Brad Reams

I've fished there some over the last couple years and we've found a reliable cove. That cove has produced consistent results every time we go. There are spots to find, I think you just gotta put some time in and find em. Winterpock swamp, I've heard good things, but it's a little tricking avoiding the stumps to get there. I've NEVER experienced that lake when it was crowded. Hope the DOAH is gonna be better this year. I fished it twice last year and it was AWFUL both times. It hasn't been real good in years for us. But I'm usually fishing the North Fork bellow Strasburg.

great thread! so from reading this I'm going to try Yozuri Hybrid 12lb mono FC coated

found this Tuesday after 2 hours of looking in Sportsmans Warehouse. They had this and 1 Luckycraft in Crappie pattern, unreal! no Cellmate Spro's $10 but USA made

North VA Beach >Lake whitehurst & little creek reservoir South VA Beach > Back Bay, NW Landing River, Trashmore lk Ocean's East tackle has got a ton of bass fishing stuff

hope you had some luck, and I'd enjoy reading your report if you want to share. I tried wading for 1 hour on the Doah Sunday but no luck. river still 18" below normal. I may make a wading stop in Richmond on Thursday ...

very informative, "coach dog"?? nope I'll have to look it up. Thanks The Crappie I've been catching lately have roe. But like you said the major spawn is the spring, and minor Fall spawn.

hmmmmmmmmm......not sure if I can believe that statement.

very impressive! in theory a CRAPPIE pattern should be THE most popular pattern, I understand that idea. BUT mostly it's a RARE pattern, but seems increasing now in popularity

Cell mate HA! i get it now.. funny way to describe a Crappie pattern. You sold me! Freckle crankbait is what I want

I do realize that mostly it's humans make the choices not really the bass. I'd still think that CRAPPIE pattern would sell, be popular, etc., but a unicorn maybe easier to locate. interesting info about the appendages.....Thx like whoa!!!!! perfect example of what I'm talking about!! thanks for sharing a Bluegill pattern is common I get it. I just don't understand why a crappie pattern wouldn't be almost or as popular as BG pattern. the # of choices for BG pattern vs Crappie are opposite ends of the spectrum. I still haven't seen answer that I'd say convinces me why.

I agree with some of your post. I agree bluegill are more common. I don't agree that crappie & shad imitation lures are similar enough to be lumped into the same group. Especially now in modern days we have many options that match the exact bait to perfection, and so many forage specific species of minnow, shad, shiner that are photo mimics.

I think I will take you up on your offer soon, maybe Give a couple away for gifts. you just spinnerbaits & jigs? I was thinking chatter would be great in that pattern also.....

those are pretty! well done great idea

interesting thoughts my point is, If bass PREFER crappie, we'd see a lot more lures in CRAPPIE pattern colors. I personally own 75+ crank/jerk baits I have ZERO crappie imitations I've seen ZERO in the stores, I'd buy it if I saw it. FACT lure manufactures MAKE 100's of bluegill lures FACT the # of bluegill imitation lures out # crappie imitation lures 100:1 WHY????????????????? I don't get it someone has to have the answer

Prefer Crappie?? it makes sense to me, HOWEVER....... the # of crappie imitation lures are limited. Probably 50:1 bluegill/perch compared to crappie. You can't deny the manufacturers don't make many crappie lures to choose from. I think it's weird and unexplained, thus far.

I was crappie fishing the other day, and thought why is it I rarely see a bass lure that is a crappie imitation. I know I've seen a few small crappie that Bass coughed up when I caught them, though not as often as bluegill. anyone else, have thoughts or know something? crappie is a minority compared to perch/bluegill or shad/shiner imitations. I was thinking if a crappie was the right forage size why would a bass not strike? Here's one of the few I could find available.

still on Turtle speed ?

cool I was wondering if it was you I was talking to at the ramp. Great info, thanks again. Good grief! what a sad story about your co-worker. I don't remember hearing about the kayak tragedy.

thanks for the tips. I didn't get to try Whitehurst because at 4:30 I was lucky to be informed the gates were closing at 5pm. I then got the advice to try Little creek. L.C. didn't seem like easy fishing, but only fished it for 1 hour or so. I did talk to a guy at the ramp, he caught ONE and said that it was a good day. So looks like its a challenge to catch fish there on most days. What's the story on that jersey wall "No Fishing/Trespassing"?

so to clarify, because I'm not very familiar with these lakes.......So you can reach Whitehurst by water from Little Creek Reservoir? thanks

confusion & clarification #1 for Little Creek Reservoir on Northampton blvd in Virginia Beach. you will see a huge Jersey Wall that says "No Trespassing & No Fishing" that is FALSE. I think it goes back to when Whitehurst was closed 2009-18, because Little Creek is finger lake of Whitehurst. https://www.norfolk.gov/2367/Little-Creek << zero information #2 Whitehurst new hours October - March 7am - 5pm April to Sept 7 to 7pm https://www.norfolk.gov/2368/Lake-Whitehurst << no hours information

Darren how's Hardwood's Mill, been this year for you? I'm giving up on Big Bethel for 2019, it's not the same lake it was 10 years ago, when I fished it and had much better luck. I fished hardwoods once about 10 years ago, and didn't have much luck, but I'm willing to give it a try again. thanks in advance

yeah I had that problem at first with NEDs. I started using a half senko, then switched to a grub semi-texas rigged. Not perfect, but I'll get it figured out also. the main thing I noticed is it falls straight down yeah I think for lake fishing it's different. it was getting snagged way too much for me, so I improvised. I think they make them with weed guards also.

nice report! my Plopper/Choppo luck has dried up, hasn't worked since early summer. I recommend trying NED rig for smallies. I'm a new believer in that lure. I switched to NED on my 2nd day of Sept float and it was a big difference in the # of bites. river conditions are Looking a lot better now

is there any smallmouth in Swift Creek? Anybody fish the lower section of swift creek at LakeView in Colonial Heights?