justfishin

I agree with RW. I never touch the bank for smallies except in high water conditions, winter deep holes, and at night. This time of year is also, a very good time to night fish for smallies as they move up at night to feed. I especially like rocky, gravel type areas around lighted docks that draw the baitfish, points and drop offs. At least in my local lake where night fishing for smallies is very popular it seems the magic depth around docks, at least for me is around 8' or so. Fish slowwwwww with a tube and really pay attention. I use a black light, but, its not imperative to use one. Use a rattle in your tube and I usually go to a big 4" Salty tube at night. Its fun if you can stay awake. Don't be in a big hurry to leave a good area, and really work it out. Its fun and you can catch some big fish as well as numbers. It usually takes around 16 to 18 pounds around here to even cash a check if you are in a tourney.

I love summer.

A Native American grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. "Which wolf will win, grandfather?" asks the young boy. "Whichever one I feed," is the reply.----------

My prayers to the family and Tim. I remember the Jim Bitter incident when Tim reported on it. He was a great outdoor writer and always seemed to add some human aspect to his stories.

Great river smallie bait, especially in the last hour before dark. I have caught a lot of fish on the Torpedoes.

A great dock bait we use here in MD in the gin clear water is a Zoom Centipede either rigged wacky or if it is a little trashy rig them TR, pegged with a 1/8oz bullet wt. Green Pumpkin and Watermelon are two good choices for colors. Sometimes the bass want something smaller and ZC work for both green and brown bass around docks and such. Its a go to bait for me anymore.

What ghoti said.

I know the feeling my friend. All I can say is keep your faith and look up. Life runs in circles and seasons. Hang in there and if you get too down, talk to someone. ------"You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles, and everything tries to be round... The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours... Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves."---Black Elk, Oglala Sioux 1863-1950

One of my favorite times to fish for smallies is late summer at night. A lot of things work at times for summer smallies, Jitterbugs, big Colorado single blade SB, etc but, day or night in and night out its hard to beat a big 3.5 or 4 inch tube with a rattle. I usually use black or some other dark color although, I am not convinced it makes that much of a difference. I have caught them just as well using green pumkin, smoke purple, etc, etc. I do think a rattle makes a difference. Just fish sloooooow and " count rocks " as we call it. Slowly drag your tube along the bottom ( chunk rock areas seem to be the best ) and really pay attention to the " feel " of whats going on. When in doubt, set the hook.

Thanks guys.

I am fine Avid. Thanks for the concern. My health has been very poor and I am spooked but, thats life, ya know? I think I will be fine, its the thinking about it thats the killer. The good news is I had a dream the other night that I was in a motel room with Catherine Zeta Jones, Shakira, Jessica Alba and Alicia Keys and a quart jar of honey !!!,lol. Hey, back to fishin, how has it been in Florida? I have not been out much but, did manage a 5-14 recently, no, it was green,lol. Smallies have been few and far between on big ones this year, at least the fives. Lots of 2-4's but, the fives have been few. I am a winter fishing guy for smallies anyway. I am ready for December, at least for big fish. Again, thanks for your concern.---Jim

I am talking smallies here and not green bass. Myself after many experiments for river smallies and flukes I came to this conclusion. Pearl White or Smokey Joe are the two best colors. I use a 6'6" - 7' med action rod, #6 Yo-Soft and #8 BPS green Excel, a 3/0 offset Owner hook--exposed--- with a 1/64oz or a 1/32 oz Gremlin Bullet sinker crimped right at the nose. This set up is a killer river set up for Flukes especially in the summer months on those exposed middle of the river grass beds. JMO

I think it's a very poor line. We all experiment with lines and I am as guilty as the next guy. For me and spinning reels its #6 Yozuri Soft, #8 Excel. For baitcasters and flippin with #20 test its XT and for wormin and pitchin Jigs its #12-#17 Big Game and #12 YS, bottom line. JMHO

For all you guys getting a little older this is just a reminder. When you hit 50 do a little preventitive maintanance. See your Doc and have him explain what you need to keep a eye on and do what he suggest. It will save you in the long run. Do not put things off, trust me, its for your own good as well as your loved ones.

Why is it a choice if you have permission to fish both of them?, fish and learn the characteristics of both. If you had a chance to date two pretty sisters and both wanted to go out with you would you only take one?, duh !!! ;D

Do not !!!! hire a guide that does not have references. If they bs you around and don't want to give you any, hire someone else. When I guided, I always gave some references. After so many years you make a name for yourself as being good or bad. I never had any complaints, oh, maybe a couple and that was from guys who were a-holes anyway, you get those over the years. Make sure they are safe, knowledgeable and willing to go the exta mile for a good trip, I always did. If you can get a 25 year old ravened haired girl, stacked, and bends over a lot as a fishing guide in a string bikini, thats another good option. ;D

I agree, nice story and nice pic. Nothing like sharing your love of fishing with the kids. Good job---Jim

Not all guides are out for the buck, although, that certainly has something to do with it. No boat, hire one, new to the area, hire one, never been on the Upper Potomoc in MD or Susquehanna in PA in a boat, you will need one. If you have never run these rivers you won't make it 200 yards without crashing if you don't know where you are going and a guide with a Jet drive can show you around. Most of the guides I have met are pretty good guys--not being prejudice--- but, as in all things, there is good and bad in everything and that includes people.

I don't think braid is a good choice for rivers, especially rocky ones like we have in MD and PA plus braid does not do well in fast moving water, as it floats too much. If you are using tubes, I have had days that can be frustrating because the smallies tail grab your tubes at times. I usually go to a 2" tube in these cases. Its just that way at times, mostly in the warm summer months. I like YS in #6 and am still a big fan of green BPS Excel in #8 test. People say this line is junk but, I have caught literally thousands of smallies on the Susquehanna and Potomac using this line. It just works. Don't be afraid to set the hook my friend. I have watched guys throw as far as they could and get bites and just lift up. Take a yard of line and pull on it--lots of stretch--- now, multiply that times 25 or so, thats a lot of stretch. Use the best hooks you can afford and " set the hook !!! ". Good luck.

I use a TFO TiCr rod in fast action 7wt paired with a Battenkill LA reel and it is sweet for smallies. If you did not want to spend that kind of money I would look at the Gander Mountain Guide Series. I looked at them the other week and they look pretty good for 199.00. Have fun and good luck.

Great pic LBH. I used Zebco's when I was small and I remember when I was about 10 my dad took me to a fishing rodeo and I won 2nd place with a Catfish while winning a Zebco 808. That was one of my most memorable fishing experiences. Avid, I say go for it. I don't see why a Zebco 33 wouldn't be a blast even if to bring back some memories. I still see a lot of people along the rivers using them. I read an article a few years back where Woo Daves was using one to skip under docks. I just got my Granddaughter a Snoopy 202 and I hope she gets a 5lb smallie on it !!! ;D

If you are fishing in the grass just rig it like a weightless T-Rig using a 3/0 or 4/0 hook. I like wacky rigging as well but, there is no law in changing your rig if the conditions call for it. Gammy or X Point are good choices in hooks.

I always like to get my guess in there and guessing from a pic is tough. I would say between 4-8 and 5. Any way you slice or dice it, thats a good fish !!! Good job and congrats.

Hmmm, interesting. I am the last one in my family whom is tired of Microsofts bullsh** anyway. I was going for a new Mac this fall. After all the glitches, faults, patches, etc,etc from MS and after using Mac at my sisters house, a Mac it will be.

Skillet, now RW has to go all day with that picture in his head,lol. ;D