Wayne P.

This is what you can do with a GPS/Sonar unit. On one of the small lakes I fish, I have a waypoint saved for this log/stump pile (it is under the "0" in the depth reading). There is no paper or electronic map for this body of water. I can find it and fish it and have never seen anyone else fishing there since it is about 50 yards offshore where the bankbeaters fear to tread. It is a fish magnet in the summer when the thermocline forms. I don't need to throw out a marker bouy to stay on it.

http://www.lowrance.com/Support/Tips-and-Tutorials/

Lake Anna has large bass, but most find them difficult to find. Near Fredericksburg there is Hunting Run Lake (new lake with a good population of large bass (6#+) and very, very many small bass) and Motts Run. Both are closed from Fall thru late winter. The last day for Hunting Run this year is this coming Monday, Motts might close the same day. Your best shot at a double digit bass is a little more South near Farmville.

Define "BIG". How far South do you consider Northern Va. ?

Any unit with the same frequency will cross talk when the cones overlap. It's no problem in shallow water though unless your boat is real short.

7' medium grahite rod with a 6.3:1 reel spooled with 30# superline.

A 5/0 EWG hook and this: http://www.tackledirect.com/tygerleader.html

Lowrance and Humminbird have an exchange program so you can have the correct transducer for your application. Just contact whichever company you purchase from. Some dealers will handle that for you in-house. If you place an order for the unit you can specify the transducer supplied.

Thanks, it is a good idea to determine the lake mapping software available for one's needs and then pick a product that utilizes that software. You stated that Garmin is in a "class of their own" when it comes to CD based mapping software. Is the Mapcreate software not comparable? Does Garmin have a comparable product to Navionics Hotmaps Explorer? I mentioned all of this because someone suggested the XOG as an alternative so the Navionics software could be used. I have an H2O and don't know of anyone that uses any handheld Garmin products for fishing purposes. Looking for some education about them.

When you get a sonar unit and want to have the transducer on the trolling motor, do not open the package in the box with the supplied transducer in it. Exchange it for the trolling motor pod type so you won't have to deal with a future broken transducer or mounting bracket.

RoLo, your information is incomplete about Lowrance mapping products. In addition to it's compatibility with Navionics, these are also available ( some of those are CD/computer based ) Fishing Hot Spots PRO LakeMaster Pro Maps MapCreate Free Enhanced Lake Maps FreedomMaps MapSelect.com Enhanced Safe Flight 21 Jeppesen Database Legacy Mapping Additionally, how many lake maps does Garmin offer with the 1' contour lines like the Navionics HD surveyed lakes?

Lowrance has other handhelds with the Navionics capability, check their website.

There is an old saying that is appropriate " A picture is worth a thousand words", LOL

In that price range, the HB 565 has a higher pixel count at 640 vertical which is twice the resolution of the X96 and Eagle Fishmark 320. It also has a higher power output: 2000W vs. 1500W

Thanks Bantam1, I'll check a few for my curiosity.

Bantam1, how many filaments make up a thread and do all braided superlines use the same size thread?

No one has mentioned Claytor Lake which is on the New River and just a few miles from Blacksburg. It has a good population of largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.

Thanks Dodgeguy. That confirms what I already could tell by just a simple test of passing the line between the fingernail of my thumb and index finger. The results are very obvious and is what I use when shopping for superlines.

J, I don't think so other than the roughness of the braided stainless steel damaging the line when cinching the knot down. I use the Uni-Knot for snelling also, but usually snell a hook when using heavy tungsten sinkers on Tx rigs ( it eliminates damage to the knot by the hard metal of the sinker since the sinker only hits against the hook eye ).

Paul, I use a Uni-Knot with 5 turns. I was using 20# fluorocarbon. The only time I use a Palomar knot is to tie the hook on a drop shot rig.

If the short occurred at the plug, just cut if off along with any additional damaged wire and install a new plug. The motor cannot be damaged when the problem occurs at the power source.

I used the new version today with very good success. I used a Senko and a Magnum Zoom Finesse Worm with 8 strikes and 7 catches. The braided stainless steel is easy to straighten after a fish bends it out of shape and doesn't hold the kink in the wire. It is stiff enough to work the baits thru heavy vegetation and timber without coming off the hook point. I'll stick with this version for a while. The rest of the fish I caught were with the weedless wacky rigged Zoom finesse worm.

The bass and pickerel were taking plastic worms very well today at Briery Creek Lake.

If you lure you chose matches the prevalent pattern, then it is a good idea to stick with it. If the lure you chose does not, then you will gain nothing other than casting practice.

Update on the weedguard material: I stopped by the BPS near Knoxville yesterday and they didn't have the Mason Hard Type Nylon Leader material. I saw some stainless steel multi-strand leader material and purchased the 60# .021 diameter in 30' length and the color is black. The brand is Malin and it may be the best option for a weedguard. The best trait is when shrinking the tubing, the heat issue with nylon or fluorocarbon is eliminated. I assembled one 4/0 Octopus hook to try this week. If is too stiff, a lesser diameter may be better. It is definately stiff enough to stay in position when coming thru heavy weeds. Being stainless wire and more than a single strand, it should outperform any marketed weedless hook. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_53198____?ordProd=Y&CMID=TOP_selectitems#itemDetail edited: I made an extra one for the picture. Also the metal to metal contact slips so a drop of super glue on the point end prevents the slippage.