Dan:

I don't think its because it's as much that labor is too expensive here, it's just that it is MUCH cheaper in other countries. It is even cheaper to outsource now then before because of favorable investment policies in foreign countries and the mobility of production that resulted from new technologies. I think companies are just realizing they can save a lot of money by moving production overseas.

Thanks, I was thinking a MH/H flippn stick at around 7' would be the right idea. Will a fast action be my best bet? What about reels? What type should I be looking at for swimbaits and flipping?

I have a pack that I'm going to try for some river smallies when it gets a bit warmer. They are insanely realistic though, I have high hopes for them.

nothing huge, maybe up to 2oz at MOST

Well said, Glenn. I could never understand why people try to equate animals with humans concerning emotions or ethical status. If someone holds that view, you aren't going to be able to change their mind very easily...

I am usually only able to carry a couple of rods when and where I fish so I was thinking about getting a new combo that can be used for jigs and swimbaits. What kind of features in a rod and reel should I look for to use for jigs/swimbaits/maybe worms?

Ok, if this is still Saturday, it looks like I'll probably be able to make it. ;D

Munkin, read the post I made earlier in the thread. I already posted how to find a site that sells them.

utahbasser, check farther up the thread.

I can't link to them but type "koppers crawfish" in google and the 5th page listed has their products.

so this is Sunday the 23rd at 7am? I'll be in town but I will have to go to church with my family since its Easter.

any sandwich is a great sandwich to me.

just ask them if they could please turn the bass down a little. Tell them the volume is fine, but the bass goes straight through the walls. Most people are understanding, remember that. I don't understand why people listen to music with the bass really loud. Sure, bass sounds great with music, but there is a point where too much bass takes away from the music qualit and makes it sound fuzzy. There is a balance between too much and too little bass that makes the music sound its best.

I saw people last year fishing the Rappahannock shad run at Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg. It's a public park on the south side of the river, just over the Rt. 1/Rt.17 Bridge. There were people catching loads of fish when I was there, looked like a lot of fun.

Motts Run and Hunting Run are both right next to my favorite summer smallie wading area, I keep meaning to check both out. Maybe I'll make a stop next time I go wading.

great pics russ, very beautiful.

Congrats, man, that's awesome!

The metric system just seems to make more sense because the units and conversions are much easier to figure out and there are much fewer units for measuring different things. http://www.metric4us.com/why.html

if you are wading downstream, once you get around that first bend to the left in the river, the fishing gets much better.I've been probably another 600-800 yards past that first bend and there is deeper water, lots of rocks, some steep banks with troughs along them and plenty of large isolated rocks as well as a couple rock bluff banks. It is really tiring when you wade back upstream all that way against the current when you are done, though. I think I may try to float it from the ford down to near Motts Run reservoir if I can. I have to make sure I can get a 10' jon boat through the rocky area where the rapidan and rappahannock meet and down to the river road area safely.

my thoughts exactly. Gotta love the sandlot. "S'more of what?" "YOU'RE KILLING ME, SMALLS!"

The metric system is much simpler, I think it would be easier for people to learn. rw, in relation to what you said, I can't imagine life without pizza, but someone told me that before a couple decades ago, bagels weren't really sold anywhere but NY. Is that true? It seems weird to me that bagels are something relatively new to most of the country... :-?

I almost exclusively use Arkansas Shiner, Baby Bass, or Green Pumpkin.

J, check out the Rapala Husky Jerk colors. They have some nice rapala paint jobs and several of them are dark.

there have been a few threads about this bait already. Try doing a search for "bass magic" to find them--some of them have some really good info. btw, from what I hear, many of the paddle tail style baits have a strong smell to them but I've heard it washes off after a little use.

It's not a far walk at all if you park on Golden Ball Tavern. It's just down the hill from the entrance...