JRez

I was about to say Oregon! that would be my dream spot. Great freshwater fishing salmon, steelhead, trout etc..and you got the ocean for another great selection. Even Dungeness crabs. I'm in Richmond, VA area it's kind of the same except hotter. Good freshwater and close to the ocean/Chesapeake bay and mountains. I would take California off your list tho, originally from socal and can't stand it. I love the weather and fishing opportunities, the expenses to live in the state is god awful. It seriously expensive and will slowly kill you. Unless you make a cumulative 300k. You work to survive there...while other states you work to have fun.

I like the Okuma steelhead, salmon, trout (SST) Series. I have the 7' ultralight and feels amazing. Super sensitive and can cast 1/8 spinner a mile. However, it's inexpensive (under $100), but proved to be high end quality in my opinion. Not sure if you're only interested in high price equipment. If not, maybe check them out.

I have a 7' Okuma SST Ultralight rod. It's the steelhead, salmon, trout (SST) series. It works and feels great. It can also cast the small panther martin spinners a mile. Super sensitive and being an ultralight, makes it really fun. I even used it for smallmouth. The price is great for the quality. I believe it was around $30-$40.

Thats pretty legit. I was just at bass pro the other day looking a fly tying kits. I need to start making then before I go broke.

Awesome! Thanks. I believe I have small water floats. I actually just picked up a 1/8 oz panther martin gold/black body yellow spots. However, I'm going to start off fly fishing, but will have the spinner set up close by. The problem is that VA just stocked nothing but dinks. They make you purchase an extra license for trout and stock goldfish. Pretty sure the Bass are crushing them as we speak. I should bust out a rainbow trout whopper plopper.

I was kidding about the 50 creel limit. Haha. I have never seen states allow you to keep more than 6. It's 4 for me and 6 if I go in certain areas. I just moved to Richmond, VA and so far I'm irritated by the weak trout scene.

Whats the state creel limit? 50 per person?

I just bought some powerbait and set up a rod for it. How are you guys fishing it? Just casting it and put it in a holder for a bite? or do you so a slow retrieve? I'm used to bass fishing or fly fishing so the sit and wait kind of tortures me. However, I did see some people catch a ton of trout with powerbait while I struggled with a fly.

Drop shot roboworm (morning dawn) usually gets the job done. Just choose a good spot with some cover. I'm sure one of them will crush the roboworm.

I'll be fishing for stocked trout this season and was wondering if anyone had any experience with berkley mice tails. I heard good things about them and picked up a few to try. I'm just trying to figure out what hook set up would work best. If you have used them, how did you rig them on your hook? rig it like a worm? nose hook the head? Also, what hook size and style of hook improved hook up ratios. Heres a pic on what I was thinking. I used a threader so my line comes out the head. You guys think rigging it like this would work? Basically, I set up a carolina rig, 1/8oz, bead, swivel, and attached an 18-24 inch 4# mono leader. The hook is a size 14. I checked to see if it floats and it does. Any thoughts y'all? Looking for some constructive criticism. Thanks!

Yea, definitely need to have some instincts. Especially, bank fishing. Trying to teach my friend this who lives in a different state. Just don't cast out and pray. There's a lot more to it than most people think. I bank fish so I don't have any fish finders or other mapping devices. I try to look up details about the lake and take mental notes on land points etc. Once I get there I can usually have a good idea where they post up.

Haha good luck! From what I experienced as a kid, it was hard. Massive pressure. Now a days, I hear it's even worse. The masses of people put so much pressure on those piers that it's extremely hard to get anything decent. Not to mention overfishing is bad. I remember throwing back an undersized halibut and so many people freaked lol. The best surf fishing I experienced was at Vandenburg AFB. You have so much beach with zero pressure. Real peaceful out there with a lucrative return. Just need to need to sign that dotted line though.

That would be awesome! I live approximately300 yards from a Cabelas; however, they don't have the tackle I use. It's annoying. The BPS is 15 min away so I never had it as bad as some people. Just looking forward the short walk to get everything I need.

haha! I can see that. It just attracts all sorts of wildlife. Im going to try it tomorrow during sunrise. See if I can get the beast in its lair again.

That's cute. My dad inadvertently made me a southpaw. I had no idea I was using lefty reels for years.

Oh man that's awesome. Did you have the 130 size? I'm believer for sure. Thanks! Keep on trying! What color and size did you buy? I got the 130 Loon (black one). I think the black color conceals the artificial look more so they only see splashes and hear plops.

Thanks everyone. Speaking of goofy looking. I actually found a whopper Plopper on the ground before. I had no idea what it was. It was pretty beat up looking and the hooks needed to changed. I ended up throwing it away because the goofiness of the lure didn't look promising.

I do agree to an extent. Unfortunately, you're wrong on this. After extensive research, the good outweigh the bad significantly. The lure company charges a lot, but the quality and results are proven effective. I can't tell you how many people I asked about it had phenomenal results catching a big fish. I tried it one time and caught my PB twice.

I finally bought a whopper popper. I got the 130 and Loon scheme. I was still hesitant on how big the lure is. After reading that even dinks smash the 130 size I I just skipped the other sizes. I can't believe how awesome it is. Truly a great lure. Within 30 min I got a 5lb bass. That destroyed my 2 and some change lb bass PB. Two cast after releasing him a monster 7lb bass smoked it. Top water sure does get your adrenaline going. Still can't believe it. If I can figure how to post pics I will update this post. Cheers y'all

I am wary of people who catch and kill everything. I'm a huge rule enforcer haha. Especially during trout season. Overall, I try to be as helpful as I can to people. I learned A LOT from awesome local fisherman all over the country who were willing to help little ole rookie me. Including this forum. I will never forget where I started. Even if I see people struggling I'll take the time to show them a thing or two. We're all in this together. I can be your best friend or worst enemy. Since I just moved to a different state I'm still learning the area. The other day I said good morning to a father and his son and asked if the area was pretty decent since I have never fished it. They didn't even acknowledge me. Just looked at me and turned around. Maybe they didn't hear me so I asked again-same response. They didn't catch anything and I was laughing the entire time reeling in dem bass.

Oh yea I call people out all the time. Probably undiagnosed PTSD though. To my offense, I do start out polite with a crazy face. Usually that's enough.

Y'all are from socal right? I grew up there and never fished for bass. Only trout and salt water. I got into bass fishing living in the southeast. My dad is all excited about fishing for bass. Wasn't sure how good it was down there.

Wow that is so cool!! HUA Air Force. I served 7.

Well I'm glad you walked away with your life. I heard that the river already claimed 4 people. I just moved to Richmond and saving up for a kayak to fish the James.

Haha I've seen those rigged tube. Interesting how so much stuff can work. I swear the cheapest, basic stuff produces more for me. Soon as I get fancy, problems occur. Yea I need to get one of those.