Tpayneful

It is 9 degrees here in Virginia but the weather is going to warm up over the week. Supposed to be in the high sixties by weeks end. I would hope that Florida gets warm weather too! The forecast for next week looks good! George, you will see me out there all week. I will be in the really really really old white and blue Skeeter.

I have made this trip to Florida every year for the last 4 years. I would love you pick you up but the back seat is already booked! I am picking up my first bass fishing partner from the Orlando airport on my way to Stick Marsh. He is flying in from Missouri. The first three years I fished lakes in Ocala National Forest and the St. John's River. It could be tough at times. Last year I fished Stick Marsh and I plan to go there every year until the fishing drops off!

I really like 15lb Pline Fluorocarbon for most applications. I use green Excel mono for topwater and crankbaits. I use spiderwire braid for frogs. This year I am deviating by using XPS flurocarbon 14lb instead of Pline. If I don't like XPS, I will go back to Pline. I gave up mono for just about everything except crankbaits and topwater. Fluorocarbon is way more sensitive than mono! I am not interested in a hybrid when I can have the real thing. Of course I can afford the price difference.

I have been to many Bass Pro shops including the headquarters in Missouri and the Richmond store is quite good. The store is twice the size of the one in Hampton Roads and well stocked. They didn't have an Extreme 7' MH rod on the floor but they had one in back and immediately retrieved it for me. I also purchased: Johnny Morris Signature Series Baitcaster Tru-Tungsten Baby Bass 4" swim bait Senkos Gamakatzu hooks Horny Toads Tru-Tungsten bullet weights Camo 15lb braid Livewell screen Then I went to Greentops and bought Trickworms Roboworms Matt Lures Baby Bass The wife freaked out when she saw the receipts! But she did tell me to buy myself a birthday present before I left!!!! I am doing my part to stimulate the economy!

I cleaned eight inches of snow off the boat cover and shoveled out a path for my boat trailer. I did shovel the driveway too! On Saturday I am driving to Florida to fish Stick Marsh for a week. You guys should have great weather to fish this weekend looking at the forecast.

We got seven inches of snow last night. I leave for Florida in five days. I can't wait to leave! How are conditions on Stick Marsh? Still windy? I would hope that the water temperatures are in the 60s. Fish on beds yet? I just broke the bank at Bass Pro this weekend and I am ready to go!

1 People that strap or unstrap their boat on the ramp! 2 Peole that break off 50 foot of braid that I eventually pull up when I fish a crankbait! 3 People that don't have side bunks or poles on the sides of their trailer to allow them to actually load their boat when it is windy? PVC and U-bolts aren't expensive if you can't afford the real stuff at Bass Pro.

I pull off the little sticky on the spool write the line size and brand on it and stick it on the reel foot.

Thank you George! I think the water temperature is lower than it was this time last year! I will hide in back bay again if the wind kicks up again. I can't wait to get down their and catch some fish!

I will be traveling to Stick Marsh in 3 weeks. What are the current conditions? Water temp in the low 60s? Lots of wind? Bass on beds? I have not seen any reports on here in a while. I have not even seen George Welcome post a report in a while. Whats going on down there?

I have a couple of last years models and they are mechanically different from this years model. The new model has two brake systems, centrifigal brake pins under the side plate and an adjustable magnetic break on the side. This is the same type of brake system used in the Johnny Morris signature series for years. The Pro Qualifier has the same break system. The Johnny Morris reel is the best one that I have had. I hope they sell them for $129 during the spring sales event later this month.

I have had my Powerdrive for 5 years and the only time mine deployed on its own was when my fishing partner stowed it. I am certain that he didn't get it completely latched. I like my Powerdrive but I am in the minority.

Here is a link to how I attached my Humminbird transducer to my Powerdrive and ran the cable up the shaft. It is still working. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1204511815/0

Here is a link to how I ran the transducer cable down the shaft of my Powerdrive. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1204511815/0 If you are looking for the location of the hole that you drill it is in the pictures as well. The first picture shows how the cable was originally run.

Redneck, I went to Greentops too. They don't sell Pline Fluorocarbon line. They told me that they just don't have the space to add another line. They only had one spool of 15lb Seaguar Invisix and I bought it but I needed two spools not one. Life will be much better when the BPS opens this fall.

Good Quantum reels cost an arm and a leg! A friend got a discount card from KVD at a fishing seminar which gives him a 50% discount. He is the only one that I know that can afford the tournament series reels! And they are heavy as well. I switched to BPS reels a couple of years ago and am much happier.

You might want to give motorguide and call and find out how much a replacement shaft costs. It might not be as much as you think. A friend of mine left his had controlled trolling motor down while it was on the trailer and drove off. He broke the "indestructable shaft" on his Minn Kota trolling motor. It turns out that replacement shafts only cost $15.

five bass limit, We have one in Fredericksburg that may be the worst run sporting goods store on the planet. It apears that they only buy stock once a year and when it is gone........it is gone for a year. They move left over stock on to empty hooks to make it apear that they have everything. In February I was short on time and wanted to pick up a few filler spools of 15lb Pline Fluorocarbon line. They didn't have any or any 15lb seaguar invisix either. I drove to the store in Richmond and guess what......they didn't have any spools of either as well. It will be a place to go and get some stuff but it will not be your GO TO place.

I met Shaw at the Richmond fishing expo. He was really nice and answered all of my questions. I am sure that you guys will have a great time and I am green with ***

My fishing partner schooled me in the early days. I was stubborn and was going to "beat" him. I wouldn't accept his suggestions or lures because I was too proud and wanted to beat him on my own. Well, I got over that and started doing what he was doing with the lures he was using. If your buddy is catching fish tie on the same lure and ask him for tips on how he worked the lure. Also, the more you educate yourself and the more time that you spend on the water, the better fisherman you will be!

Nitroman, Don't be discouraged fishing the Potomac! The one thing that I would do is fish around the tides. I really like fishing from an hour before high tide through the outgoing period. The fish start to put the feed bag on when the tide goes out. Cast against the current and bring the lure back with the water flow. My parter prefers to throw a white and chatruse spinner bait and I like to throw a Bandit foot loose. I like to throw at lily pads and at scattered clumps of grass. A blue fleck power worm is another good lure to throw as well as a Senko around docks. Don't give up because the Potomac has the best fishing throughout the Summer when lakes are boiling! Once the grass grows up you can run a Horny Toad on top or punch the mats with a craw.

Charlie, Thanks for the information! I have passed this on to my buddy. He is going on the 26th ad 27th.

I stand corrected in my Bass lure name geekdom. You are correct about the Bronzeeye. But I will match you in your failure to recognize the Horny Toad and Ribbit as SOFT body FROGS! ***.com......the all knowing online retailer lists them as FROGS! To settle the tie for geeked out bass angler we will have to have a name that lure contest in the basement of the science building ;D I hook fish just fine on my SPRO frog.....bass hits the lure......count to one.....reel down......set the hook. Works most of the time for me

Sam, YOU GOT FOUR FISH on ANNA?!?!?! You are a legend in your own time! Sounds like the natives are restless early this year! Well, you just fished Anna more times than I will this year! I just got both of the kids Tee ball and baseball schedules. Saturday games Tee ball and baseball 9AM to 2 PM. Monday Teeball game, Tuesday baseball game, Wednesday baseball practice and Thursday Tee ball practice. My Wednesday night tournaments are out the window until June 15 and all Saturday mornings are out of the question. I couldn't fish Anna if I wanted too! ;D

Maverick, don't be discouraged! I struggle in water temperatures below 60 degrees! I prefer water temperatures above 65! What is the water clarity of the water you are fishing? How many feet before you can't see your lure anymore? Generally you want to use natural colors in clear water and bright or dark colors in stained water. WRB has a great suggestion about learning how to fish a worm. I like the 5" straight tail Roboworm in Aaron's Majic color. I fish it texas rigged with an 1/8oz black bullet weight. Cast it to shallow, count it down one second per foot. If the water is 10 feet deep, count to 10. If the lure stops before 10 a fish has probably eatten it! I like to jiggle the rod tip a little, wait and then move the rod a little, turn the reel handle to take up the slack.....repeat. This is my emergency technique when I am fishless in a tournament. Good luck and remember that the Bass' metabolism doesn't peak until the water temperature is in the 80's. You will start to catch fish and it will get better and better until the dog days of Summer......if you have them up there! Master the worm and then choose a new technique to master!