justfishin

Thanks RW, thats all I need to know. I will spool some up. Those pad fields in the summer are UGLY. I will let you know later in the season how it held up, I am sure it will do well. It might be what I have been looking for.---Jim

I have not fished the Rap in many years. When I go to Virginia it is usually on the Chic, Kerr or Smith Mountain Lake and Lake Anna occasionally. I don't care for Anna that much. Although, I have caught some nice fish there, it is rare. My fishing buddy caught a 9-1 there a few years back but, that place always beats me up. I usually get five but, most of the time they are just at the size limit. I think I am cursed on that lake,lol. I always wanted to fish the James as well, I just never got around to it. Good luck on your tourney. Tell me how you did.Stay safe as well.

RW, Have you ever used Yozuri US in #20? I really like the #6 on my spinning reels. I have no complaints so far. Also, when we had the 119 smallies I talked about in the smallie post I was using #12 on a Curado and a MH rod while throwing spinnerbaits and never lost a fish. To the point, I can guarantee you that #12 is not enough for the pad fields on the Lower Potomac while flipping. They surge big time and we have Zebra Mussels as well out the ying yang. I have not had many problems using XT or Dura Tuff under these conditions but, I was going to try some YS in #20. How does it handle at that size? Is it really kinky? Thanks---Jim

I did not mean that in a mean way, it just sounded so complacent thats all. I travel 95 from Fredericksburg to Richmond quite a bit as I have family down there around the Richmond-Petersburg-Colonial Heights area. and go that way to Kerr. It is pretty bad. I have never been on a more dangerous road, especially around Richmond in the evenings.

I say if you are happy with high vis, then use it. I only use low vis green. I would not use another color. I don't think I could either. I cannot see it either but, have adapted using my sense of feel. I am sorry, I watched to much of the Kung Fu series didn't I? Never mind. ;D

Curado reel? No problem. As Muddy and Avid would say " Faaaget about it ". Curados are great reels, and can take the beating. I might suggest, this is a suggestion only mind you, that if you are going to be fishing the hardcore venues you are describing try some 20 or 25lb test XT or Big Game on a Abu Garcia 5600 C3.

I fished the Maryland Bass Federation Trail for many years. I think my last year was in 98. To get to the point we worked hard with the Dept. of Natural Resources and the Parks Commission on the Lower Potomac at a place called Mattawoman Creek where the Federation usually launched their tourneys ( Washington DC area ), also at a place called Gunpowder in Baltimore on the Upper Chesapeake Bay and at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland to instill a fresh water supply system for the guys waiting in line to weigh their fish. We had tables set up with tubs filled with slime ( a green product that is 5% salt solution that inclined the basses natural immune system to build more slime on their bodies to decrease the chances of infection, slow down their metabolism and the tanks were oxygenated as well. We also added some ice made with the natural river water to cool them in the summer. The results of everyones efforts was astounding. I would like every state and tournament launch area be REQUIRED, to do this same scenario. Just my two cents.---Jim

Usually I am very conservative in my post in here but, this time I am going primal. Let me apologize first hand to Glenn and all of the mods and anyone else this offends but, let me make one thing clear on bringing home and killing these big fish for bragging rights. First to the guy whom did this, you are a not a sportsman by any definition of the word. Secondly to BaitMS, shut up stupid. :-?

mktrout, your brashness of the way you post just amazes me. Can't you be a little nicer in the way you convey your opinions? Just trying to help you put things a little differently so you do not seem so rude.

I like to use a Albright knot with 5 wraps on each end and a lock. Its low profile and holds well. http://www.animatedknots.com/albright/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Sam, something really struck me about what you had said in your post. Please do not take this the wrong way. You said you would not stop because you were late for a meeting and two other people stopped anyway? I just want you to rethink what you said my friend. A major accident just happened with all probability of severe injury and you did not want to be late for a meeting? Priority's seem a little off balance, don't they? Is this what has become of us as humans. We see so much violence, blood and guts that we are getting complacent about it all. I cannot think of any meeting important enough to not stop and help my fellow man in a crisis. Just my thoughts.

I think they do. Why? I have no idea. Do they really make a difference? I have no idea but, I can tell you from a whole lot of experience on the water with them that I am convinced they do. Time after time they out produce a Pop-R significantly for me. I have had clients throw Pop-R's and I would give them a Rico to use and they would hit them much better. Put them side by side and I could never tell a significant difference but, there is something about them. Yes I know, it might be in my head but, I can let you talk to a lot of other guys whom feel the same. Its only 20 bucks so , try one and you tell me.

That same thing happened to me on my wedding night. ;D

:'( Hi, my name is Jim and I am a tackleholic. It all started...............................

I feel you were a absolute gentleman and very considerate in how you handled that particular situation. Want to see rude and inconsiderate? Fish a State Federation Trail for 8 or 10 years, you will see rude !!!,lol.

Thanks, I guess I was one of those suckers. As far as baitcasters I only own, Curado 200 series and Abu Garcia 5601 and 4600 series so, it does not affect me. I just always thought in my little mind that more bearings meant something substantial, evidently not. Excuse me for running my mouth with a motor of ignorance.

I cannot say enough how I wish you and Ron the best fishing days ever. I hope you guys don't have a fish under #4. Enjoy, you two Mooks!!! ;D P.S.- Hey Muddy, speaking of hand held devices, I guess since my girlfriend Eva is moving back to Austria I will be using my hand held device a little more,lol. ;D ;D ;D

Hey Countryboy. I would like to put my thoughts in on how to rig your Flukes for smallies you so maybe it can help you. We all rig them different and it depends where you are fishing but, for the fish in the rivers here in Western Maryland and Central PA. I have found that after throwing every color imaginable for smallies its hard to beat just a pearl white fluke. I usually dip the tail, just slightly in chartreuse Spike it. Actually I use the pen type Spike It markers. I rig my flukes with a 3/0 Owner offset hook. Not a wide gap. I also put a 1/64th Gremlin Bullshot clamped right at the nose. Keep the hook in the open and don't bury it or skin hook it just position the Fluke about center of the bend in the hook. Some of the guys use a barrel swivel around here about six inches up the line. The way I expressed works perfect for the smallies here. Hope that helps. Good luck and have fun.

Yes Avid, I am with you and I am sure RW feels the same. Its hard to beat smallie fishing. It just does not get any better. Pound for pound they are awesome fish. They are aggressive, at least a lot of the time and fight hard.

Well, I see you are a " Self proclaimed fishing expert" so I read your last 50 post. So tell me, O Great Oz, why do they put all those extra bearings in? Isn't it a waste if they do not do anything?

Welcome and good luck on your tournament fishing. Starting out as a non-boater was a wise choice. If you go on a trail, be prepared to get burned out,lol.

Yes RW, it was great. It happens on the Susky like that. The moon and stars have to be aligned just right,LOL. We got lucky and were just there when it was happening. That river can be spinnerbait orientated at times. I use tubes for most of my fishing for smallies but, when the shad are on a roll its hard to beat a white spinnerbait. Its a lot of fun. They about take the rod out of your hands when its like that. That ice cold beer tasted a little better than usual after that day! P.S.-- 1/2oz white, 3 1/2 Indiana gold blades, at least for that day,lol, you know how that goes. ;D

I tie my own jigs as I used to have the same problem years ago. I fish jigs more than any other bait. It sounds like it could be a hook problem or at least it could be part of the problem. Most of the store bought jigs have terrible hooks. I use a finer wire hook as well, the kind used for swimming jigs. I agree that sometimes the fish just clamp down so hard that you miss the good hook set. I flip for green bass 80% of the time and when I set the hook I practically cross there eyes. I have not had any problems with the finer wire hooks, I just buy quality ones. Good luck.

Fourbizzle, I am a little disappointed in you. Have you no compassion? This guy obviously needs counseling and therapy for his embarrassment over his very small wee-wee size. He is over compensating. Please relay this message to him, that he needs to take the first step in the handling of his problem with his little wee-wee,LOL. Its obviously a Freudian problem. ;D ;D ;D

That is way cool. You are lucky to have seen that one. I really thought we had a TC winner in Smarty Jones. What a awesome horse. I think it will be a while until another horse comes around like him. That horse was unbelievable in the last stretch of most of his races. Go figure. I guess you never know. Here is a excellent excerpt from a article of why I loved this horse and thought he would win the Triple Crown. On the road to the Belmont, Smarty Jones pulled off a rather unique feat. He won the first eight races of his career, at eight different distances, at five different tracks, with the same jockey aboard. His maiden win was a 6 furlong sprint, and he followed those up with wins at 7 furlongs, 1 mile and 70 yards, 1 mile, 1 1/16 miles, 1 1/8 miles, 1 1/4 miles, and finally 1 3/16 miles at Pimlico. More amazingly, he not only won every race but always had the lead by the 1/8 pole never to let anybody by afterward. Here is a good site Muddy and also, a good story on Smarty Jones. www.horse-races.net/library/article-smarty.htm