justfishin

I think you learned two things on that cast. One, what you had is a reaction strike. Two, they were out of the cover looking for a meal. For me at least, early in the day I back off of the cover, be it pads, wood, grass, etc. and as the sun comes out and it gets later in the day I tend to focus more on the inside of whatever cover I am working. I know there are know set rules in bass fishing, just guidelines. Its always good to try to change up your speed, place relating to structure, etc, etc. Let the fish tell you what they are doing at given times of the day and adjust to it. JMO.

I use Toast.net here at home. Dial up with 7x accelerator and EZ Anti virus is only 12.95 a month. I am on the PC all day or night at the Hospital and only use this at home . I have had it about 2 yrs without any problems. Hey, use my name ( Jim Blair ) and I think we both get like a 20 dollar break after ninety days or something like that if you sign up. ____Jim www.toast.net

I wish my son could have been there RW. My son is a huge FSU fan. Bobby Bowden is one of his heros. Bobby sent all kind of stuff to my son when he was in Iraq. My sons dream is to be a college football coach. He lives for college ball. Great story. By the way, my golf game is not very pretty either,lol.

I guess you guys are right. I should have got some pics. Heck, we both had cameras. Just goes to show you how your mind slows at 50, lol. We were oogling enough that they probably thought we were two old perverts anyhow !!! I guess I have to get with the program,lol.

Well boys, my buddy and I saw two very pretty girls bass fishing in bikinis on the river yesterday. Made me throw my tube up in the trees,lol. Ah yes, I love warm weather !!! ;D

Good start for sure. I love fishing bridge piers for smallies. They seem to almost always hold some fish. Good job, you must have been holding your mouth right, lol.

Fish Cris, you are yawning at 5 1/2 pounders? Boy, that place is spoiling you, LOL.

Just a hint. When the Susky is high and muddy, its at its best. It narrows down where to catch your fish and gives you a better chance at a five or six. The best time is when the river is on the rise. On the fall is not that great. The optimum level for me is around 5'5" at Harrisburg. Its just enough where all the little islands are not washed over and if you start below each of those small islands at the bottom of the breaks and throw up river into the eddy they create.... its go time.

I always used XT for flippin in the rough stuff. This stuff is tough as nails. Its the best for abrasion as far as I am concerned. I switched to Stren Dura Tuff last year because my buddy is on a FLW tour and gives me tons of free stuff. Its great too but, I still like XT. Fish the Lower Potomac around the Zebra Mussels and you had better have on at least XT 20lb test. When flippin piers in DC or Duck Blinds and such I even go to 25lb test.

Abu Garcia C-3 and C-4.

Berkley Big Game 15# Mean Green

I am sure you can catch fish on them but, IMO, its better to buy quality like a War Eagle or Bigmouth Lures brand.

I think you will catch better numbers with a worm but, usually for me at least, a jig gets bigger fish. I use a worm in clearer water but, if the water is murky or muddy I go to a jig, 1/2oz most of the time.

A 1/4oz Cavitron in white. Why? You can really slow them down and they just plain have been the best I have used, especially on the Lower Potomac on the grass beds. I don't really know why they work so well but, its one of those things like the difference between a Rico and a Pop-R. Put a Rico and Pop-R side by side and you cannot tell a real difference but, for me, a Rico out fishs a Pop-R every time.

Wow, looks like one of the local hookers that come up to the truck when I go into the local town !!!

This is a yada, yada story I thought was pretty cool. My buddy just bought a brand new River Rave Jet boat and couldn't wait to get her out so we went to a local lake on Friday. The cold front we had just endured gave the bass lock jaw, the water was 42 degrees and it got windy as heck. We could not buy a bite for anything. We went back in this cove and saw this guy in a beat up old ranger ( looked to be about a 85 ) and he had to be around 75 or so with a long white pony tail and long white beard. We asked him if he caught anything and he said &*((*^&(&( no !!!! We proceeded to fish some and he hollered at us to come over, drop anchor and " shoot the bull for a spell ". I thought he was about two bricks shy of a wall. We went over to be neighborly and dropped anchor. Turned out he was a retired college English professor and you could tell he was very sharp. He had a dry sense of humor and a Samuel Clemens wit. He proceeded to pull out two Rolling Rock beers and hand to us. I told him I didn't drink while on the water. He told me to shut up and lighten up so, we took his beers. He then pulled out a cheese cake out of his cooler and proceeded to give us each a slice. I told him, no thanks, and he told me to shut up and eat it. Hmmmm, cheese cake and beer? He told us his wife would not let him have beer or cheese cake at home and when he went fishing he always took both. It was funny as he**. He said he never had long hair and was always clean shaven but, when he retired he grew both. After a piece of cheese cake, three beers a piece and some interesting conversation for about a hour he said he was out of there. While leaving he said, " you young fella's always remember " ( my buddy and I are both 50 ), fishing is not all about catching fish, its all about relaxing and doin' just what the he** ya want to do. I will always remember that guy. He was a blast to talk to. On the way home my buddy said " next time we go fishing you bring the beer and I will bring the cheese cake", lol. Have any of you guys met a character that stuck out like that in your life?

St. Croix huh? Cool. I just might have to buy one and give her a whirl. Like I said I really liked the action in the store for a smallie rod and you can't beat 119.00. The guy at Gander told me that for another five bucks they will give these rods a lifetime guarantee with no questions asked. Not too shabby if this is true.

Hey fishcris, can I borrow your lucky rabbits foot for a few weeks? I promise I will send it back !!!,LOL. Nice fish once again.

Oh yes, they are biting !

When it rains a lot of insects and such get knocked into the water and I have always noticed it brings the bait fish such as bluegill, silver shiners, small crappie up to feed. I always like to use the old favorite for this time in which is a Original Rebel Floating Minnow. Works every time.

I went to a Gander Mountain yesterday to buy a new rain suit, something light ( Frogg Toggs ) and some Fat Ika's. I looked at the fishing rods they had and on the rack beside the G. Loomis they had a Gander Mountain brand, in which I cannot remember the name but, they were only 119.00 dollars and the spinning rods seemed to be pretty sweet to me. I really liked the actions. Seems they were all fast to X fast. I think they would be a great smallie rod. I just thought I would give a heads up to anyone looking for a inexpensive rod that seems pretty good, at least as far as I could tell in the store.

A lot of baits come with decent hooks nowadays but, if I do change them, say on Traps, I use Excalibers. These are excellent trebles.

I do not fish for bass on their beds. I believe and have seen that when you pull a female off of her bed the sunfish go in and eat up the eggs. This is my opinion and what I choose to do. What anyone else does is purely up to them.

Yes please.---Jim Also, I think it would be neat to tag the state that the member is from. Let here know our prayers are nation wide. Just a suggestion.

Nice gesture Redline, I tip my hat to you sir.