bigbasshunter

Caught today on vision 110. Is she from this year or last, seems very small for last years spawn. Water temps have been fluctuating. 2 weeks ago we saw 60-62° for a few days then they plummeted to low 50s for 3 or 4 days. Now we're back on a warm front, this past week they have jumped back up to 60-63°. Just seeing the first signs of spawning this season but the water is just now clear to the point of having some visibility(1-2ft)

Reaction style baits when the wind is blowing. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits and chatterbaits are the lures I'd start with. If your facing post frontal conditions then focus on worms and jigs in and around cover.

Check out Stormr. Best suit I've bought. Neoprene 100% waterproof, will keep you warm and dry.

Fountainhead sells live minnows, I've only used them a hand full of time. My biggest crappie outta the rez was 2lbs 1oz and came off a white crappie crank. I've had luck catching numbers off jigs. The Rez is a bass fisherman's paradise, that's my main focus when I'm out there. Bull run is nice as it has 2 floating docks to port your boat while parking. It also helps break the winds when it's really whipping out there. It also gives you the quickest access to the upper reservoir and the creeks (occoquan and bull run). With that 75hp you might feel more comfortable out on the occoquan river and the potomac. Tons of crappie around the bridge tressles/pilings. It's tidal too so the fish are alot more predictable.

Occoquan reservoir is horsepower restricted to 10hp. It's a decent size body of water so you'll definitely want gas engine to get you around and trolling motor to fish. 3 main launches that are not owned by HOAs. Lake Ridge, Fountainhead and Bull Run marina. Lake Ridge is located in PWC and gets you closest access toward the d**n. Fountainhead is in FFXC and is a central location on the reservoir. Bull Run is in FFXC also and accessed by key and annual pass purchased through FCPA at fountainhead. There is a bass tournament that launches out of FH usually every other Sunday so parking can be a little rough at times. Other than that it's the most well equipped marina on the reservoir. This place is riddled with high school and college crew teams. They have a private marina(sandy run) that they use, as well as launching out of LRM and BRM. Their race coarse is locate down near the dam. Theyre usually pretty good about watching out for fisherman but sometimes things are not on our sides. Give them space and they usually do the same. Be prepared for the bull horns too lol On to the fishing. There's tons of fish in that place. From bluegill and crappie to channel and monster flathead catfish. There are some elusive smallies swimming around in there. There are giant bass in there. The forage base is gigantic. Shad schools the size of city blocks and numerous variety of crawfish for fish to gorge on. Tons of structure and cover to fish so electronics will be your friend. Make sure you get a map from FH and hit some of the named Hotspots on it. Also go watch some of the tournament weigh-ins. Some big fish are brought in. All the normal baits work. Spinnerbaits, Carolina and Texas rigs, crankbaits even little grubs fishing for crappie bring in some giants. Welcome to the Rez and hope to see some catches

Goto radio shack or something of the like. Get yourself a power supply for a modem (13v 1-3amps)you may even have one lieing around. Cut off power jack (modem side) and splice in your power and ground from the lowrance harness. No more problems using the unit inside anymore. Works flawlessly with my touch 7.

Occoquan Reservoir fall 2014

The ned rig is unstoppable for numbers, jig for size

I've had the x3 since they first came out. Thought the composite pins would help reduce clunking and creaking, at first yeah great. Now it's just as noisy as an original gator mount. Also the Allen head bolts that keep everything tight on the mount loosen themselves out. Next motor I get will be variable speed versus 5 speed.

I'd love to put my trust back into lowrance but the customer service lacks big time. Have had 2 touch 7s that were not completely assembled(sidescan module not wired in). And a 3rd that doesn't load maps off SD card, but will update off the same card. Oh and they want me to pay shipping for a 3rd time to send this t7 in. Then a big issue Im having with IG is they have separated my home fishery into multiple "lake maps"(I dont participate in social maps). There is no dam or locks that separate any part but IG decided that it would be appropriate to negate 3gb of data on the upper end of my map. Then we get to the sidescan on lowrance, lacks in comparison to the HB units. The touch 9 gen 3 cost $700 more than the helix 10 si for what reason.

Looking to add a new unit to my boat this winter. Right now I have a Lowrance Touch 7 gen2 and HDS 8 gen2. Currently the HDS8 is on the console with Lss2 and 2d mounted on the transom, touch 7 is up on the bow with the HDI transducer on the trolling motor for DI/2d. I have been looking at some of Humminbirds new offerings and the Onix and Helix look amazing. The auto chart live is what really got me looking at them. Right now I utilize Insight Genesis, it's kind of a pain to have to upload and wait and wait and wait for the maps to be viewable then you have to create the map for download. The 2 Birds I've been looking at are the Onix 8 si and the Helix 10 si. Their both about the same price but the Helix is larger. Is the Onix that much better to justify the higher cost per model versus the Helix? What would you recommend? I plan on keeping the Lowrance units but don't know whether I should use them on the bow or console. I'm leaning more toward the console since the lss2 transducer is giant and already mounted on the transom. Any help, opinions or experience please chime in.

Got on the reservoir early this morning, got a few bass but unfortunately got hooked into a snakehead.

^did you launch out of bull run?? What were the weights from tourney

Costa has a full break down of what each lens color excels in. Personally I'd go with green mirror as its based on a amber lens

Tidal Potomac is pretty much off limits for small outboard powered Jon boats. Unless you stay in the no wake zones, pleasure boaters don't pay attention to smaller vessels. Don't get me wrong, pre spawn and spawn are key times to finding Potomac 6+lb hawgs staging up on the flats. But its really like fishing out of a barrel down there, bass are everywhere. The rez really make you use your noggin, patterns change throughout the day, and like quanjig said it fishes like 3 different bodies of water. Best advice I can give is, beat the banks (16-18fow and shallower) before 11a and after 5p. From 11a-5p look for deeper structure/cover and channel swings.

Exactly what Catt posted, "K.I.S.S" Not saying anyone is stupid

Boated 8 keepers yesterday from 330-8pm all on offshore drop offs and ledges. Water temp 87f with 3+ foot clairity. Deep crankin was putting them in the boat.

Med/hvy for sure

Ultra violet does a number on poly and nylon. I dipped my pull cord in hot bees wax to help with abrasions and extend the longevity. I use a hybrid nylon/poly cord from west marine, 2 years and going.

I use a cumara 7'2" mh(senko rod) for shaky head all the way down to 25'+. I can feel every little change with 10lb fluorocarbon

Gallon ziplocks stored in a gym/duffel bag. Holds around 30lbs of plastics in their original bags lol. All my friends call me overkill

All 8 of my co workers bass fish now, thanks to a little encouragement. Virginia

Technically speaking you are not allowed to enter the water unless from private dock or from a boat. You could probably wade the park side (Fairfax county) but with the channel your looking at having to cross 9-12ft deep water to reach the prince william side.

If your restricted to a tolling motor, I would check out occoquan park. It's a no wake zone, can be fished from belmont marina to the water discharge south of the launch. Lots of docks, channel swings and flats close to deep water. And its one of the only places if you get too hot you can always go for a swim. Good luck and tight lines!!

First things first, never net a fish with a dry net!!! This will remove their protective slime coating. Second is it only takes one fish loss due to jabbing trying to net the fish and shredding the line. Wet your net and keep it flat against the boat until fish is nettable.