TOXIC

On my last truck (a 2004 3/4 ton Silverado) I figured out a way to set the alarm but not lock the doors but I can't for the life of me remember how I did it. I figured it out after I had a break in because I left it unlocked in my driveway. Nothing but toll change stolen and they left quite a few valuables alone. I did it to keep any thieves from breaking the glass and if they simply "tried" the door first, it would set off the alarm. My new truck (2016 Silverado) I can't do it. If you are going to carry and use your truck, it's probably time for a lockable gun case made for trucks. I am sponsored by Stack-On and I know they make one (bolts or cable locks to truck). Don't beat yourself up. Learn from the experience.

Since the Potomac has been a literal wash out for most of the year, a buddy and I decided to spend more time on the Rapp and see if we couldn't figure a little something out. It has been a breath of fresh air fishing a body of water where, for the most part, the fish are where they are supposed to be and many times, if you get the tide and pattern right, willing to bite in numbers. Yes, there are bigger fish on average on the Potomac but sometimes you just need to get your string pulled. Add to that the chance to catch a good smallmouth and it is worth the time to try out. We have gone the last 3 Saturdays to the Rapp and put in at Hopyard Landing. Good ramp and not too busy. Even with the rains (we got literally drenched 2 weeks ago) the water clarity has been good (much better than the Potomac) the amount of debris has been minimal and we caught fish every trip. Most damage was done on Ned rigs or Slider Heads with a good number on weightless Senkos. You better be a good Senko fisherman to get production there because the current and the tide can rip pretty good. Add in some wind and it's a challenge. We have caught Largemouth, Smallmouth, good size Bluegills, Catfish (on cranks) and even some Bowfin. Last year I caught a Snakehead but none so far this year. Pic is of a Senko fish last weekend that came off a broken off dead treetop lodged on a flat near a channel swing. The good pattern has been wood near deeper water but last weekend the tide was so high that we couldn't find most of the productive lay downs we located on earlier trips. Secondary pattern was the mouths of creeks on an outgoing tide in the creek channel where it meets the main river. When you get tired of Potomac craziness, give the Rapp a try.

The old formula had fish oil as an ingredient. I think they did away with that but I have found that it doesn't bother the fish one bit.

I use Spotsticker Pro Series with the screwlock. Very few baitkeeper problems. I use a 5 inch Pro Senko which is very small diameter bait. I want the stretch of mono. Braid IMHO will yank the bait straight out of their mouth because of the lack of stretch.

I'm gonna preach it again.....Why braid and baitcaster for "finesse"???? I use the best tool for the job and for "finesse" that is a spinning rod and straight mono. Buy hey, that's just me. If I'm throwing braid, I'm not finessing a dang thing, leader or not (no leader for me). I have yet to find a reason to finesse on a baitcaster.

Once cleaned. Spray a little WD40 on them. Keeps the skirts supple and prevents rust. I spray all of my spinnerbaits and terminal tackle.

Bottom line still is that there are numerous types of hooksets that work best with different baits and techniques. Spawning fish on the beds are a totally different situation. They are not trying to "eat" the bait, they are annoyed or defensive of it.

The fish bodies and finishes are inside the bait on the Live Target baitball baits. Those appear to be on the outside where you can paint each one individually. Those advertised are silent just in case you didn't notice. Nothing to lose, go for it.

What size batteries? What manufacturer? MCA? Reserve Capacity? What size and make of outboard do you have? Is your finder wired direct to battery?

There are a lot of reasons for differing colors in the same species. Where they are in the water column since they are ambush predators. When they are up shallow they turn lighter to blend in. When they are deeper, they darken up. They also color up during the spawn and depending on their mood (more aggressive fish will usually color up more). They can control their color. A lot of times they will change color in the livewell. Stress also plays a part.

Have you ever heard anyone say..."I just felt weight" or "it just got heavy"? A lot of times a bass will just pick up a lure (ie., a Senko) and just start swimming with it. Also when fishing current or tide swings, there is no tap depending on the way the fish takes the lure and which way it swims. Setting the hook is a series of quick decisions depending on conditions. I have taken more than one hit to the family jewels setting the hook....small price to pay.

In truth you have to have all sorts of considerations on hookset depending on what you have tied on. So, generally it's up to you to remember which hookset you need to use. Personally, I use a "cross their eyes" hookset, a "swing" hookest, a "steady pressure" hookset and a "snap" hookset. All depending on what is on the line for a lure. Experience helps but trial and error will drive the point home.

They all have a different fall rate and action. The only similarity is that they are all plastic. I only use Yamamoto and they have all of the styles you mentioned plus a lot more. I'm never at a loss as to what baits I want to throw to achieve the action/fall rate/rigging that I prefer.

I don't understand how the spool would turn to feed the line onto the reel if the line went through the keeper notch? Braid is tough stuff and he'll find out soon enough if spooling it that way weakened it.

#1...Change your attitude. If you are frustrated and have no confidence it will affect your results. Treat it like the challenge it is. Figure it out. I like a challenge.

I get warm fuzzies when old Senko posts get dredged up and the information/results are still the same!!

Yamamoto DShad or any Fluke style bait would be my go to. No question.

It's a killer bait on the Potomac. A go to for some of my buddies. Couple of ways to fish it. Weightless on a EWG hook and weighted with a belly hook. It is fished over and through grass, dropping in holes. Good score at that price.

If you've got a big wallet, Power Pole has the Micro-Anchor that I have seen used on Yaks and small tinneys.

When I was guiding and the dock bite was on, the first thing I did with clients is to assess their casting skill/ability. If they were not very skilled, then I always positioned the boat where their max cast was just short of the dock. I had a reputation to be mindful of and "if" a client ever hung up on a dock, I would take the rod and free the lure or I would tie off to the dock and go get it myself. I, nor my clients, have EVER snagged a boat seat or cover. If they ever did I would have surely left a note with my name and phone number so that I could pay for any repairs. If an owner ever came out while I was on their dock, I would explain that I was removing a lure/hook because I didn't want them or their kids/guests to get stuck. All that said, I have had some pretty rude dock owner experiences. One guy decided to throw a retrieving float for his lab when I wasn't even near his dock. I had one throw large rocks off the dock (not at me). I had one kid come out and do circles around me in the boat with his jetski. I had a dock owner come out and slap the water with a yak paddle all the while mouthing off. Did I ever lose my cool? A couple of times. I always avoided docks where there were people on them or in their yard. I always struck up conversations with dock owners that were on their dock not fishing. Many times I asked permission to fish a dock. Because I was on the water so much, many dock owners knew who I was and what I was doing. I actually had a bunch of dock owners as clients. My partner in the guide service actually had someone shoot at and hit his boat. The law was called and the guy claimed he was shooting at squirrels on his birdfeeder.

I was a guide....I have seen worse and I have picked out worse. Hundreds of times!!

12# floro. Unless I am jerkbaiting with a spinning rod (which is a secret technique among Smallie fishermen) then it's 10lb mono.

Good day in anybody's book. Now you know why I got to Lake St Clair every year for the Smallmouth. Can't be beat.

Fishing gives my life purpose. In addition, it has given me many, many friends that are like brothers. Fishing is a universal language. Fishing makes you learn and use what you learn. Fishing is rewarding even if your not catching. Fishing is the closest many of us will ever get to a "Zen" experience. Fishing can be done when you are 5 or 95. I have approached fishing from all angles. Casual weekender, as a profession, as a retailer, and as a sponsored representative. I have never lost my passion and I have never failed to be rewarded as a result.

One element that they need to not do away with and keep just like the current MLF format is the lack of pre-fishing or practice. That's the only way you get to listen and watch how they break down their water.