to all...Boater or Non-Boater (Especially non-boaters!). The Boaters and Non-boaters are in separate divisions so the non-boaters never have to worry about 'financing' the boaters side of the payouts in tournaments like many other clubs. I know that we have several members who post here as well. I have been a member for 14 years so if you have any questions feel free to ask! www.fishonbassclub.com

I'm confused...Your original 'complaint' about my post on the ridiculously terrible idea of launching flipping weights at other boats was that I am somehow 'letting people get away with it' by not confronting them. What I've said (in that post and the ones following) is that I will put my boat in their way so they can't do what they are trying, or say something if it's really blatant.....How is that letting them get away with it? We are both talking about getting spot jumped by rude fisherman...You're also hung up on some societal aspect of it. I'm just hung up on fishing and I don't think it's that big of a deal. Either way, carry on with the thread. I'm out.

The picture is somewhat unrelated, just an anecdote on the thread. Go read what I've actually written, I know what bothers people...It bothers me too and I do address it. We're talking about the same thing. The difference is, it just doesn't bother me to the point where I worry about changing society. I worry about fishing.

Here's a picture from the Potomac this year. Including me, there are 5 boats in this picture... With another 3 or 4 that were behind me. This spot is about 100 yards long. This is normal for the river and even that boat closest to me wasn't too close by Potomac standards. Everyone got along and for the most part, everyone caught fish. Just to show that you can fish close to other boats and not get ugly.

I don't think so...In fact, I don't even think it actually is a problem and I definitely don't think of myself as a victim. It just doesn't bother me as much as it seems to bother you guys. I'm confident in my abiities to catch fish on a tournament day (or a regular day) whether I get crowded or not and there's never just one spot to fish for me. Being defensive isn't my only response. If you read what I wrote, I said that it's what I do IF I want to keep someone from getting to me for whatever reason I might have at the time. It may not 'change their future behavoir', but it keeps them from over-running me right then and there...And that's sort of the whole point right? Obviously, it's happened to me...A few times it's been over the top and I've let the offending boater know like any normal person would...But I don't have any delusions about them 'seeing the light and changing their ways'. It's just not that big of a deal to me, I try to focus my energy on actually catching fish. Only my opinion and it's worth exactly what you paid for it!

Good luck with that then.... Don't be surprised when you get stuck with a bill to fix someone else's boat one day. I'm not saying the person isn't a jerk... But that's not going to matter when it comes to the property damage inflicted by your weight. It's an almost certainty that even if it doesn't do damage, the guy will 'find' damage if he wanted to...Just not something I would want to get myself into.

Really? Some of you guys need to get a grip on reality. This type of statement is one that I've seen/heard a lot and it makes me laugh every time. With very few exceptions, there is no 'private' water...Meaning that even if the other guy isn't following common courteseys and is being a jerk, he has just as much right to be out there as you do. The guy could very easily get your hull number and file a complaint, there would likely be witnesses, and you would undoubtably be on the hook for damages if the guy wanted to take it that far. (A two-ounce weight could to definately damage a bassboat's gelcoat...Not mention the multi-thousand $$ electronics setups on many boats now...You would not be getting away from me) Anyone who has spent time on any of the very popular bass fishing waters in our country has experienced crowding and the 'bent-rod pattern'. It's part of the game...Most guys don't partake in it, but there are enough that do to make it pretty common. The tidal Potomac River is probably one of the most heavily fished bass fisheries in the entire country...I have spent a considerable amount of time on it and I have pretty much seen it all. Fishing defensivly (protecting your area) is actually a thing here. You just adapt to it, the fish are still there to be caught. As long as someone doesn't jump literally right in front of me, I don't even really care...Like I said, part of the game on some waterways. It sucks to get crowded, but if you can't or don't want to move...Be defensive. Position your boat so the other guy can't get past, start working towards the other guy, anything to keep him from getting to your water. As long as I see someone coming, I can usually defend a spot pretty well if I want to.

Pretty much everywhere in MD will get stockers, doesn't mean there aren't wild trout that hold over though. For something close to you, try the Patuxent River above Triadelphia, its C&R and artificial only. Its stocked once a year but it does have wild brown trout according to DNR...Its shaded enough to stay cool in the summer. If you want a completely unstocked stream, there are two that come to mind. The Savage River below the dam in Garret county is probably the most famous one... Supposedly one of the best trout fisheries on the entire east coast. Its on my list to hit this winter. Big Hunting Creek above the lake is not stocked and is managed as a wild brook and brown trout stream. Its small and the fish are very spooky and smart, definitely a challenge. I always fish below the lake, its stocked with all 3 species annually but there are plenty of holdovers that live there naturally. It's fly-fishing only though, don't know if it makes difference to you. As stated already, Brookies are the only trout that are 'native' to MD but plenty of places have wild (naturally reproducing) brown trout as a result of stocking. I don't think there are very many Rainbows, if any, that are wild in MD.

It won't. It doesn't handle quite as well as mono, but it's pretty easy to get over/get used to. All 3 line types have their time/place, most guys have a mix of everything on their setups depending on each rod's usage.

Yesterday on the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, PA....Caught while bass fishing It's great to have friends with jet boats

J is right that it's all about the change...Change in weather are what fish react to. If you want to get deep into the barometric pressure discussion, realize this... The number you see in the weather report is not the exact physical value for where you are standing. Pressure changes with elevation, the higher you go - the lower it gets. It's reported/predicted/calculated as if it were 'brought' down to sea level to keep everything normalized. If you look at a weather report for Denver, you'll see normal value...Something between 990 and 1030mb. However the 'raw' number there is probably somewhere around 800mb since it's a mile above sea level (could be off, just guessed...Haven't worked on this stuff in a while). It's standardized to sea level so that it can be useful in forecasting. How does it relate to bass fishing? Well, it really doesn't. The biggest short term change you'll EVER see in Baro Pressure (think hurricane-type event) is the equivalent of moving up or down maybe foot or two underwater. Think of how many times a day a fish might move a foot or two in depth and you'll soon realize that the atmospheric pressure is pretty much irrelevant to the fish. What is IS...is a symptom of the larger weather pattern. The pressure changes with things like fronts/storms/ridges. Those things bring wind, clouds, rain, cold, etc...Those are the things that drive fish mood, the pressure is just a symptom of those (as it relates to Bass Fishing). I wouldn't worry about the pressure, I'd worry about the other things...But most importantly, just go fish! Having a degree in Meteorology certainly helps with some things in the fishing world, at least I'm using it for something since I never became a weatherman .

The 'standard' pressure is 1013mb or 29.92 in-hg. So high or low from that number .

I use Red Label for everything. It's a good combination of performance and price. The Sunline Super FC feels spongy compared to RL, I personally don't like it. You can't really go wrong with RL. It's not the best, obviously...But I actually prefer it to some of the higher end stuff. If you go through a ton of line like I do it's almost a necessity. Bulk spools of RL hurt a lot less than Sniper or others.

Honestly, I think it's banned because those organizations didn't want nearly every event to be dominated by it....It would get boring for the anglers and the fans. Trolling catches a lot of bass too, you still need to find them, still need the right bait, etc... But no one complains? Their organization, their rules... Doesn't bother me at all.

Winter time bait on the Potomac... Can be very effective when the water is in the high 30s/low 40s. Long cast and yo-yo back. Some of my best days ever have been on the river in December with the silver buddy.

Experience and gear helps. Good rain gear negates the rain, even heavy rain. Being able to run the trolling motor without thinking negates the wind. Those are the two big ones that keep people off the water. Weather is part of the game...Rain, wind, cold, hot, etc...With enough experience and appropriate gear you almost don't even notice it. I actually sort of enjoy adverse conditions because it gets everyone off the lake. In tournaments it basically eliminates half the field since they can't or won't cope with it.

No offense, but I wouldn't be picking anyone up at the ramp... I know plenty of fisherman, if I wanted a partner on a particular day I'd have one. I enjoy fishing alone, I enjoy having a co-angler too...But if I'm out there alone it's because I want to be. If it's not a tournament, I'm usually alone. Your list of offerings is basically the same things you would be doing in a club...Why not look for a local club? Then you would get to know the boaters and wouldn't have to hitchhike. There's also the added benefit of making friends, tournaments, learning, and a regular schedule of events. Just a suggestion

Conowingo would be pushing your 2 hour drive limit...But can be fantastic in the spring, especially early May. It's half MD, half PA. It's a gamble since if the water is high and muddy the fishing can suck and with enough rain it can be downright dangerous. That said, we've had it on our schedule for about 12 years now and we've only had to bail for water levels once (this year). Good LM fishing in the lower basin and good SM fishing up the river. In our club it's generally a shootout between someone catching a good bag of LM's in the lower lake versus the guys with jet boats running way up the river to catch big SM's. Our wining weights there are generally in the 16 lb. range...One year there was an 18.5 lb (all LM) and 20 lb bag(3 LM, 2 SM) in the same tournament. To me, it's one of the best springtime fisheries in the area. Highly recommended from my end, if it's not too far for you...And there's no HP/outboard restrictions

Motors do lose performance at altitude. We have a lake in western MD that is about 2500' above sea level where you can see a decrease in performance. Some guys switch out to a lower pitched prop to help with hole shot...I don't, but I do have a slower hole shot up there. What he was describing is not inaccurate, but I would still get that motor checked out...

In 2008 an 11-2 was caught in the spoils cove on the Potomac during a tournament...not really New England though. Picture at link... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013103260.html

Different kind of rough water than Erie. I've been on Erie in rough water in my boat too so I do have both experiences to compare . As a general rule, the waves don't get quite as big...but they are much closer together which makes getting through them a challenge. When the wind blows against the tide or over shoals, it makes things a little more interesting too. The conditions change rapidly depending on where you are or are going. Could be a manageable chop for 10 miles and all of sudden you could hit a stretch where the waves double or even triple in size. It does take much more wind to build it up though...10mph winds in the right direction on Erie can make things interesting, it usually takes 15-20mph to get the river going. It's not some impossible feat, you can get through just fine if you know what you're doing...Just make sure you plan for it and be smart. The Potomac can be just as dangerous as the great lakes if you let it surprise you! I wouldn't worry too much, on the off chance that the main river is crazy, Mattawoman will still be perfectly fine to run around in.

It's about a 15 miles one-way just to mouth of Aquia, 20 miles if you want to go to the back. It's an area that can produce, but it gets just as much pressure as the rest of the river so don't expect to go down there to get away from boats. If you DID go to Aquia though, the area at the mouth has good grass...People call it the 'Beach' since there's a sandy park area on the shore. Inside the creek there's a lot of fishable water too. Back in the creek, there's docks, feeder creeks, grass, and hard cover...Lots of good looking water. FWIW, this year I've done the best in Mattawoman and Pohick. Not for lack of trying everywhere else, those just were the best areas for me. Few more small things to point you in the right direction. Hitting duck blinds, laydowns, and/or old barge hulks on high tide is a high percentage pattern. Outside grass edges at low tide . 1-minus or spinnerbait over grass at higher water and parallel to edges at lower water. Don't be afraid of using a spinning rod, if it gets tough get out a senko or trickworm...Don't force the power-stuff if it aint working! A word of caution...If you've got a calm day, running around the river is no problem...But if that wind kicks up it can get nightmare-ish really quick, just keep that in mind.

The river has fished pretty tough this year, as it has the past few years. There's not very many large grass beds you can get in and fish all day and because of that most of the obvious hard cover has been getting pounded. That said, there are still fish to be caught and good bags are still out there. Typical tidal fishing...the hour on either side of a tide change are going to be your prime times. During the mid-tides try to intercept the fish on their logical routes to and from the cover they are moving to/from. FWIW, I've been more successful this year by thoroughly fishing one large-ish area than I have by running and gunning up and down the river. All the normal areas are productive, but timing, tide, and fishing pressure are a much bigger factor. Google 'National Bass Guide Service'...He does great monthly and weekly fishing reports. There's a lot of sponsor plugging but the info is solid. In October the grass is usually breaking up but still there. Flipping plastics will always catch fish. Don't ever go to the Potomac with out a Mann's baby 1-minus ...Spinnerbait, Chatterbait, and Senko would round out the line up on my deck if I were fishing the river at that time. Nothing here is a secret, the Potomac has none ... I haven't been out on the river since Mid-August and won't be back on it til winter time...SML, Anna, Gaston, etc, are on my docket between now and then....Otherwise I'd give you a better scouting report! Edited to add: I see you say you've never been here. Mattawoman Creek (where you are launching) is a good creek. Chickamuxen and the mouth of Pomonkey are other areas close by that have been productive this year. Check out a map and get a feel for the place, it is a huge body of water. 5 feet is 'deep' on the Potomac (fishing-wise). Most fish will be caught between 1 and 4 feet deep, a depth irregularity of 1 foot is a big deal and can be a game changer...Few tips for a Potomac rookie .

I was getting ready to tell you this is wrong...but I looked it up and sure enough, boats over 20' don't need one . Mine is 20' and has one...When my club did the USCG inspection this year even the guys with 21' boat were checked for it though (those boats all had them too). Weird. OP, was the boat ever re-powered? If so, some one could have removed it if the new outboard was over the max rating on the plate.... Some 17'ers have pretty high HP ratings, but I've seen some with pretty low ones as well. Might want to google your specific model to see if you can find the max rating to compare with what you have.

I would recommend contacting the manufacturer ASAP and see what advice they have for you, maybe also local DNR (or whatever agency deals with this stuff in your state). It's more than just not getting into a tournament, I would imagine if you were stopped by DNR they would have an issue with that...I was stopped once and I had my rain jacket covering mine, the officer asked me where it was...It's the only time I've ever been asked, but then again every other time it's been clearly visible. I'm not sure if they look for it regularly or what the penalty is. I can tell you that I had the USCG vessel safety check done this year and it was the first thing on their checklist. The USCG placard is like the one thing you aren't supposed to touch on a boat, I can't believe the previous owner cut it out! Best of luck, hope it doesn't open a huge can of worms for you.