justfishin

Thanks for the reply Panamoka but, we are talking Jet Boats with portable blinds, and fast, low water. We come from all over to guide or fish the Susky so, getting to know them is usually not going to happen. The Susky is a lot of river, fast ,shallow ,rocky and mean. We use fishing tactics that I am sure some of you do not see. Its a different ballgame on this river. This river is by no means what most people are used to. How about it Susky fisherman and guides?, six inches of gin clear water-90 horse Jet, stick steering and wide open. Thanks again and good luck fishing sir.

Don't waste your time on all that big money stuff. Did you see what you get and the price of that " Hot Sauce " , insane. I use Lithium based 777 like reel mech said. I use this on my gears. As far as the other stuff I need to lube on a reel I use sewing machine oil. Cheap, and works great. I tend to every once in awhile give my reels a few shots of WD-40 as well. I have never had any problems. Keep your reels up and they will last you along time.

Maybe this does not deserve a post but, I just feel the need to write this. I fish the Susquehanna in PA and the Upper Potomac in MD. This is the best time of year in my book and I take a lot of people out this time of year. It has been great so far. Anyway, to the point. I always like to give people the respect that I want in return but, the last few trips have annoyed the heck out of me. If anyone else fishes these waters this time of year, give the duck hunters some room. I do not duck hunt myself but, I have watched so many other guys run up and fish so close to the guys in their duck blinds and have witnessed a lot of words back and forth. I don't like it when they set their blinds up on some of my holes either but, it is their right. It is only a short while every year so show these guys some respect. I have on occasion ran up on a blind that I did not see and apologized to the hunters and they thanked me for my respect. I even get recognized by some of them now and they wave or ask how the fishing is. Just play nice fellows. A little respect goes a long way. Thanks. Jim Blair

From first light until dark, dress warm and remember, you can always remove some clothing if you get too warm so, don't be afraid to over dress or to take along some extra warm clothing. If you are cold and miserable you cannot concentrate on your fishing. This is the time of year for big fish. Good luck.

Although I always use a trailer hook on my buzzbaits and if I am not fishing wood, I always use them on my spinnerbaits as well. I seldom use a trailer for these baits unless I want to be able to slow down and keep my spinnerbait higher in the water column for example, over shallow grass. When I do I usually attach a big 5" white grub. Good luck.

I don't use the dropshot a lot but, when I do, mostly in gin clear deep water like Deep Creek Lake in Maryland, I use a Zoom Finese in smoke-blue flake or a 6" watermelon or green pumpkin straight tail pencil worm made by Wasp. I have had a lot of luck on both. I use them on a 6'6" M or ML rod and 6-8# test. This set up has worked well for me on the channel drops and at the end of points in those gin clear lakes. Good luck.

Gee, thanks a lot. Now I am going to be spoiled paying such a low price for Sticks and Jigs,lol. I like the Jigs. Maybe if I give my partner some he won't make me go in and root for a snagged jig and blow the hole all to shirt !!!,lol. Thanks for the tip.

I have been fishing the Susquehanna in PA for many years and throw a lot of Zara Spooks for smallies. My friends and customers always say " Thats too big for smallmouth, isn't it ? ". No, I tell them. The Sammy 100 is the same way. Throw them. When they are on those big tops it can be a blast as well as deadly on them. Smallies are tenacious creatures. As the saying goes " Smallmouths are not Largemouths ". These are two completly different fish in my book. I am not sure if it is food or just anger or a combination of both but, they seem to like to hit big baits like Spooks and Sammys. Good luck sir.

When I do use lipless cranks I like to throw a 1/2oz in Pumpkinseed made by Cordell. I live in Maryland and when I fish the Lower Potomac River I throw a Chrome-Blue back in 1/2 oz when I do throw them. I like to match the baitfish in which are mostly shad in the LP. I also use 1/4oz in both of these lures. You can burn them or yo-yo them or real them in slow. Let the fish tell you how they want it. They can be awesome over top those weed beds in 8-15' of water. Reel it along the tops of those weeds and don't be afraid to let it fall into them a little. Just rip them when you start to get hung up on the weeds. I have had some great days and some good fish doing this. Good luck.

Although I am a All Star or Gator Rod guy, I have used the BPS Extreme and really liked them.

Easy " Fish Cris ". I am a copolymer mono guy. I am still not convinced to to use braid for all applications. It floats way to much for fast rivers such as The New and the Susquehanna. As for making fun of us mono guys you can go to your room without supper young man !!!

I am not a braid guy but, if you have to have it I did like the Power Pro.

Let whatever you are going to throw hang about 10" below your rod tip and shake it a little bit until it hits the floor. If it does't backlash that is a good place to start. After a while you can loosen things up as your thumb gets educated.

But one All Star 6'6'' MH and one 6'6" MH Gator Rod. You will love both. You can thank me later,lol.

Low-Vis Green, and thats all I have to say about that.

For 10-12# test in a baitcaster a Curado is my no. 1 choice. For line above those sizes, all in all, I love my Abu Garcia 5600's. I have had the same four AG for over ten years and the older they get, the better. I did buy a C-4 that I love as well simply because of the 6:3/1 gear ratio for buzzbaits.

As for me, All Star and Gator Rods are what I use and love them. I am in the mood for experimenting this year and am looking into Warrior Rods as well as Outlaw Rods. Honestly though, for the money, its hard to beat either of the two mentioned above. The owner of Gator Rods is a stand up guy so check them out.

I went to Stren DuraTuf after a friend whom works for FLW gave me a bunch of promo line last year. I really like it on baitcasters. I have tried 12# and 14# as well as 20# for flipping and it has been great. I have fished some trashy areas on the Lower Potomac this line has yet to fail me.

I have not seen it yet. I am not by any means sold on braid. I did sort of like it for buzzbaits but other than that I like mono. Part of this is my fault. I cannot get used to that lift up motion when flipping. I am a old dog at this and I need to cross their eyes when I set the hook. I tended to break off too many when hook setting with braid or breaking my rods. Maybe this stretch braid will solve that problem. As for me, Copolymer mono,period.

Jigs,1/2 oz black and blue is my no. one choice for largemouth if I have to choose only one, then spinnerbaits and worms. Smallmouth---Tubes, hair jigs,flukes,grubs,spinnerbaits,jerkbaits

Throw it, let it settle,couple of small twitches,wind it down to depth, twitch,twitch,pausssssssssssssssssssss,twitch,twitch.........

I am not a big crankbait thrower but, as far as Rapalas go, I do like the Shad Rap on the lower Potomac in MD and the no. 10-12 jerk bait suspender in Tenn. Shad on the Upper Potomac and Susquehanna in PA for smallies. They are a blast when the fish are on them!

Use a 6'-6'6'' rod in M-MH. I have always used the Shimano 2000 Stradic. It is what you like to use that is important. Silver Thread in green #8 is perfect. I use BPS Excel in #6-#8 and love it. It just works for me. Make sure you purchase a fast to X-fast action rod. You won't be sorry. Good luck.

I have to agree with " fourbizzle " some of my best days have been on the most miserable,windy,2'roller days. I think that it turns things on personally. I think when someone says that this is just the opposite that they are just not feeling the bites as well. When it gets windy I usually use jigs and soft plastics with added weight and, at least for me switch to a spinnerbait a lot. Riprap and the eddie side of wind blown areas are two great places to start your search when the wind jumps up.

I live in Western MD and this was one of the slowest as well as longest turnovers I have seen in a lot of years. In some areas, even now, I do not think it is complete. The mixture of cold nights but yet, very warm days has been unreal here. Just when you would think the water should be around 45-55 you look at your temp gauge when you first put in and it reads an unbelievable 62-66 in some areas. The fish must have loved it because they have been really biting well. No complaints here. They have been fat and sassy. It has been a late fall extention of that pre-winter feeding binge.