imagine29028

1st post in this thread...Matt, from Annapolis. Fished Rocky Gorge all last year...did fairly well, learned how to catch them deep (eye opener) but with Tri being closed this year and next I think RG is gonna be a madhouse. Also really worried about the water levels. May sit this year out over there. Thinking this year...gonna focus on the Eastern Shore rivers and Delaware Ponds. I fish out of a kayak, so their size and depth fit me the best anyways. Remember fishing the Chic and Transquaking as a kid with my dad. Ive always heard Blackwater is a hidden gem, because you can only cartop boats in there. Tuckahoe Lake has always done me good...but with it so wide open youve gotta watch the wind very close. Also have some experience in the Salisbury ponds, really like Leonards! I know the Choptank has been way down, but anyone been in Watts Creek recently? Remember in the 90s that place was great. Also been seeing a lot of the posts about the C&O on here, didnt know it was that good over there. Might be a place to check out with the G/F, multi species, fish from shore.

9 bags of soft plastics on my 25 days order at TW today...Pit Boss, Money Makers, 10 inch worm, and powerbait tubes.

ummm isnt Hendersonville the home of Hook 1? Go see Chad....he'll get you in something good.

I'll just have to throw my 2 cents in. I live in Annapolis, MD five minutes from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The bay is such an amazing body of water...to the north you have the Susquehanna River which boasts world class Smallmouth action, and at the mouth of the river and the whole Upper Bay you have a great largemouth population. Many people forget the 93' Bassmasters Classic was held here. It took 70lbs from Martens here in August to win the Elite event. The Mid bay is loaded with a variety of saltwater fishes, but the Rockfish reigns supreme. Notice I didnt say Stripers...same fish, but these are the migratory fish that come from the Atlantic Ocean, not quite the same as you find in your landlocked lakes and such. To the South is the Potomac River, a constant visit for both the FLW and BASS tours. The upper part of the river is fast moving water and loaded with Smallies. When you get to the mouth of the Bay around Virginia Beach you get a lot of your heavy Saltwater Fish; 40 & 50lb Drum, huge Rockfish, Sheepshead, Tautog, Trout, and on and on.

Cant beat a Pit Boss....for $1.75 a pack?! Cmon

take only that rod with you....leave all the other stuff at home.

Get some Bagleys...Chart/Back back in stained/muddy water is fantastic

Kind of on topic...but my craw box. Can you tell I fish stained/dirty water? LOL But these 3-4 colors are all you need...orange/brown, red, green pumpkin, Black Blue, watermelon

see Ive really looked at their stuff....how does it breathe? No pit zips or anything? Keeps you cool just THROUGH the material? Ive spent a lot of time Rock Climbing and Mountaineering....so Ive got a Marmot Shell Jacket and Helly Hansen Gore Tex pants if its really raining. Also in the Kayak, I'll just wear Waders and my jacket

I find it very interesting how people all across the country kind of copycat or model their gear and tackle as other people. Truth of the matter is not everyone is fishing the same kind of water, structure, etc. Knowing your water type will really allow you to hone in on tactics that work in your areas and others that wont. Live in Maryland...75% of all of our water is shallow, mainly stained, tidal rivers, where grass is super important. We have a few big lakes/reservoirs. So if Im fishing these shallow (relatively) rivers with grass and tides, I can limit the baits I throw and the gear I use. I know if Im working a shoreline in 4-8 feet of water, I dont need a Football Head jig tied on; Im better off with a squarebill, Spinnerbait, jig etc. Also since the water tends to be stained, I can leave those translucent natural colors at home; instead focusing on my black& blue, junebugs, reds etc. Vice versa there is a rather large reservoir bout 20 minutes from me, that gets very deep, very quick; almost no flats, you can be 3 yards off shore and be in 15 feet of water. So there Ive eliminated 5 or 6 techniques just off of that; Jigs, 10 inch worms, deep cranks, shakeyheads are what I turn to, and not a squarebill that maxes out in 5 feet of water. So just some advice as you buy tackle and stuff this winter...just cause you see Greg Hackney punching mats on Toldeo Bend, doesnt mean you have to do the same thing if you dont have matted vegetation. No reason to go out and buy a 1.5 Tungsten weight and such if youre pitching to laydowns. If you tend to have muddy water...no reason to buy smoke colored grubs. K.I.S.S Keep it simple stupid

Couple packs of Yum Christie Craws for $2.95 from Wally World (thinkin theyre gonna be great behind a swim jig) and a spool of Tuf Line Braid (12lb)

so am I correct in that this company is owned and run by the guy who used to own Bagley? Google wasnt a ton of help, but I tried to connect the dots. I have some Bagleys in my box that are over 20 years old...they were passed down from my dad and were always his favorite when he was into tournaments. Theyve done well for me as well. $11.99 is a lot to pay for a crank...but might have to pony up, becuase the new Bagleys just arent the same.

Bass Pro has 50 pack of 5 3/8 inch Stick Os for $9.99

Dont hate on those 3 companies...while not the HOT brands, they still make quality stuff that will catch fish. A Cotton Cordell Super Spot will sometimes outshine a Yo-zuri or Ratl-Trap cause it has a diff sound. Every person should own Rebel Pop Rs & Bomber cranks

Power Team Lures....60% off!!!! *drools*

So Im confused...isnt the point of a Shakeyhead/Nose Hooked DropShot for the worm to float and be buoant? or stand up Doesn't Salt effect bouancy? Why are so many finese worms have Salt in them??? Zoom has their Super Salt...KVD PP have coffee and salt. *scratches head*

This is the site I found last year...for the Mid Atlantic. Some are Saltwater, Hunting etc. http://www.scottsbt.com/misc/fleamkts.htm#top Most of the time though they have decent food (sometimes fresh Pit Beef) and the money at the door helps support the club or charity. Hell youre also getting out of the house when its butt ass cold and you have nothing better to do.

Yes, a lot of us will get Gift Cards and drool over the deals on Tackle Warehouse and probably BPS too. But one thing to think about to save some mooola. FISHING FLEA MARKETS Maybe its just around me in Maryland, but almost every weekend in Jan & Feb there is a fishing flea market in the area, This is a great way to get deals on both tackle and rods and such. Maybe you wanted to try a new technique or needed another rod, Flea Markets are great places to pick up stuff cheap. Remember one man's trash is another man's treasure. Lots of places I go, you get both used and brand new stuff. Sometimes there are even local tackle makers who sell their products as a way to get their name out there. Last year winter I said I wanted to really try/concentrate on finesse fishing/drop shotting. I picked up a 2 piece Med Light Okuma Rod, Daiwa Reel pre spooled with new 8lb test Berkley line as a package deal for $40. Is it a St Croix or G Loomis? Nope...but then again, I'm not dumping that kind of money into something, I'm just trying out. Lots of places/tables if you buy enough of their stuff they'll give you a discount (5 for the price of 4)

just remember...boats cost gas, registration, maintenance, etc. Kayaks...nothing. Have an anchor trolley set up? Or even a drift chute? I get frustrated by many of the same reasons, but something about being 8 inches off the water 1st thing in the morning is too much to pass up.

Tubes are great for LMB.....if you know your bass History, the Hibdon family made a ton of money and success fishing tubes. Great around rocks, docks, points, and even pitched into laydowns. Instead of flipping a jig and craw...try a tube!

Watts Creek in Martinak State Park in Denton USED to be the jam....but the Tank' and alot of the places on the Eastern Shore arent as good as they used to be.

Probably might be associated with the Nitro deal too...just a hunch.

Said in the other post...Berkley Cherrywood series...best $25 you'll spend. http://t.basspro.com/Berkley-Cherrywood-Spinning-Rod/product/12101705270749/

I know its much cheaper than you want....but save some money and buy something else Berkley Cherrywood Series is my go to...$25 that performs much much greater. http://t.basspro.com/Berkley-Cherrywood-Spinning-Rod/product/12101705270749/

Tuf XP 8lb....love it!